Quick answer: Curaçao switched to the Caribbean guilder (XCG, sign Cg) on 31 March 2025, replacing the old Antillean guilder one for one. The rate is fixed at 1 US dollar = 1.79 XCG, and dollars are accepted almost everywhere on the island. Cards handle most purchases, but keep some cash for taxis, beach bars and markets. ATMs sit right in the arrivals hall at Curaçao International Airport.
What currency does Curaçao use now?
Since 31 March 2025 the official currency of Curaçao is the Caribbean guilder, currency code XCG, sign Cg. It replaced the Netherlands Antillean guilder (ANG, often written NAf) that had served the island for decades. The swap was exactly one for one, so prices did not change, only the notes and coins did. The Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten (CBCS) issues the new currency for both islands.
Plenty of travel sites still quote prices in ANG, which is simply out of date. The old guilder stopped being legal tender on 1 July 2025, and shops no longer accept it. The new banknotes come in 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 guilders, with coins from 1 cent up to 5 guilders.
One thing to know if you visited before: the window for exchanging old ANG notes at commercial banks closed on 31 March 2026. From mid-2026 onward, only the central bank itself swaps old notes for new ones, and that option stays open until 2055. Leftover ANG from a past trip is not worthless, but you cannot spend it, and converting it now takes a visit to the CBCS.
Can you pay in US dollars?
Yes, and for most visitors from North America this is the easiest route. Hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, taxi drivers, dive shops and tour operators all take US dollars, and many menus and price tags show both currencies. The official rate is fixed at 1.79 guilders per dollar, but individual businesses set their own conversion, usually somewhere between 1.75 and 1.80, so paying in dollars can cost a few cents more than the bank rate on each purchase. Expect your change in guilders rather than dollars.
Two practical notes. First, bring smaller bills: a 100 dollar note can be hard to break at a snack bar, and some cashiers examine older or damaged bills closely. Second, euros are far less useful here. A few tourist-facing shops accept them, but the conversion is usually poor, so travelers from Europe do better paying by card or withdrawing guilders from an ATM.
Cards or cash: what works where?
Visa and Mastercard are accepted almost everywhere tourists spend money: hotels, restaurants in Willemstad, supermarkets, fuel stations and rental counters. American Express works at larger hotels and some restaurants but gets refused often enough that it should not be your only card. Contactless payment is common. If you plan to rent a car, see our guide to driving in Curaçao, because rental agencies generally want a credit card in the driver's name for the deposit.
Cash still matters at the edges of the island economy: beach bars on the west coast, food trucks (the local truk'i pan), public buses, small market stalls and tips. A setup that works well is one card with no foreign transaction fee for most spending, plus roughly 50 to 100 dollars' worth of guilders in cash, topped up from ATMs as you go.
Where are the ATMs at the airport and around the island?
Curaçao International Airport has ATMs at three points: in the arrivals hall, on the boulevard next to the check-in hall, and in the departure area between the gates. Airport machines dispense guilders, and some also offer US dollars, so you can land, clear immigration and withdraw cash before heading out to the taxi rank. If you have not planned that leg yet, our guide to getting from the airport to Willemstad and the beaches covers taxi fares and shuttle options.
Around the island, the main ATM networks belong to MCB (Maduro & Curiel's Bank, the island's largest, with machines branded Bankomatiko), Banco di Caribe, RBC and Orco Bank. You will find machines in central Willemstad, at the Sambil mall and inside bigger supermarkets. Budget for fees: local operators typically charge a few dollars per withdrawal, and your home bank may add its own charge, so a couple of larger withdrawals usually beat many small ones. When a machine offers a currency choice, take guilders.
How much should you tip in Curaçao?
Check the bill first. Many restaurants and hotels automatically add a service charge of around 10 to 12 percent. That charge often goes to the business rather than directly to your server, so leaving an extra 5 to 10 percent in cash for good service is normal, not double tipping. If no service charge appears on the bill, 10 to 15 percent is a standard restaurant tip.
Beyond restaurants: taxi drivers expect a round-up or roughly 10 percent of the fare, porters get about 1 to 2 dollars per bag, housekeeping around 2 to 3 dollars per night, and tour or dive guides commonly receive about 10 percent of the trip price after a good outing. None of this is mandatory, and nobody will chase you over it. Tips in dollars or guilders are equally welcome, and cash reaches the staff more reliably than an amount added to a card payment.
Which money mistakes should you avoid?
- Accepting dynamic currency conversion. When a card terminal or ATM offers to charge you in your home currency instead of guilders, decline it. That on-screen rate typically costs several percent more than your bank's own conversion.
- Trying to spend old ANG notes. They have not been valid since July 2025, and banks stopped exchanging them in March 2026. Only the central bank converts them now.
- Buying guilders before your trip. With dollars accepted island-wide and a fixed exchange rate, there is little reason to order XCG at home. The arrivals hall ATM covers your first day.
- Assuming every card terminal works everywhere. Remote west-coast beaches and food trucks run on cash. If you are sketching out your itinerary, our guide on how many days to spend in Curaçao helps you plan which cash-only corners you will actually reach.
- Forgetting taxes on the room bill. Hotels add an accommodation tax of around 7 percent plus any service charge, so the final bill runs higher than the advertised nightly rate.
- Paying third parties for arrival paperwork. The digital immigration card you complete before landing is free on the official site. Sites that charge a "processing fee" for it are middlemen you do not need.
Curaçao money at a glance
| Situation | What to use | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurants and supermarkets | Visa or Mastercard | AmEx works less often; check the bill for a service charge |
| Airport taxi to your hotel | USD or XCG cash | Change usually comes back in guilders |
| Beach bars, food trucks, markets | Small cash bills | Card terminals are not guaranteed outside town |
| Withdrawing cash | ATM in the arrivals hall | Choose guilders and decline conversion offers |
| Leftover ANG from an old trip | CBCS central bank only | Commercial banks stopped exchanging in March 2026 |
| Tipping staff | Cash, about 10 percent | Give less extra if a service charge is already included |
About the author. Daniela Martina writes practical guides about Curaçao International Airport and island travel for visitors from North America and Europe.
Currency rules and fees reflect official guidance as of July 2026 and can change. Verify with your bank or the Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten before you travel.
