Curaçao had a strong start to 2026, and one of the clearest signals is coming from Canada.
The island’s tourist board reports January 2026 brought 79,387 stayover visitors — nearly 80,000 travelers in a single month — marking an 8 percent increase compared to January 2025. That’s an additional 6,098 visitors year-over-year, landing squarely in the heart of peak season with the kind of momentum destinations want to see.
But the biggest jump inside those totals came from Canada, where arrivals surged by 26 percent in January alone.
Canada’s Curaçao Boom
Curaçao welcomed 7,582 visitors from Canada in January 2026, up from 6,006 in January 2025. That’s a significant jump in a market that has traditionally been smaller than the Netherlands or the United States, and it’s an especially notable gain for a month when the island already draws heavy demand.
Canadian travelers also stayed longer than Americans.
According to Immigration Card data, Canadians averaged 11 nights on the island in January. Half stayed at resort hotels, while the other half chose other accommodations — a split that points to a mix of travelers, from traditional winter-sun vacationers to longer-stay visitors booking villas, apartments, and boutique properties.
The longer length of stay is significant. It means Curaçao isn’t just getting a quick beach-week traffic spike — it’s pulling travelers who are committing to a full Caribbean escape. Are you planning a vacation to Curacao? Here are our editors’ picks for the top places to stay on the island.
Curaçao’s January 2026 Performance, By the Numbers
The tourist board reports overall stayover arrivals rose 8 percent compared to January 2025, with 79,387 visitors arriving for overnight trips.
Demand was positive across most major regions:
South America increased by 15 percent, North America grew by 8 percent, and Europe rose by 6 percent.
The Caribbean region declined by 6 percent.
In absolute numbers, Europe remained Curaçao’s top source region with 28,922 stayover visitors, followed by North America with 25,651 and South America with 21,053.
Across all markets, visitors stayed an average of 9.4 nights in January, a 4 percent increase compared to January 2025 — another signal that travelers are staying longer, not just arriving in higher volume.
The Netherlands Is Still Curaçao’s Anchor Market
Curaçao’s top source market in January 2026 remained the Netherlands, with 24,443 visitors — a 6 percent increase compared to January 2025.
Dutch visitors also stayed the longest, averaging 13.7 nights. A majority (59 percent) chose non-resort accommodations, with 41 percent staying at resorts. That pattern continues to reflect Curaçao’s long-standing Dutch travel base, where repeat visitors often gravitate toward apartments, small hotels, and extended stays.
The United States Keeps Growing — But Canadians Are Outpacing It
The United States recorded 18,069 visitors in January 2026, a 2 percent increase compared to January 2025.
American visitors stayed an average of 6.4 nights, and most (63 percent) stayed in resort hotels.
It’s a steady increase, but compared to Canada’s 26 percent surge, the contrast is sharp: the U.S. market is growing, but Canada is accelerating.
Why Canadians Are Choosing Curaçao
The numbers show more than a seasonal bump. Canadians are arriving in higher volume and staying longer, which suggests Curaçao is becoming a more intentional choice for winter travel — not a backup plan.
Curaçao has long been positioned differently than many Caribbean islands: a mix of beach, walkable neighborhoods, strong dining, and an island culture that feels distinctly its own. It’s also one of the few destinations where you can spend part of a trip on a quiet stretch of sand, then be in the middle of Willemstad’s pastel waterfront and restaurant scene without needing to plan your day around long drives.
The length of stay from Canada also hints at how travelers are using the island. An 11-night average suggests Curaçao is landing as a full vacation, not a short escape.
Curaçao’s Total Arrivals in January 2026
The tourist board’s January report also included day-trippers and cruise passengers.
In total, Curaçao recorded 79,387 stayover arrivals, 3,720 day-trippers, 128,825 cruise passengers, accounting for 211,932 total arrivals in January 2026.
The Takeaway
Curaçao’s January 2026 numbers show a destination that’s holding strong in peak season, with growth across Europe, North America, and South America.
But Canada is the biggest story.
A 26 percent surge in arrivals and an 11-night average stay is a meaningful data point — one that suggests Canadians aren’t just visiting Curaçao more, they’re committing to it. It’s a trend that could only deepen as Canadians’ former top tourism target, Cuba, remains effectively off the market right now with flight cancellations from carriers like Air Canada and WestJet.
Caitlin Sullivan
2026-02-14 19:33:00