Curaçao Transportation Guide

When planning your itinerary, budget and departures during your visit to Curaçao, every visitor is faced with this question: What is the most efficient and economical means of transportation to get around the island? Will it be enough to use public transportation? Is it possible to visit the beaches by public transportation? Among other questions.

The following is a practical guide to the transportation alternatives available in Curaçao:

CAR RENTAL:

At the moment, the supply of cars on the island is in great demand and in high season it is almost impossible to find this option. You can even read in many forums the despair of many tourists about to arrive who did not manage to reserve a car in time. This is because, on the one hand, public transportation on the island does not cover all tourist areas, on the other hand, cab service is expensive and depends on the area where you go, and because the streets of Curaçao are not adapted for walking or cycling.

At the end of this post, you will find our recommendation to rent your car and have it ready for your arrival at the airport in Curaçao.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION:

The public transportation company in Curacao is called Autobus Bedrijf Curacao (or ABC). As I mentioned, it has very limited coverage. Islanders who do not have a car, or young people who are still of school age and do not have a driver’s license or whose parents do not have a car, use the bus service to get to work, run errands or go to school. Precisely because this is the basic use it offers, it is not a service you will want to depend on to get the most out of your vacation or to go everywhere you could possibly want to go. Undoubtedly, it is very useful for a tour that allows you to get to know the different areas of the island, and to get from one place to another. But in many cases, you will have to walk some distance to get to the exact place you are going.

The bus service has 2 main stations: Punda station and Otrobanda station. Each station has busetas (buses) and konvois (large buses) that travel through the corresponding area (East / West). Buses have demarcated stops all over the island. These can be recognized by a yellow sign with the word “Bushalte” (Dutch for bus stop). Although in Papiamento, they simply call it ‘bòrchi’. While on a bus, you can ask the bus to stop at the next stop by simply saying “bòrchi.”

Through the following links you will be able to see the routes on the map of the island:
PUNDA ROUTE
OTROBANDA ROUTE

CAB SERVICE AND CAB FARES IN CURAÇAO

In Curaçao, cabs do not have a particular color or brand. However, you can identify them because the plate starts with TX and then the cab number. Each plate is unique. Cab drivers are supported by the government and have their own union. Cabs in Curaçao are not metered, but there are fixed prices that are determined according to the zones. Prices are also based on a maximum occupancy of 4 people per run, between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. That is, there will be surcharges for each extra person and if the cab ride is outside the above-mentioned schedules. The surcharge can be up to 25%. For example, 5 people: 25%, 6 people 50%, 7 people 75%, 8 people 100%) or if it is before 06:00am or after 11:00pm (25%). There may also be small surcharges for large or excessive baggage. Many cab drivers can also act as tour guides and will take passengers to different parts of the island. Fares are per cab, not per person.

Example of cab fares in Curaçao:

Airport (Zone 7) -> Jan Thiel (zone 3): USD 70
Airport (Zone 7) -> Piscadera (Zone 8: Marriott, Zoëtry, Dreams): USD 40
Airport (Zone 7) -> Otrobanda (Zone 5: Corendon, Kura Hulanda, Renaissance): USD 45
Airport (Zone 7) -> Seaquarium (Zone 4: Mambo Beach, LionsDive, Kontiki, Dolphin Suites): USD 60

Currently, there is also a cab dispatching center that allows you to book your cab. 24/7. It can be done by phone, website or app. (Tel: local 9-247/international +5999 844 9247). This service can be paid in cash or by credit card.

Cabs at the airport: You should be aware that not just any private car driver is allowed to provide cab service. Cab drivers in Curaçao have gone through a long process to be recognized as such service providers and to be licensed, which is both for the car and for themselves. If a private person offers to pick you up, it is best to have this person use the parking lot and wait in the arrivals lobby. Parking in the cab lane is not allowed for private cars.