Curaçao seems like a relatively small island, but you are secretly an hour or more on the road if you want to go from Willemstad to the west of the island. In this blog you will read which means of transport are available on Curaçao and how you can best move yourself on the island!
Car
As an old Dutch colony, Curaçao has had many Dutch influences. Cycling is just not one of them! The island is not made for pedestrians either. To move yourself is a rent a car one of the most convenient means of transport on Curaçao. Because almost everyone on the island has a car, it can be very busy in the morning around 8:00 and in the evening around 17:00. If you want to discover the island quietly, it is useful to avoid this rush hour.
Driving on Curaçao will take some getting used to. There are officially traffic rules but they are taken closely. It is important to remember that straight ahead often has priority! This is only not the case if indicated otherwise with a traffic sign. Everyone drives at ease, which is also highly recommended because of the large potholes that can get in the way. However, other motorists can start honking fairly quickly, don't be alarmed by this! Once you get used to driving on the island, you will also see the charms of it. The average speed on the main roads is 80 km/h and on the smaller roads 50 km/h. But especially feel for yourself what is pleasant, except if this causes unsafe situations!
To be sure of a car on the island and to be cheaper than renting a car on location, it is recommended that you book your rental car to book! The costs for a rental car differ per company and type of car, but are on average between 65 ANG and 90 ANG per day (35 and 50 euros per day).
Bus
Want to take the time to enjoy the landscape of Curaçao? Then take the bus as one of the other means of transport on Curaçao! The local buses officially have a timetable where they run once every hour, but sometimes they run more often or unfortunately less often. If you want to get somewhere on time, this is also not the best option. The bus is little used by tourists, but it is the cheapest means of transport. An average ticket is between 1.50 ANG and 3.50 ANG (less than 2 euros!).
There are large buses that cover long distances and minibuses that do the island's shorter routes. Well-known boarding places for the big bus are in Punda and Otrobanda. The nice thing about a minibus is that the bus driver drives very flexibly without fixed stops. These buses can be recognized by the word 'Bus' on their license plate. You can stop the vans anywhere along the road and you will be dropped off again. So you can go anywhere! Because mainly the locals go by bus, this is a nice way to get to know the culture better. The people from Curaçao are very open and like to have a chat. Make sure you have cash with you, especially in the small buses it is not possible to use a debit card!
Cab
Had a party that was a bit too fun or no car available? Then a taxi is also a handy means of transport on Curaçao! The taxi’s on Curaçao are only on the pricey side. Agree a clear price in advance so that you are not faced with a big surprise at the end of the ride that your wallet will not be happy with either. There is no odometer in the taxi. The average costs for a taxi ride are easily between 70 and 90 ANG (40 and 50 euros). Make sure you always get into a reliable taxi. These can be recognized by the taxi signs on top of the car and the special license plates with 'TX' on them. Taxi drivers know the island through and through, so don't be afraid to ask about nice places!
Nice to know: The rate is often charged per person and after 23:00 a special night rate is charged, causing the prices to increase by 25%.
Fun Places
