Getting around Curaçao
Curaçao has no Uber or Lyft, and the Curaçao Tourist Board calls a car the easiest way to get around. Here is how the airport, licensed taxis, ABC buses, rental cars and boats fit together.
Airports
Flights to Curaçao land at Hato Curaçao International Airport (IATA code CUR):
Hato Curaçao International Airport
Hato, northwest of Willemstad
Official aeronautical data places the airport 4.5 nautical miles northwest of Willemstad (a map reference, not a driving distance). Car rentals, taxis and public transportation are listed at the airport
Klein Curaçao boat trips
Departures from Caracasbaai & Spanish Water
Klein Curaçao is an uninhabited island with no airport, reached by day-trip boat. The Curaçao Tourist Board gives the crossing as about 50 minutes; it varies with the vessel and departure point
Taxis & ride-sharing
Official Taxis
Taxis in Curaçao must be registered and carry license plates marked “TX”, according to the Government of Canada's travel advice. They are not metered and charge a flat rate by destination set by the government, and the same advice says to agree the fare before you leave. We found no current official fare table to quote (October 2026).
No Uber or Lyft, but a Taxi App
The Curaçao Tourist Board says there are no ride-sharing services such as Uber or Lyft in Curaçao. Licensed taxis can be ordered through 24-7 Taxi Curaçao, by mobile app, website or telephone.
Hiring a Taxi for a Beach Day
A taxi can stand in for a rental car on a west-coast beach day: Playa Porto Mari says taxi drivers bring visitors to the beach. Agree the route, the waiting time and the total fare before you leave.
Hotel Transfers
The Curaçao Tourist Board suggests checking whether your hotel offers a transfer service. As a guide to travel time, its listing for Livingstone Jan Thiel Resort puts that property 30 minutes from the airport and 10 minutes from historic Willemstad.
Public transportation
Konvoi Buses & Bus Chiki
The bus company ABC runs the large public “konvoi” buses; the smaller minibuses (“bus chiki”) are privately operated. On October 9, 2026 ABC listed ANG 2.00 for city and east-side routes and ANG 2.50 for western routes including Westpunt, paid in cash on the bus. ABC still prices in ANG, which the Caribbean guilder (XCG) replaced at 1:1 in 2025. Minibus fares were not verified.
Buses, the Airport and the Beaches
The airport operator says a public bus service is available near the airport. For the west-coast beaches, check the last stretch: Playa Porto Mari puts its nearest bus stop, at Willibrordus, about two miles from the beach. We could not read a current ABC timetable (October 2026), so confirm outbound and return times with ABC before you rely on a bus.
Punda and Otrobanda Terminals
ABC says all bus routes in Curaçao start or stop at the bus terminals in Punda or Otrobanda, on either side of the harbor in Willemstad. Check which terminal your route uses before you set out.
Renting a car
The Curaçao Tourist Board calls a car the easiest way to get around the island, and it is the simplest way to string several western beaches into one day. We found no dated official figure for a typical daily rate, so compare quotes for your own dates and check what taxes and insurance are included.
Good to Know
- •Car rentals are listed among the services at Hato airport
- •A valid driver's license from your home country is generally accepted; the Government of Canada confirms this for Canadian licenses and suggests carrying an International Driving Permit too
- •If your license is not in the Roman alphabet, the Curaçao Tourist Board says you will need an International Driving Permit as well
- •Minimum age and deposit conditions vary by agency, so confirm when booking
- •Some beaches charge per car: Cas Abao listed US$6 Monday to Saturday and US$7 on Sundays and holidays, for up to four people, in October 2026
Watch Out For
- •Traffic keeps to the right, and turning right on a red light is prohibited
- •Other drivers: Canada's travel advice says major roads are in good condition but many drivers do not respect traffic laws
- •Animals on the road, which Canada's travel advice lists as a hazard
- •Valuables left in a parked car: theft from vehicles is among the petty crimes Canada's travel advice lists
- •Photograph the car before you drive off
Ferries & boats
No scheduled ferries link Curaçao with neighboring islands, but boats serve Klein Curaçao, the harbor crossing in Willemstad and reefs you cannot reach from shore:
- Klein Curaçao day trips - day boats sail to the uninhabited island. The Curaçao Tourist Board gives the crossing as about 50 minutes, but the time depends on the vessel and the departure point, so ask your operator
- Otrobanda to Punda ferry - when the Queen Emma floating bridge swings open for ships, a small ferry called the ponchi carries pedestrians across free of charge. Curaçao Ports Authority scheduled the bridge out of service for maintenance from August 2 through September 25, 2026, so check curports.com for its current status
- Snorkel and dive charters - boats run along the calm leeward coast to reefs, the Mushroom Forest, and the Tugboat wreck
Quick cost comparison
| Transport | Typical Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Public bus (ABC) | ANG 2.00 to 2.50 (Oct 2026) | Budget travel between towns |
| Taxi | Flat rate by destination; agree first | Airport transfers, convenience |
| Taxi for the day | Agree a total in advance | A beach day without a rental car |
| Car rental | Varies; compare quotes | Exploring and reaching dive beaches |
| Otrobanda-Punda ferry (ponchi) | Free | Crossing the harbor in Willemstad |
| Klein Curaçao day trip | Per person | A full day on the island |
Need more travel tips?
Next: tipping, Papiamentu basics, mobile data and what to pack, on the local tips page.