Getting around on Curaçao
So, you are planning to come to Curaçao and you are doing research about the transportation from the Curaçao international airport to your desired accommodation on the island. At first, you think to yourself; I need to book a taxi. Therefore, you go on TripAdvisor or Google to do some research on the rates and services and quickly realize that it might not be the way to go. You then decide to check with your hotel or accommodations to see if they offer a shuttle service from the airport and unfortunately, to your surprise the accommodation you are booked with does not offer this kind of service. What now? Well, if your natural next step was to book an UBER service, you are pretty much out of luck! Unfortunately, Curaçao does not have UBER or other ride-sharing services. How come there are no ride-sharing services like UBER on Curaçao?
The island of Curaçao has always depended on taxi drivers when it comes to transportation services for tourists. This was very optimal for tourists that were visiting the island in the ’80s, ‘90s, or even early 2000s, but we know that with time there is always change. This is also the case when it comes to the trends of current tourists. Travelers of this day in age are more likely to do their own research and they prefer to have more options when it comes to their vacation. This is also the case when it comes to transportation whilst on vacation. [1]
Even though the island has had a lot of growth in the tourism sector, it is still stuck in time when it comes to laws and regulations regarding the transportation of tourists. The government has not made any changes in the laws to allow permits to be issued to either independent drivers or companies such as UBER. There is currently no sign that they are working towards a more open and equal market when it comes to this issue. This means that for now, we will not have ridesharing companies on the island to better accommodate the needs of these new types of travelers.
Ways of getting around the island
Do not get too worried, it isn’t all bad news. There are still options when it comes to transportation on the island of Curaçao. We have listed these options from low to high budget travelers, this list is also from longest to shortest time per trip.[2]
Low budget traveler: For the budget traveler that prefers to spend more on activities when on vacation, and not on transportation. Public transportation will be the way to go. The local bus company Autobusbedrijf Curaçao has busses running around the clock to get you where you need to be for a fair price of approximately $2 USD per ride. They also have busses that depart from the airport to downtown Punda Willemstad. From there you could connect to other destinations around the island. You just need to plan your trip so you do not get mixed up when taking the bus. Please visit Autobusbedrijf Curaçao’s website to view the bus schedules
Medium budget traveler: This is for the tourist that does not mind driving on the island. There are a lot of different car rental companies on the island. The most known car rental companies are located at the exit of the arrival area of the airport. Companies such as Hertz and Budget. There are also very highly rated locally owned companies, that can shuttle you from the airport to your rental car. These companies are always ready to go the extra mile when it comes to service. Some companies that you could consider are; D&D car rental, Advance car rental, and Just drive car rental just to mention a few. The option of renting a car means that you will have more liberty to discover the island on your own. Prices for a rental could start from as low as $40 USD per day and might also include a GPS with the vehicle.
High budget traveler: This is the traveler that does not mind paying an extra buck for ease of mind and speedy transportation. Taxis are very commonly used by visitors to the island. Taxies will be stationed right outside of the arrivals area at the airport. You can recognize a taxi by their license plates. The license plate will have the letter TX on them with some numbers (ex: TX 101). Just keep in mind that the taxis of the island do not use a meter so have in mind that they will stipulate the fare depending on where you want to go. Normally a ride could be between $40 - $70 USD from the airport.
So, there you have it. Let us know what you think about the transportation for tourists on Curaçao. Do you think we need more options when it comes to transportation on the island?
Let us help you plan for your vacation to Curaçao, arrange a consultation with us so we can answer all your questions regarding the island of Curaçao, visit Gone Caribe consultation for more information. join us for a private tour of the island Visit Gone Caribe to get started today.
[1] Why riders choose UBER: https://www.investopedia.com/articles/markets/063016/4-reasons-why-riders-choose-uber.asp
[2] Getting around in Curaçao: https://travel.usnews.com/Curacao/Getting_Around/
Joey - Gone Caribe