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Curaçao airport transfers

Curaçao airport transfers

The airport is 15 to 20 minutes from Willemstad. Here is how taxis, pre-booked transfers, buses and hire cars compare when you land.

Photo: Coolcaesar, CC BY 4.0

Curaçao International Airport (CUR) sits about 12 km north-west of Willemstad. There is no train or metro, so everyone leaves by road. Drive times are short: around 15 to 20 minutes to the city centre, 25 to 30 minutes to Mambo Beach or Jan Thiel, and roughly 45 minutes to an hour to Westpunt in the far west.

Official airport taxis

Licensed taxis wait outside the arrivals hall at all hours. They are recognisable by number plates starting with TX. There are no meters: fares are fixed by zone and the price is for the car, not per person, for up to four passengers. Ask the driver to confirm the fare to your hotel before you load the bags, and check whether it is quoted in US dollars or guilders. A 25% surcharge applies late at night (roughly 23:00 to 06:00) and for a fifth passenger.

Tip: most drivers accept US dollars and guilders in cash. If you have only euros or cards, use an ATM in the arrivals hall first, or pre-book a transfer you can pay for online.

Pre-booked private transfers

A pre-booked transfer means a driver waiting with your name at arrivals and a price agreed in advance. It is especially useful if you land late, travel with children (you can request child seats), have a lot of luggage or are heading to a villa that is hard to find in the dark. Compare options on GetYourGuide or Viator, and check that the price is per vehicle and includes waiting time if your flight is delayed. Many resorts also offer their own airport shuttle, so ask your hotel before you book.

Hire car from the airport

If you plan to rent a car anyway, collecting it at the airport saves a taxi fare on both ends. Several international and local companies have desks or shuttles at CUR. Book ahead in high season and around Dutch school holidays, when cars can run short. Our car hire guide explains what to check, and you can compare airport rates on DiscoverCars. From the airport, follow signs for Willemstad; you will be on the ring road within minutes.

Public bus

Public buses connect the airport with the bus station in Otrobanda in Willemstad. They are very cheap, but they run roughly hourly at best, finish in the evening and run less often on Sundays. With a suitcase and a late arrival, the bus is rarely worth the saving. It can work if you land in daytime, travel light and are staying in or near Otrobanda.

Good to know: flights from Amsterdam usually land in the afternoon, local time. Fill in your Digital Immigration Card before you fly so you don't lose time at immigration, and download offline maps or set up an eSIM so you can navigate as soon as you land.

Which option suits you?

  • Staying in Willemstad or Pietermaai without a car: taxi or pre-booked transfer.
  • Exploring the island: pick up a hire car at the airport.
  • Late arrival, kids or a remote villa: pre-booked transfer.
  • Travelling light on a tight budget: the bus, in daytime.

Frequently asked questions

How much is a taxi from Curaçao airport to Willemstad?

Taxis charge fixed government zone fares per car rather than using meters. Rates change, so confirm the fare to your hotel with the driver before you set off.

Is there a bus from Curaçao airport?

Yes, public buses run to Willemstad's Otrobanda bus station, but only about once an hour at best and less in the evening and on Sundays.

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