Ins and outs
Getting there
There are daily, non-stop flights to Amsterdam, the USA and Venezuela. There are also direct flights from Suriname, Colombia, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, the Dominican Republic, Bonaire, Aruba and St Maarten. Other flights connect in Miami or San Juan. Curaçao has good links with South America and it is easy to get to from Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador. The Curaçao International Airport at Hato is about 12 km from Willemstad and if you don’t want to pay for a taxi there are buses to Punda and Otrobanda. For US military reasons, the airport has the biggest runway in the Caribbean at 3,410 metres in length and 60 meters in width, capable of handling almost any type of aircraft.
Curaçao
Air
Airlines
KLM, Promenade Shopping Centre, Schottegatweg Oost, T7361422; Insel Air, Dokweg 19, Maduro Plaza, T7331521.
At the airport are: Aeropostal Alas de Venezuela, T8882808; Aerovías de Integración Regional (AIRES), T8883431; Air Jamaica, T8881919; American Airlines/American Eagle, T8695707, T800-4337300; Arkefly, T8686811; Aserca, T8680778; Avior, T8681912; Avianca, T8680122; Delta, T8886644; Divi Divi, T8881050; Dutch Antilles Express, T8682233, call centre T07170808; Surinam Airways, T8689600.
Bus
There are collective taxis taking 9 passengers, called ‘bus’, and identified by an BUS on their licence plates. Konvoois are big yellow or blue buses which run to a schedule and serve outlying areas of Curaçao. The fare for the Konvooi is NAf1 for rides within the city and to the east, or NAf1.50 for rides to the west. There is a terminal at the post office by the circular market in Punda and another near the Rif Fort in Otrobanda. At the bus station at Otrobanda a schedule (Buki di Bus) is available. The small buses go more often than the Konvooi but have no schedule. The price fluctuates between NAf1.25-1.75, depending on where you’re heading. To the airport get a bus marked Hato from Punda at 15 mins past the hr from 0615 to 2315, or from Otrobanda at 15 mins past the hr from 0615 to 2320, returning on the hr, usually full. Buses to Westpunt leave from Otrobanda on the odd hr, last bus 2300, return on the even hr. Buses and minibuses to Dominguito (the Seaquarium) and Caracas Bay run from Punda. A bus marked Schottegat runs from Punda via the Trupial Inn and Casino, the Curaçao Golf and Squash Club, the Jewish cemetery and the Curaçao Museum to Otrobanda. The Lagun and Knip bus route leaves Otrobanda at half past the even hr in the mornings and on the odd hr in the afternoons via the Curaçao Museum, the University, Landhuis Jan Kok, Santa Cruz beach, Jeremi beach, Lagun Beach and Bahia beach, returning from Knip on the alternate hr. While the service in and around Willemstad is efficient, the service to Westpunt is erratic and planning is needed to avoid getting stranded. The standard city bus fare is NAf1 with no apparent timetables or bus stops. Outside town you may get charged a variety of fares, particularly on minibuses. Check beforehand or ask what others are paying.
Car
Traffic circulates on the right.
Car hire
Foreign and international driving licences are accepted. Companies include: Avis, T4611255, http://www.avis.com; Budget, best rates, ask for specials or coupons, T8683466, http://www.curacao-budgetcar.com; Europcar/ National, T8694433, www.nationalcuracao .com; Star Rent a Car, T4627444; Vista Rent-a-Car, T7378871. Prices start at about US$30 daily, US$180/week; jeeps, minimokes, buggies, scooters and bikes also available.
Motorcycles/Scooters/Bicycles
American Scooter, T4650772, http://www.american-scooter.com. Tours, rentals and sales of scooters.
The Bike Shop, T5603882, jackbikeshop@hotmail.com. Motorbike rental and ATV tours.
Bon Bini Brommie, T5236203. For motorbike rental and tours.
Scooby’s Rental Scooters, T5238618, http://www.scooterscuracao.com. Rentals and tours.
Wanna Bike Curaçao, T5273720, info@wannabike.net. Mountain bike tours.
Taxi
It is not always possible to get a taxi to the airport early in the morning or late at night so if you are going to a night club arrange your taxi in advance (sometimes the driver will turn up a little early and join you on the dance floor).
Taxi fares are fixed. Fares from the airport to Van der Valk Plaza or Avila Beach, US$22-24; Lion’s Dive, US$27-29; Habitat Dive Resort, US$38-40. Rates are for 4 passengers, each additional passenger pays an additional 25% each. Fares increase by 25% 2300-0600. Airport displays taxi fares to main hotels. Try and pay in guilders as taxi drivers do not always have the right change for dollars. Fares for sightseeing trips should be established at beginning of trip, the usual price is US$20 for the 1st hr and US$5 for each subsequent 15 mins. Tipping is not strictly obligatory. The high price of taxis is a common complaint. Taxis do not always go looking for business and it can be difficult to hail one. Best to telephone from a hotel lobby or restaurant/bar, one will arrive in a couple of mins, or go to a taxi stand and just get into an empty car, the driver will then turn up. Taxi stands are outside hotels, in Punda and Otrobanda, or at the airport. Drivers do not always know the area as well as they should, even restaurants can sometimes be tricky for them to find. Courtesy vans operated by the hotels can be more comfortable. For taxi fares or complaints T163.
Directory
Curaçao
Banks ABN-AMRO Bank; Antilles Banking Corp; Maduro & Curiel Bank, Plaza Jojo Correa, T4611100; Banco di Caribe, Schottegatweg Oost, T4616588. Banking hours are 088-1530 Mon-Fri. At the airport the bank is open Mon-Sat 0800-2000, Sun 0900-1600. ATMs at ABN-AMRO Bank and Maduro & Curiel Bank (Visa, Mastercard and Cirrus, issuing either US$ or Naf).
Internet
There are lots of internet cafés in Willemstad, offering internet access, international phone calls, scanners, printers, photocopying, CD burning and fax. In addition, the public library, Chumaceiro Blvd 17, T4345200, has public internet terminals. Wireless hotspots can be found at the airport, cafés and many hotels.
Telephone
Local companies are UTS (United Telecommunication Services), Rigelweg 2, T7770101, and CT (Curaçao Telecom), Schottegatweg Oost 19, T7361056. International roaming is available for mobile phones in Curaçao, but if it is not available with your local network, you can either opt for a rental cellular phone, or buy a pre-paid chip and number for your own phone from UTS or CT.
Library
The public library, T4617055, is a modern building in Scharloo, cross the bridge by the floating market, turn right along the water and it is on your left. The Reading Room has books in Dutch, English, Spanish, French and Papiamento.
Medical services
The 550-bed St Elisabeth Hospital is well equipped and modern with good facilities including a coronary unit and a recompression chamber (T4624900). For emergencies, T910 (hospital), T912 (ambulance). The Sentro Mediko Santa Rosa, at Santa Rosaweg 329, daily 0700-0000, laboratory on the premises. For minor complaints, over-the-counter medicines can be bought at a local pharmacy (botika). Most are open all day until 1900 and some stay open 24 hours on a rotating schedule.
Police and fire
T911.
