Shall I rent a car or can I take a bus when in Curacao?

How does public transportation work in Curaçao?

• You have a public bus service in Willemstad in two locations in Punda and in Otrobanda. Both are starting and ending points of travel routes. The bus times are stated. There are big buses and smaller vans (with the destination written on the window). 
• The schedule of the big buses you can check on the written bus schedule or on the ABC- Curacao app. I do not think it is very easy to use the app, but for me it is to get a feel of things/directions and rough schedules. The vans go when they go. Both are cheap, around 2-3 Naf (1-2 euro), you can pay cash (coins) inside at the driver. In the bus before you enter and in the vans when you exit.

What are my experiences with public transportation in Curaçao?

• I had to go to the dentist, it was an emergency appointment that I had to make, and I had 35 minutes to get there. I check first my maps.me (offline on the road maps) where I need to be, then I check the ABC Curacao app. I noticed the bus stop and I decided to take the bus. The small vans are not stated in the app. The bus was nowhere to be found at the given times and I got a little nervous and regretting my choice. I asked a woman at the bus stop, she didn't know what bus I should take, but asked someone else for me. They said something I didn't understand, but I tried to remember what she said. I went after her in the bus, she said no and screamed to others (other passengers waiting at the bus station) where I had to go and if they could let me know and put me in the bus. The next person left in his bus, and asked another person. The other person really helped me in the good van. I think around 10 people helped me. In the small van, the driver said no I don't go there which was kind of strange. I said I will go a bit with you and see from there, and walk, since I ran out of time (and a lot of small fully occupied vans already passed me). The driver became friendlier during the trip and at the end put me on the road, 100 meters from my destination, I made it! On time! I believe the vans prefer stopping at a bus stop, but are also able to drop you of anywhere. 

What is my advice when taking public transportation in Curacao?

• As I went along, I understood more and more: you have to tell the driver in the vans, before you enter, first Buen dia (matter of courtesy) and then where exactly you like to go... They will drop you off at the entrance of your destination! It is incredible, it is more like a shared taxi. That is why all the vans ride different routes. Sometimes the driver says no, but then I say... I can stop nearby and walk as well. Most of the time, they will take you.
• When you have traveled a bit on the island, you know where the vans go (in general), sometimes it is better to walk a little bit farther away and the road will be more popular, so there will be more opportunities to take a van! You will see people under trees, in the shade waiting and you can just ask if this is the right spot to wait, they will explain and help you, at least they helped me, multiple times already. I had many positive encounters, smiles on the way and nowadays I already say hi at my busstop. They asked me the other day, did you find last week your destination in Santa Rosa? 
• The way going to a more isolated place with public transportation (for example the second hand store in Brievengat) has the disadvantage that on the way back, you might have to walk a little bit further to a more popular busstop, since not many people are likely to be dropped of at the same place. Then, the positive thing is, sometimes a car stops... There was in my case a guy in the car, he was old, so I thought I could have him, in the case he would attack me, always have to be mindful and do some risk management. He only wanted to help me and dropped me of at the busstop, the busstop went to Otrabanda instead of Punda, so I had to walk back or you take the vans with the sign Rond on it, they go around... 

What about renting a car in Curaçao?

• Everyone is telling me to rent a car. It is not that I don't want to rent a car but I am not so fond of driving (lightly stated and I am alone, so what is the use to go by myself and drive a bit), so I rather wait and be less mobile than stressing in unknown traffic and roads.
• I am so lucky that I have hitching rides with people I have just met. Their take is be careful at the round about, people don't stay in the same lane.
• When the traffic light turns orange, do not stop, but speed up to make it.
• People are friendly in traffic and let you go first (in a car and wlaking) even though, rules state differently.
• Sometimes they turn on their lights to signal or honk. Honking has nothing to do with danger, but it is a friendly hey thank you, hey look at me, I give you a chance to zip in traffic.
• When you drive drunk, it is common to drive without lights, or put your direction pointers on. That is a story of a long time ago, not really appreciated nowadays or in general.
• There are places where they rent out cars, and the owners say I don't mind a scratch more, but don't ask me for help when you are at the side of the road. Okay...noted, not so bad.

Should you, or should you not take public transportation in Curaçao?

• Yes, when you have time and when you are able to walk short distances. I would definitely say yes. It was in a way in retrospect a very nice experience, I felt helped, I felt that the community cared, and I waited just like everyone else. 
• On the weekends, not sure about the schedules but why not? I always try to not travel during lunch breaks.

Should you or should you not rent a car when you are in Curaçao?

• Depends on where you are staying, how long you are staying, and what your wishes are. In the place I stay Pietermaai, chosen with the fact in mind, that I don't like driving. The place is convenient and is close to restaurants, close to a small place to go in the water, close to the action, there is a simple convenience store. For me that is enough. But when you are further away, do not have much time, and you want to see a lot or go out at night, then it might be hard without a car. I do not feel the real need to see another beach, I have seen some, and those some beaches are reached with public transportation. One of my friends said that she is afraid of driving in the Netherlands, and loves driving in Curaçao, since she drives with intuition, and you "feel" if they let you go first or not. That is also a take on it all. 

How does it work to take a taxi in Curaçao?

• The taxi app 24-7 is a local Uber or Bolt, it is not cheap, but renting a car is more expensive and drunk driving can lead to all kinds of negative outcomes. So for me, in case of emergency, it is so much worth it.