Renting a Car in Curaçao: Everything First-Time Visitors Should Know

Public transport on Curaçao is limited, and the best beaches sit at the end of dirt roads no bus reaches. A rental car turns the whole island into your itinerary — here's how to do it without surprises.

Driving basics

Curaçao drives on the right, like the Netherlands and the US. An international permit isn't usually required for short stays, but check your rental agreement.

Roads and signage

Main routes are paved and easy; the dirt tracks to western beaches like Playa Lagun are rougher. A small SUV earns its keep out west. Watch for free-roaming goats and iguanas, especially at dawn and dusk.

Fuel and navigation

Fill up in or near Willemstad before heading to remote corners — stations thin out fast. Offline maps are smart; some western roads have patchy signal.

Insurance

Take the collision waiver. The combination of narrow lanes, loose gravel, and unfamiliar terrain makes scrapes more likely than you'd think.

Drive defensively, give the goats right of way, and you'll see a Curaçao most package tourists never reach.