Wondering how to pay for metro and bus rides in Curacao - cash only, or do cards work too?
Your best bet for paying for a bus or minivan ride in Curaçao is with cash, specifically the Netherlands Antillean Guilder (ANG). The public transport system doesn't have any card payment facilities. While the ABC bus company does offer a SmartPass card, it's primarily for residents and requires a trip to their main office to get. For tourists, it's just not practical. You can pay with USD, as it’s widely accepted, but you’ll often get a better rate and avoid confusion if you use the local ANG currency, especially for small transactions like bus fares.
Absolutely, you need cash. There's no metro, and the buses and minivans run on a cash-only system. The fares are really cheap, like 2-3 ANG, and you just hand the money to the driver as you get on. It’s always best to have exact change or something close to it, as the drivers don't always have a lot of change. I learned this the hard way when I tried to pay with a 20 ANG bill. The drivers for the smaller minivans, in particular, prefer exact change. Keep a good stash of ANG on hand for your daily travel.
So, for public transport in Curaçao, forget about using your credit or debit card. There is no metro, and the large buses (Konvoi) and smaller minivans (BUS.) all require you to pay the driver directly with cash. It's a bit old school, so make sure you have small bills and coins. The fares are a flat rate for a ride, so it’s not like you’re trying to pay a huge amount, but I've seen tourists get caught out with only a large bill. The fare is usually around ANG 2.40, and the drivers don't carry much change.
From my recent travels, I can tell you that in Curaçao, you'll want to have cash on you for bus rides. The public bus system, run by the Autobusbedrijf Curaçao (ABC) and also the smaller minivans, operates on a cash-only basis. The fares are very affordable, usually between 2 and 5 Netherlands Antillean Guilders (ANG). While a few major hotels and restaurants accept cards, you won't find a card reader on a bus. I’d recommend withdrawing cash from a local bank ATM like Maduro & Curiel's Bank or Banco di Caribe as soon as you arrive.