Daytime only, Public Bus 2A is for ultra-budget arrivals
From Hato (CUR) you pay around ANG 2–3 instead of a US $35–40 taxi, but Public Bus 2A doesn’t come into the terminal and there is no signed airport city bus stop outside the arrivals area.
To even try Public Bus 2A, you first walk 8–10 minutes from the terminal out to the main road in front of Hato, then wait at an informal roadside stop where locals say buses have no tight timetable and may bunch or not show.
Routes and numbers like “2A” are usually posted only in Papiamentu on the bus itself, not in English on boards, which matches one TripAdvisor report calling the airport–Willemstad buses “infrequent and confusing unless you speak Papiamentu and know the routes.”
Facebook group comments from Curaçao residents repeatedly say that buses from near CUR can stop running by early evening, so aiming for Public Bus 2A or any local line after about 18:00–19:00 gets risky fast.
One traveller in a Curaçao Facebook group described having to “walk out to the road and hoping one comes” and said this was “not realistic with luggage after a long flight,” then ended up paying the standard airport taxi price instead.
Locals replying in the same groups often tell tourists to stick to official airport taxis or rental cars, pointing out that the bus network from CUR is infrequent, poorly signed, and mainly used by people who already know the system.
How to attempt Public Bus 2A from CUR (if you still want to)
- 1. Land in full daylight. Aim to be outside arrivals by 15:00 at the latest; after early evening, locals say buses thin out or stop.
- 2. Exit and walk to the main road. From the terminal door, walk about 600–800 meters toward the main road in front of the airport, following the car exit, then turn toward town-side traffic.
- 3. Find any informal bus stop. Look for locals waiting by a pole or shelter; there is usually no “Airport” sign, no English information, and no posted 2A timetable.
- 4. Ask the driver for “Willemstad” or your area. When a bus labeled with a number such as 2A or another town line stops, ask the driver directly if it goes toward Willemstad or a terminal where you can transfer.
- 5. Pay in cash only. Have small bills in Netherlands Antillean guilders or USD; fares for a single ride sit roughly in the ANG 2–3 range, paid on boarding.
- 6. Be ready to connect again. To reach many resorts or neighborhoods you may need a second local bus from a central hub in Willemstad, which adds another ANG 2–3 and more waiting.
- 7. Bail out if it’s taking too long. If no bus appears after 30–40 minutes, or it’s getting dark, walk back to the terminal and take an official taxi instead.
Practical tip: Screenshot a Curaçao bus map and “2A” info, then ask a local at the main-road stop, in simple English or using Google Translate, “Bus to Willemstad?” before you commit to riding.