The only taxi platform in Curaçao with in-app payment
Street taxis are cash only. With Kumbai you pay by card, Apple Pay, or wallet, directly in the app. Price locked upfront before your driver even moves. No ATM, no negotiating, no surprises.
📱 Download Kumbai, FreeCuraçao's nightlife scene is genuinely excellent. Pietermaai is one of the Caribbean's best bar strips, Mambo Beach runs late, and Punda comes alive every Thursday for the free street festival. But knowing how to get home before you go out makes the night a lot more relaxed.
Flying to Curaçao from Canada
Canada is the fastest-growing source market for Curaçao. Arrivals rose 22% year on year in April 2026 and 29% year to date, and Canadian visitors stay longer than almost anyone else. Around eleven nights, against an island average of 7.9.
Check the current schedule with the airline before booking. The Montréal service is seasonal and the winter timetable differs from summer.
What surprises Canadian visitors on arrival
The currency is not USD
Curaçao uses the Caribbean guilder (XCG), though US dollars are widely accepted. Canadian dollars are not. Many local taxis are cash-only — Kumbai takes card in the app, so you can skip the airport ATM queue.
There is no Uber or Lyft
Neither operates here, and they are not coming. Taxis run on government-set rates rather than a meter, and the fare is agreed before you travel. Full explanation here.
Arrivals are quiet but the queue is not
Hato handles several wide-body arrivals in tight windows. If your flight lands alongside the Amsterdam service, the taxi rank moves slowly. Pre-booking means your driver is waiting rather than you.
Eleven nights changes the maths
On a longer stay a rental car sits unused for most of the trip while still costing you daily. Paying per ride usually works out cheaper, see how getting around Curaçao works.
Getting from Hato Airport to your accommodation
Curaçao International (Hato) sits on the north coast. Almost everywhere Canadians stay is on the south side, which means a real transfer rather than a five-minute hop.
Full route pricing is on the taxi prices page, and airport specifics are covered in the airport transfer guide.
When Canadians should visit
Curaçao sits below the main hurricane belt and stays warm year round, so the decision is mostly about crowds and price rather than weather. January and February bring the peak of the Canadian and Dutch season plus Carnival, which is spectacular but busy. April through June is quieter with the same weather. See the full seasonal breakdown.
Frequently asked questions
Are there direct flights from Canada to Curaçao?
Yes. Toronto Pearson has non-stop service year round with Air Canada and WestJet, taking roughly five and a half hours. Montréal has a seasonal non-stop with Air Canada. From other Canadian cities you connect through Toronto, New York or Miami.
Is there Uber in Curaçao?
No. Neither Uber nor Lyft operates in Curaçao. Taxis work on government-set rates agreed before you travel, and Kumbai is the island's app-based alternative with the fare shown upfront.
Can I use Canadian dollars in Curaçao?
No. The local currency is the Caribbean guilder and US dollars are widely accepted, but Canadian dollars are not. Exchange before you arrive or pay by card: Kumbai accepts card payment in the app.
How long is the transfer from Hato Airport?
About 20 minutes to Willemstad, 25 to Mambo Beach, 30 to Jan Thiel, and 45 minutes to an hour to Westpunt and the far west of the island.
Do I need a rental car in Curaçao?
Not necessarily. Canadian visitors stay around eleven nights on average, and a car parked at the hotel for most of that still costs you daily. Paying per ride is often cheaper, and it removes parking and drink-driving concerns entirely.