Tour & Activity Scams in Willemstad, Curacao
Unlicensed guides, fake tickets, bait-and-switch excursions, and ticket scalping. Below are the tour & activities scams reported in Willemstad — how they work and how to avoid them.
For broader context, compare this scam type with nearby destinations like Punta Cana, San José, and Havana.
Last updated: April 2, 2026
5
Tour & Activities Scams
11
Total in Willemstad
How it works
Curacao has some of the Caribbean's best shore diving, attracting numerous small operators. A subset of budget operators advertise dive trips with "PADI-certified instructors" whose actual certifications are expired or falsified. Diving with an uncertified guide significantly increases safety risks.
How it works
Promoters working the Mambo Beach Boulevard and the adjacent Jan Thiel Beach area approach tourists with scratch cards or free activity vouchers, then pressure them into attending a 90-minute timeshare presentation that routinely runs three to four hours. Participants who resist the hard sell are sometimes told their free gift is unavailable until they sign an expression of interest.
How it works
Sunset catamaran cruises are heavily marketed near the Rif Fort in Willemstad, and some operators add bar tabs and "docking fees" on top of the advertised all-inclusive rate. Others advertise dinner on board but deliver only snacks and charge extra for the meal.
How it works
The iconic Queen Emma pontoon bridge and the colorful UNESCO-listed Handelskade waterfront attract unofficial guides who approach tourists and begin narrating history unprompted, then demand $20–$40 for the "tour" once you have been walking with them for several minutes.
How it works
The Curacao Ostrich Farm near Dokterstuin is one of the island's most popular family attractions, and scalpers occasionally sell fake or overpriced tickets near the entrance gate, particularly when cruise ships are in port and demand spikes.
See all scams in Willemstad
11 total warnings across all categories