If you’re trying to figure out the best beaches in Curaçao, this is where having a plan matters. The beaches aren’t all in one place—you’ll be driving between them—and they feel completely different from each other. Some are easy, some are low-key, and some are just better than others.
This is based on the beaches I went to, what I liked, and what I’d skip next time.
If you’re planning your full trip, check out my guide on Curaçao Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors to map out your days alongside these beaches.
If you’re flying in, I usually check flight options on Skyscanner first—it makes it easy to compare times and prices without opening ten tabs.
Most of the best beaches in Curaçao are on the west side of the island, so it’s easiest to group them into one day.
A few things that make your day smoother:
Also, I always throw a small dry bag and a portable charger in my beach bag—between swimming, navigating, and taking photos, your phone drains faster than you think.
These are the ones I’d prioritize first.
Entrance fee is around $6, and it’s easy to get to with clear, calm water.
This was my favorite overall. It’s more low-key, crystal clear water, and you can stay for a few hours without feeling like you need to move on (which is rare when you’re trying to see everything in one day).
No entrance fee, easy access, and the water color is the brightest blue I saw on the island.
This is the one you’ve probably seen in photos—and it lives up to it. It’s more popular, but still worth it.
If you want a deeper breakdown of timing, parking, and what to expect, learn more in my post about Grote Knip Curaçao Beach Guide (What to Know Before You Go).
Entrance fee is around $3.50.
This one stands out because of the pigs and the snorkeling. It’s more active and a little more crowded, but still worth visiting. We even saw a sea turtle here (which immediately makes any beach better).
If snorkeling is a priority, these are the ones to focus on.
This is the best snorkeling spot on the island.
There’s a shipwreck right offshore, and you can swim to it easily. If you’re only doing one snorkeling stop, this is it.
You can also book a guided snorkeling experience here through GetYourGuide if you want gear included and someone to point everything out—it’s helpful if you don’t want to figure it all out yourself.
You’ll drive down a dirt road to get here—it’s a little bumpy but manageable.
It’s quieter than Tugboat and still a good snorkeling spot, so it’s a solid backup if Tugboat feels too crowded.
This is a smaller beach with calm water and easy snorkeling right from shore. It’s simple and fun.
These feel a little more tucked away.
Small, quiet, and less crowded.
This is where you go when you want to slow things down a bit (and not feel like you’re constantly competing for space).
Right next to Grote Knip, but smaller and less busy.
Same water color, fewer people—which is a pretty good trade.
Another smaller beach that feels more relaxed.
Nothing flashy here, just a solid, easy beach stop.
These stand out for completely different reasons.
You will see sea turtles here—but go early.
It gets crowded quickly, and there are usually a lot of people in the water. Still worth it, just plan your timing so you’re not shoulder-to-shoulder trying to see them.
The pigs are what make this one different.
It’s not the most relaxing beach, but it’s memorable—and between the snorkeling and the setup, it ends up being one of the more fun stops.
These are the simplest to get to.
Entrance fee is around $3.50+, and this area is built up with beach clubs and restaurants.
It’s easy, but it feels more like “Florida meets Curaçao”—more crowded and less scenic compared to the west side beaches.
Entrance fee ranges from $3–$6.
Another easy option with restaurants and beach clubs. More going on, less of that quiet beach feel.
This just wasn’t my favorite.
Between the crowds and how built up it is, it didn’t compare to the other beaches on the island but I like the more rugged feel.
It’s a small cove with nice water and decent snorkeling, but it didn’t stand out.
With limited time, there are better beaches to prioritize.
If you want to hit multiple best beaches in Curaçao in one day, this is the easiest way to do it.
Start at Playa Piskado for turtles—go early.
Head to Playa Kenepa Grandi.
Stop at Playa Forti.
The view here is great, and you can cliff jump if you want (or just watch other people do it, which is what I did after eating).
Pick one:
This keeps everything in the same area and avoids unnecessary driving.
Save this for later on Pinterest so you have it when you’re planning.
If you want a more detailed breakdown of this exact route, check out my guide on West Side Beach Hopping in Curaçao: Porto Mari & Grote Knip Guide.
The best beaches in Curaçao aren’t all in one place, but that’s part of what makes it fun.
If you group your days by area and don’t try to do everything at once, you’ll get a lot more out of each stop (and spend less time in the car).
If I had to prioritize:
That’s a solid starting point. If you’re still deciding if it’s worth the trip, check out my Is Curaçao Worth Visiting? Honest Pros and Cons guide.
When you’re planning where to stay, I’d look for hotels closer to Willemstad or along the west side depending on your itinerary—you can browse hotels in Curaçao here to compare locations and pricing.
Let’s talk about when to actually book that Dubai trip you’ve been pinning for two years. I get asked this constantly, so here’s the honest breakdown: October through April is your window. Anything outside that and you’re basically touring in a sauna!
October and November give you warm days and cooler nights, which is basically the sweet spot for wandering around without melting. December through February is peak season: gorgeous weather. March and April are the quiet insider pick, right before summer heat shows up and ruins everyone’s plans.
Saving this for later? That’s what it’s here for. Full breakdown linked in bio.
If you’re chasing energy, beaches, nightlife, and nonstop luxury, Dubai takes the crown. If you’re craving culture, iconic architecture, and meaningful landmarks at a slower pace, Abu Dhabi shines.🤍
My advice? Base yourself in Dubai and do Abu Dhabi as a day trip! The perfect balance of excitement and culture in the UAE.
Want the full breakdown? Check out my Dubai and Abu Dhabi guide for tips, itineraries, and must-sees!
I do not like seafood. 🐟 So when I booked a tasting menu at a restaurant built around aquarium walls at Atlantis The Palm, I was nervous.
Ossiano sits underwater fish gliding past the whole meal, moody lighting, the kind of room that makes you lower your voice without meaning to. It’s not cheap, and it’s not trying to be. You’re paying for the entire experience.
Here’s the honest part: they have a vegetarian tasting menu, and I assumed it would be an afterthought. It ended up in my top five meals of all time. Course after course, the same care and precision as the seafood-forward menu everyone comes for. They even swapped in a steak for the main and it still felt cohesive with everything around it.
By course four you’re full. They bring out three more breads anyway. I ate all of it. No regrets.
Small detail that stuck with me my dress was black, so they swapped my napkin from white to black without me asking. That’s the kind of thing that tells you everything about a place.
Full breakdown of the menu, the vegetarian option, and what to expect linked in bio.
Dubai is all skyline until you drive an hour into the dunes and it goes completely silent. Bab Al Shams was that shift for us: slower, quieter, more intentional than anything we did in the city.
If you want nightlife or walkable everything, this isn’t your stop. But if you want a night that feels like a reset, it delivers, polished service, food I’m still thinking about, and a setting that never tries too hard.
Full review (and whether it’s worth adding to your Dubai itinerary) is linked in bio. 🏜️
I flew @emirates economy to Dubai fully expecting to just survive the flight. We booked seats by the exit row — @bradplummer1 got the legroom (he’s 6’7”), I got a normal seat right next to him, and it saved us money over booking two extra-legroom seats. Smart trick if you’re traveling with someone who needs the extra space and you don’t.
The food alone earned this post. Warm chicken, a Waldorf salad that actually tasted fresh, real butter on the roll, and a breakfast spread that put most airport brunches to shame. Add in the twinkling-star cabin lighting once dinner wrapped, and it felt less like a flight and more like the trip had already started.
Not everything was perfect — the wifi didn’t work for me at all, so if you’re planning to get work done in the air, download what you need beforehand. But that was the only miss in an otherwise excellent long haul.
If you’ve got Emirates lounge access in Dubai, use it. Showers, buffets, quiet corners to nap it makes the layover feel like a reset instead of a slog.
Full review seats, food, lounge, and the wifi situation is on the blog. Link in bio. ✈️
Follow @travelwithwendyplummer for Beautiful Beach Destinations, City Guides, Foodie Spots, and Luxury Hotel Recommendations.
