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.
Pack your bags... ✈️🧳My hiking and road trip gear shop just got a refresh, and this is everything that actually earns a spot in my bag. The dry bag pulls double duty for beach days and trail days, the Osprey backpack is the one I grab for anything motorcycle or day-hike related, and the GoPro comes with me literally everywhere at this point.
Nothing on this list is filler it’s all stuff I’ve used, packed, and repacked more times than I can count. Full shop linked in my bio if you want to build out your own kit before your next trip.
Filing this one under “go now before it gets cold.” Bonneville Hot Springs is one of those trips where fall access is honestly the sweet spot the campground road is open, the hike in is short, and you skip the snow-and-gate situation we dealt with when we went in March.
September and early fall mean clearer trails, easier parking, and pools that are just as good without the extra mile of hiking to earn them. Fewer than 10 people out there when we visited, a rustic changing booth, zero amenities, and pools that range from “relax” to “actually scalding” until you move some rocks around and mix in river water. Small waterfalls feeding in, mountains in every direction, not polished, and that’s exactly the point.
Full breakdown on parking, what to pack, and timing it right is linked in my bio.
Summer’s not even over and I already have the itch. Fall hiking season is calling and I am answering.
Save this if you feel the itch too.🍁
Columbus hotel roundup because “just find something downtown” isn’t a strategy✈️
I stayed across the price spectrum on this one so I could actually compare notes. Hotel LeVeque is the splurge Art Deco lobby, marble bathrooms, and a restaurant (The Keep) worth visiting even if you don’t book a room. If you want to walk everywhere, Le Méridien puts you right in the Short North with murals and shops outside your door. And if budget’s the priority, Aloft gets you clean and modern near Ohio State without the markup.
Want a full escape from the city instead? Hocking Hills lodges and Gervasi Vineyard are both an easy drive out and worth the detour.
Not every hotel on this list is for every trip... that’s kind of the point. Full breakdown by neighborhood and budget, link in bio 🍂
Thousands of motorcycles, decades of history, and one very hot infield. 🏍️
I went into Mid-Ohio Vintage Motorcycle Days expecting a bike show. What I got was closer to a small town that pops up once a year camps stretched across the hills, swap meet tables piled with parts I couldn’t name, and bikes older than some of the people admiring them parked next to restorations that looked showroom-fresh.
Fair warning: this is not a quick stop. Give yourself the whole day, wear real shoes, and don’t skip the racing watching pre-war machines and modern superbikes share the same track is worth the sunburn.
Ohio keeps surprising me. Full recap on the blog link in bio. 🔗
Follow @travelwithwendyplummer for Beautiful Beach Destinations, City Guides, Foodie Spots, and Luxury Hotel Recommendations.
