We were halfway through the trip, bouncing between beaches, and I kept saying the same thing every time we got in—this water is unreal.
Not just blue, but actually clear enough to see everything to the bottom. If you’re planning around Curaçao beaches with the clearest water, this is exactly how they compared for me.
Before we get into the clearest water beaches if you are trying to map out the best ones, start with my guide to Best Beaches in Curaçao (with Map + Tips) so you can piece together a route that makes sense.
We were floating out at Cas Abao, not even that far from shore, and I remember stopping mid-swim because I could still see straight to the bottom. It stayed calm the whole time, even when we moved out deeper, which made it easy to just relax without constantly adjusting. It was hard not to keep getting back in the water even though we had got chairs to relax onshore (glad I had my quick-dry beach towel because I was in and out of the water all day).
If your goal is perfect clear blue water and a calm beach, this is the one I’d pick.
We walked down to Playa Kenepa Grandi and I noticed the color before anything else. It starts bright turquoise near the shore and fades into a deeper blue as you look out, and it almost looks fake at first.
The water is still clear, but this one stands out for how turquoise it looks more than anything else. I kept stopping to stare at it like I hadn’t seen water before (which… silly, but accurate).
If you want the beach that feels the most dramatic in person, this is it. For a full breakdown of this spot, you can check out my Grote Knip Curaçao Beach Guide (What to Know Before You Go).
We pulled into Director’s Bay and it felt quieter right away—fewer people, less movement in the water. Once we got in, the clarity made sense because nothing was getting stirred up.
It doesn’t have that exact same bright color as Grote Knip, but you can see everything clearly, especially if you’re snorkeling. I was fully in my element here—less people, clear water, I’m good.
If you want something more low-key that still delivers on clarity, this is where I’d go. You can see exactly what to expect in my Directors Bay Curaçao Snorkeling Guide + Tips.
We spent part of the day at Playa Porto Mari with snorkel gear on, and the visibility held up the whole time. The water here has more of a green blue tone, but it’s still clear enough that you’re not missing anything underwater.
It’s also easy to get in and out, which sounds obvious until you’re dealing with a rocky entry somewhere else and immediately regretting your life choices.
This is where I felt like I actually earned my lunch after swimming around for a while—extra carbs were not a debate.
We stopped at Playa Lagun later in the day, and the water still looked good, just not quite as still.
There was a little more movement, which made it feel less clear compared to the others. It’s still a solid snorkeling spot, just not the one I’d pick if I was ranking strictly by clarity. This is where I felt like I actually earned my lunch after swimming around for a while—extra carbs were not a debate.
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We got to Playa Piskado knowing the turtles were the reason to be there, and you can see them clearly once you’re in.
The water itself is still clear, but this is where I noticed the difference once more people showed up. The sand gets kicked up fast, which turns it from crystal clear to slightly cloudy pretty quickly by the shore.
It’s still worth it for the turtles, just don’t expect it to stay perfectly clear the whole time.
We were driving between beaches all week, getting in and out of the water constantly, and I kept noticing how clear everything was regardless of where we stopped.
The differences mostly came down to how calm the water was and how many people were in it. More people meant more sand getting stirred up, which sounds minor until you’re trying to see anything underwater and suddenly can’t.
If you’re planning to hit multiple beaches, renting a car here makes it easier and gives you flexibility to catch better conditions earlier in the day.
We got in the water earlier in the day most of the time, and that helped a lot with visibility. Once it got later, the lighting shifted and it wasn’t quite as sharp.
Add in wind or a busier beach, and it changes pretty fast—nothing dramatic, just enough to notice if you’ve already seen it at its best.
If you’re planning your trip around conditions, my Best Time to Visit Curaçao (Weather, Crowds & Prices) breaks this down in a way that actually helps you time things out.
We were going to these beaches specifically for clear water, and every single one delivered—but a few were noticeably better.
So yes, everyone’s a winner here, but these are my actual “awards”:
Clearest Deep Water: Cas Abao
Clearest Blue Water: Grote Knip
Clearest Snorkeling Water: Director’s Bay
Clear water here is kind of the whole point… you could say it’s a pretty shore thing.
If you’re figuring out where to stay so you’re close to these beaches, look here for the best prices.
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. 🔗
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