We got to Playa Porto Mari early, and before we even made it down to the sand, I already knew this one was going to be a solid stop. It’s easy to get to, easy to set up, and you don’t have to work for a good swim or snorkeling here (which I appreciated after a few rockier beaches).
It’s not my number one beach in Curaçao, but it’s one I’d absolutely add to your plans—especially if you want a mix of relaxing, snorkeling, and apparently keeping an eye on your snacks because there are pigs involved.
We pulled into the parking lot a little after 9:00am, and you can see the entire beach from up there before you even step out of the car. The water is that deep blue, super clear color Curaçao is known for, and the beach stretches out wider than I expected.
If you’re planning out your beach days, Curaçao 7 Day Itinerary: How to Spend One Week in Curaçao helps map out how to fit spots like this in without cramming too much into one day.
Playa Porto Mari is on the west side of the island, and getting here is easier than a lot of the more tucked-away beaches.
Driving out here felt straightforward, and the parking situation was simple with plenty of space, which is not always the case at some of the smaller beaches.
If you’re figuring out logistics, renting a car in Curaçao makes this whole side of the island way easier to explore without relying on taxis.
Walking down from the parking lot, you can already see the whole beach before you even get to the sand—I was fully playing where’s Waldo trying to spot the pigs from up top.
We got there early enough that the beach was quiet, and it felt like we had more space than we expected for a spot this popular.
We set our stuff down pretty quickly and realized this beach is just easier than most. The sand is softer, there are fewer rocks, and getting into the water doesn’t feel like you need a strategy.
If you want a beach where you can lay out and swim without constantly watching your step, this is one of the better options.
I had my dry bag for the beach with me, which ended up being useful later when we were going back and forth between snorkeling and sitting (and also protecting my snacks from unexpected visitors).
I was laying on my chair not long after we got there when I saw one of the pigs walking along the edge of the beach. They stay more off to the side, but they’re definitely part of what’s going on here.
One of them came right up to us and made it very clear it was interested in my snacks, which I was not planning on sharing. They’re cute, but they’re not shy—so keep your food situation handled unless you want company.
We got in the water pretty quickly, and snorkeling here was easy to get into. The water was calm, visibility was clear, and you can reach the reef without swimming forever, but you do need to go out a bit.
I ended up spotting a sea turtle while we were out there, which immediately made it worth it for me.
If you want a full breakdown of where this ranks compared to other spots, Best Snorkeling in Curaçao: Top Spots You Can’t Miss helps compare what each beach does best.
If you want something more personalized, you can book a private t0ur here in Curaçao is a good way to hit a few spots without having to plan it all yourself.
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We paid around $6.50 per person to get in, then about $6 for chairs, and everything was set up within a few minutes.
Getting here early made a big difference—we had the water almost completely to ourselves at first, but by later in the day it filled in and jet skis started coming closer to the snorkeling areas.
We stayed a few hours, went back and forth between swimming and sitting, and that felt like enough time without dragging it out.
This works well as a morning stop before heading somewhere else.
Driving away, it felt like this worked best as a main stop, not the only stop. It gives you a little bit of everything, but it’s not the quietest or most secluded option.
If you’re planning a full beach day, pairing this with something more low-key balances it out.
While we were walking around a bit before leaving, I did notice some trash—small things like cigarette ends and bottle caps scattered around.
It didn’t take away from the whole experience, but it’s noticeable, especially at a beach that’s otherwise set up so well.
This works well if you want easy access, beginner-friendly snorkeling, and a mix of relaxing with things to do.
If you’re looking for something super quiet, completely untouched, or the absolute best snorkeling on the island, there are better options.
If you want a beach where you can swim, snorkel, lay out, and have close encounters with pigs, this fits into the day pretty well.
If you want to see how this compares to other west side stops, West Side Beach Hopping in Curaçao: Porto Mari & Grote Knip Guide breaks down how to plan it out.
If you’re still deciding where to stay to make getting here easier, you can find good deals here that can help you narrow that down.
Sky Ranch Lodge, Sedona. Booked it for the location, stayed for the sunsets.
This is not a five-star resort with ten restaurants and a spa menu the length of a novel. It’s a family-owned boutique hotel on Airport Mesa that knows exactly what it’s good at: red rock views from basically everywhere and one of the best sunset spots in town, private, with maybe four other couples instead of a crowd.
We booked a Premier Rim Room and I’d do it again in a heartbeat. Watched the sunset from our own patio one night and it’s still one of my favorite moments of the whole trip.
✨ Six acres of botanical gardens to wander morning and evening
✨ Pool + hot tub that hit exactly right after a day of hiking
✨ On-site food truck for easy breakfasts and lazy room service nights
✨ Complimentary shuttle so you’re not fighting Sedona parking
✨ Robes, slippers, and a staff that felt genuinely happy to help
Two stays in and I’d book it again without a second thought. This is where to stay in Sedona if you want it to actually feel like Sedona.
Thank you to @skyranchlodge for having us, link in bio for the full review 🌵
Four hours on a train through a canyon you can’t reach by car — such a fun experience! We picked the indoor seats with unlimited access to the open-air viewing car, which honestly felt like the only right call. You’re not stuck in an assigned seat the whole time we bounced between the two, snacks in hand, chasing the best light.
The scenery is the whole point. Red rock cliffs, the Verde River, a 734-foot tunnel, historic trestle bridges views most people visiting Sedona never see, because you literally can’t drive to them.
The charcuterie box that comes with your ticket is shockingly filling ✨ so skip lunch at the Copper Spike Café beforehand, save your appetite for dinner back in Sedona.
Four hours with no stops did start to feel long by the end, but the trade-off for scenery like this? Worth it.
Would I ride it again? Yes. Would I buy lunch first again? No.
Link in bio for the full review cost breakdown, what to pack, and exactly how early to arrive 🚂
I ate chilaquiles while a Cessna taxied past the window, and that’s just a normal Tuesday breakfast in Sedona.
@mesa_grill_sedona sits right beside the Sedona Airport Scenic Lookout, so along with your food you get red rock views stretching in every direction and a front-row seat to tiny planes lifting off. Chef Mercer Mohr runs the kitchen, serving up Southwestern comfort food from breakfast through dinner, chilaquiles, elevated diner classics, burgers, steaks, seafood, all of it.
The view is what pulls people in the door, but the food actually holds its own. Good enough that this place stays packed with locals, not just tourists passing through on their way to the lookout. It also picked up the 2025 Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice and OpenTable Diners’ Choice awards, so it’s not just me saying it.
Indoor seating if you want the AC, a pet-friendly patio if your dog’s along for the trip. Either way, get there before plane-spotting turns into a wait for a table.
Link in bio for the full Sedona breakfast roundup ✈️🌵
Confession: my newsletter is where the good stuff lives. Not the polished, edited-for-the-grid stuff, the “here’s the hole-in-the-wall I almost skipped” stuff, the packing lists I actually use, the “don’t book this hotel” warnings before you waste your money on them.
The newsletter is basically me texting you before a trip instead of after one. Sign up and you’ll be the first to know where I’m headed next, plus a few things I’ll never post here.
Link in bio if you want in. ✈️
Yes, it’s only July. Start planning anyway. Fall books faster than people expect, and a few of these destinations are worth getting ahead of. Here are five places worth putting on your radar right now.
Ireland: Cooler temps, moody skies, dramatic coastline fall was made for it. Tourist crowds drop, the green stays, and the whole country feels a little more like itself.
Great Smoky Mountains, TN/NC: Fall foliage in the Smokies is the real thing. The color peaks mid-October and the views from the ridgelines are hard to argue with. It’s also one of the most visited national parks in the country, so going on a weekday makes a real difference.
New York City: Fall is NYC at its best comfortable temps, the energy of the city shifting into a new season, and every neighborhood doing something worth showing up for. It’s also just a great walking city when it’s not brutally hot.
Japan: Fall foliage season is as good as spring cherry blossoms and somehow less talked about. The colors are dramatic, the temples and gardens are stunning, and it’s worth planning around peak dates by region.
Mystic, Connecticut: Small, walkable, genuinely charming Mystic in fall feels like exactly what a New England autumn is supposed to look like. Easy to pair with a broader New England road trip if you want to extend it.
Full guides linked in bio 🍂
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