The Best Beaches in Curaçao

I spent 10 days in Curaçao with one mission: to visit as many beaches as possible. The south side tends to be more developed—think beach clubs and full amenities—given its proximity to Willemstad. The further west you go, the more the island opens up; beaches are quieter, more local, and have a laid-back simplicity that the busier spots don’t. I recommend sampling a few in each area to find what suits you best.

Seaquarium Beach: Family friendly

Also known as Mambo Beach, this is Curaçao’s largest white sand beach and one of the liveliest stretches on the island. Restaurants, beach bars, shops, and resorts line Mambo Beach Boulevard within easy walking distance, and the vibe is social and upbeat—especially on Sunday evenings. The water is sheltered and calm, making it a solid pick for families. The Dolphin Academy and Sea Aquarium are also reachable on foot.

Seaquarium / Mambo Beach

Blue Bay Beach: Paid entry, family friendly, snorkeling

A polished, resort-style beach with an entry fee of around $12–15 per person (lounger typically included). Food and drinks are delivered to your chair via QR code; bathrooms are clean, and the beach is consistently well-kept. The water is gorgeous, Caribbean turquoise, protected inside a calm bay ideal for children. Snorkeling is excellent around the rocks at the cove’s edges—parrotfish, moray eels, and sea turtles have all been spotted here. Note: the beach is inside a gated community, so ID is required at the entrance, and water shoes are recommended as the entry is rocky.

Blue Bay Beach

Kokomo Beach: Iguanas!

A fun, social beach with a swing that extends out over the water—a crowd-pleaser and a great photo opportunity. Iguanas are a regular presence, wandering the beach with complete confidence. Loungers are available on site, but bring your own towels. The beach bar keeps things lively throughout the day.

Playa Porta Mari: Resident pigs!

Porta Mari has beautifully clear, calm water and solid amenities—loungers, a beach restaurant (closed Mondays), and a dive shop on site. One note for accessibility-conscious clients: getting back to the parking lot involves a steep uphill walk. This beach is also home to Curaçao’s famous “pig beach”—a small group of resident wild pigs who roam freely along the sand. A genuine delight, though guests should not feed them and should keep an eye on unattended snacks.

Playa Porta Mari

Daaibooi Baai: Sunrise spot, great snorkeling

A reward for early risers. At sunrise, the beach is almost entirely empty—just local fishermen and an extraordinary amount of birdlife, with pelicans diving into the water all around you. Snorkeling is excellent: calm, fish-filled water, even if visibility isn’t always crystal clear. It has a raw, unhurried character that feels a world away from the more developed beaches near Willemstad.

Kleine Knip

A compact, picturesque beach backed by dramatic rock formations dotted with cacti—very photogenic and distinctly Curaçaoan in feel. Parking is roadside with a short walk down to the sand. Umbrellas, loungers, and palapas are available for rent. The water is calm and clear, great for swimming, and the beach is typically quieter than its larger neighbour Grote Knip.

Kleine Knip: gorgeous cliffs!

Grote Knip (Playa Kenepa Grandi): Wild pigs, great snorkeling

Widely considered one of the most beautiful beaches on the island—a sweeping arc of white sand with impossibly turquoise water. Free public access; popular with locals on weekends. Loungers and umbrellas for rent, and a snack bar and smoothie stand up near the parking area. A staircase at one end leads to a lovely lookout point over the bay. Wild pigs do wander the beach here—harmless, but known to raid unattended bags. Cliff jumping is popular on both sides of the bay, and snorkeling is excellent with frequent sea turtle sightings.

Looking out at Grote Knip

Playa Kalki: Top pick

A personal favourite, and easy to see why. The cliff scenery is dramatic and gorgeous, making it one of the most photogenic beaches on the island. It sits on the northern tip of Curaçao, so the water is slightly more active than the sheltered southern bays—still very swimmable, but worth noting. Loungers are available, crowds are manageable, and the combination of cliffs, clear water, and rugged landscape gives it a character unlike anything else on the island.

Playa Kalki - the perfect photo spot!

Nearby: Jaanchie’s Restaurant, Westpunt

After Playa Kalki, it’s worth making the short detour to Jaanchie’s—the oldest restaurant on the island, open since 1936. There’s no printed menu: Jaanchie himself comes to the table and recites what’s cooking that day—fish, chicken, goat, garlic shrimp, and the legendary iguana stew for the adventurous (I found it similar to duck!). The restaurant is completely open-air, with bananaquits and tropical birds flying freely through the garden and feeding at sugar troughs throughout your meal.

Bonus: Playa Canoa, North Shore

Not a swimming beach, but worth the trip for the scenery. Head just east of Playa Canoa to watch the sun rise and witness the Atlantic swells crashing dramatically against the rocky shoreline—a striking contrast to the calm, sheltered beaches on the south side of the island.

A spot to watch the sunrise and big waves just east of Playa Canoa

A rental car from Hertz is highly recommended in Curaçao—it’s the best way to reach the beaches and explore beyond Willemstad. If you’re staying at one of our Fora Preferred partners like Sandals Royal Curaçao, venturing off the resort grounds is well worth it for those who love to explore. The island rewards the curious, and you won’t want to miss what’s waiting down those coastal roads.

For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our Curaçao page.