Anyone going to Curaçao will undoubtedly spend a lot of time on the beach. After all, the island has a huge number of beaches, allowing you to do some beach hopping. Whether you like quiet, almost deserted places or lively beaches where you can order a delicious cocktail from your beach chair, Curaçao has it all! From famous hotspots to hidden gems-these beaches on Curaçao are not to be missed!
The easiest way to get yourself around the island is by hire car. This way you can explore the island in complete freedom and do some wonderful beach hopping. We ourselves almost always opt for Sunnycars.co.uk, because it is by far the most reliable option. With their clear conditions and all-inclusive service, you are always well insured, with no hidden costs. Want to know more about renting a car in Curacao? Read our blog about Rent a car on Curaçao!
General information on Curaçao
Are you planning your trip to Curaçao? Then check out our tips for the best travel period, daily budget and climate. You will find all information about Curaçao here.
Discover 8x the most beautiful beaches on Curaçao
1. Playa Forti - Our favourite
Surely our favourite is Playa Forti. Not because it is a perfect white sand beach or because you can do fantastic snorkelling, but because here we could really escape from all the crowds. Where we normally had to share the beach, here there was no one at all! Besides, at the top of the mountain you have a great view and a restaurant where you can have a nice lunch. Are you really an adrenaline junkie? Then go cliff jumping at the restaurant!
- Access: Free
- Parking: Free - at the restaurant at the top of the mountain
- Amenities: No
- Location: Playa Forti, Curaçao
2. Playa Lagun - A small but cosy beach
Another favourite of ours is Playa Lagun. This small but beautiful beach with clear blue water is located in a narrow bay and is less than 30 metres wide! Despite being the narrowest beach you can find on the island, you can enjoy snorkelling there. With a bit of luck, you will even come across turtles! Fancy something to eat? Then head to Bahia Beach Bar, at the top of the mountain. From here, you have an instant fantastic view!
- Access: Free
- Parking: Free
- Amenities:
Beach beds from ƒ7.- guilders (€3.50)
At the top of the stairs you will find a restaurant with toilets for guests. - Location: Playa Lagun, Curaçao
3. Playa Cas Abao - White beach with clear blue sea
Cas Abao, also called Bon Bini Beach, is a beach like many dream of. You will find a pearly white beach, clear blue water and a beach bar where you can go for some food and cold drinks. It is one of the widest beaches on Curaçao, giving you all the space you need. Furthermore, you can go to Cas Abao for a relaxing massage and an adventurous dive!
- Access: Fl. 10 guilders (€5.00) per car or Fl. 12.50 guilders (€6.30) per car on Sundays and public holidays
- Parking: Free
- Amenities:
Beach beds from ƒ5.- guilders (€2.50), including a coin for the shower
Beach bar
Showers
Toilets (free) - Location: Playa Cas Abao, Curaçao
4. Porto Mari - Lovely beach where pigs walk
At Playa Porto Mari, you can make the most of a beach day. The beach is just a bit bigger than Cas Abao and has its own restaurant, a diving school as well as a jewellery shop. There is also a family of sturdy pigs called Willy & Woody walking around. They mostly hang out by the mud pool near the car park, but every now and then they take a dip in the blue water. You will also find an observation tower at the car park, where you can take photos of the bay!
- Access: Fl. 5.- guilders (€2.50)
- Parking: Free
- Amenities:
Beach beds from ƒ6.- guilders (€3.00)
Restaurant with terrace
Showers
Toilets (free) - Location: Porto Mari, Curaçao
Read also: What to do on Curaçao: 10x handy and fun tips!
Read also: Discover 7x the best things to do in Willemstad, Curaçao
5. Grote Knip - Curaçao's most popular beach
On this list, Grote Knip should definitely not be missed. This beautiful beach with white sand, clear blue water and beautiful green hills will immediately give you the optimal holiday feeling. It is therefore not surprising that you see this beach featured in many brochures and online. Upon arrival, you can immediately enjoy great views over the bay. Grote Knip is popular and therefore massively visited by tourists and locals. Fortunately, it is large enough but keep this in mind. Rent a beach bed or lay down your towel and enjoy a fantastic day! And for the adrenaline junkies among us. You can do some good cliff jumping here too!
- Access: Free
- Parking: Free
- Amenities:
Beach beds from ƒ10.- guilders (€5.00)
Snack bar
Toilets ƒ1 guilder (€0.50) - Location: Grote Knip, Curaçao
6. Little Cut - the little brother of Big Cut
Around the corner from Big Knip you will find Little Knip, and as the name suggests, this beach is its little brother. Kleine Knip is also called ‘Playa Kenepa Chiki’ by locals and is often a lot quieter than Grote Knip. You can rent a bed and umbrella here, but there are no other facilities. Every now and then someone will drop by to sell you some drinks or fruit, but it's smart to bring your own snacks and drinks.
- Access: Free
- Parking: Free
- Amenities:
Beach beds from ƒ10.- guilders (€5.00) - Location: Kleine Knip, Curaçao
Our favourite travel games
Can't sit still for long either? Recognisable! Take these three cool games with you when you go chill out for the day!
As you've probably already realised, we love card games. It's by far the easiest to carry around & therefore perfect while travelling. Because let's face it... Folding out a whole board is not ideal & looking for dice in the sand is not very conducive to the atmosphere either. Pick your favourite and you're sure to have a fun beach day! For more inspiration check out our blog 14x Great travel games for 2 people or 20x mini games | Perfect travel gifts.
7. Playa Kalki - Lovely beach with many facilities
Playa Kalki has come highly recommended since 2023. The beach has been completely renovated and now features a cosy beach bar where you can enjoy delicious food and drinks. Comfortable beach beds, parasols and two large rafts in the water are also available. Here you can enjoy a beach day to the max!
- Access: Free
- Parking: Free
- Amenities:
Beach beds from ƒ15.- guilders (€7.50)
Beach bar
Showers ƒ1 guilders (€0.50)
Toilets ƒ1 guilder (€0.50) - Location: Playa Kalki, Curaçao
8. Playa Jeremi - Fine local sandy beach
Playa Jeremi is a place where you can experience the real Curaçao atmosphere. This beach is loved by locals, and it is easy to understand why: it is an idyllic spot with clear blue waters surrounded by cliffs and lush trees. To round off our top 8 beaches in Curaçao, Playa Jeremi definitely deserves a spot. Best of all? Entry is completely free. Although sunbeds and umbrellas have been added in recent years, facilities here are otherwise limited. So bring your own cooler with food and drinks!
- Access: Free
- Parking: Free
- Amenities:
Beach beds from ƒ7.50 guilders (€3.75) - Location: Playa Jeremi, Curaçao
Tip: If you want to eat out in the evening after a day at the beach, you will find Authentic Chic's website 28x the best restaurant tips for Curacao.
Other beaches on Curaçao
Mambo beach & Jan Thiel beach - the most popular beaches on Curaçao
Mambo Beach and Jan Thiel Beach are undoubtedly the most popular beaches on Curaçao. At these beaches you will find most of the hotels, restaurants and shops. The beaches are packed with beds and are always crowded. Perfect for a day of chilling out or for dancing in the evening. Keep in mind that it's a lot busier here than at the first eight beaches in this list.
Location: Mambo beach, Curaçao
Location: Jan Thiel beach, Curaçao
Tugboat beach - the best diving and snorkelling beach
Definitely not a pretty beach, but for those who want to snorkel or dive, this is the perfect beach. This is because here, on the leftmost side of the beach, lies a sunken tugboat. It's still quite a swim, so bear that in mind.
Location: Tugboat beach, Curaçao
Playa Piskado - the turtles hotspot
Although we personally experienced it as quite a tourist attraction, it remains the place on Curaçao where you have the greatest chance of admiring turtles. If you want to avoid the crowds, we recommend going early in the morning or just later in the afternoon, so you can stay ahead of or avoid the crowds of tourists in brightly coloured life jackets. But why are you so likely to spot turtles here? This is because local fishermen moor their authentic Curaçao boats here every day and throw their fish leftovers into the sea. These fish leftovers attract the turtles, so you can sometimes see them swimming from the beach.
Location: Playa Piskado, Curaçao
Klein Curacao - Ultimate bounty island
If you go to Curaçao, a visit to Klein Curaçao is actually a must. Located about an hour by boat from the main island, this uninhabited little paradise has a pearly white sand beach and is surrounded by clear blue waters. You can snorkel here, relax on the beach, climb the old lighthouse, explore washed-up shipwrecks, and of course enjoy the sun!
Location: Klein Curacao, Curacao
Like Gwen, do you ever get seasick? Then it is wise to take a travel pill on this trip too. If you are prone to nausea on boats, you can also these wristbands use for extra security.
Map of Curaçao
To make your trip as easy as possible, we have collected all the locations from this blog and other Curaçao blogs on a handy Google Maps map. From beaches and snorkelling spots to restaurants and places of interest, everything is laid out for you. So you can easily make your own daily schedule and make the most of your time on Curaçao.
We hope this list of the most beautiful beaches on Curaçao helps you plan your trip. Still have questions? You can always send us a message via Instagram.
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