Curacao Beaches

There are more than 30 Curacao beaches for visitors to enjoy, so sun, sand, and surf can always be a part of your escape to this Dutch Caribbean island. Many a beach in Curacao is a small and intimate, while others are expansive and lively. Understandably so, some visitors will prefer the smaller beaches, which can be found in secluded inlets. The west end of the island is arguably home to the best Curacao beaches, so you might head there first when looking to enjoy some beach time. There aren't a lot of big, flashy resorts here, as is the case on the island of Aruba for example, though you can always book a stay at a smaller, mid-priced resort during your Curacao beach vacation. The beach hotels offer plenty of water sports activities for their guests to enjoy, which helps to make them all the more attractive.

Many visitors to Curacao stay at one of the hotels in the area of Willemstad. This is the capital city of Curacao, and it is an architecturally-rich town that deserves a look. As for the Willemstad beaches, one of the best can be found in Bapor Kibra, which is just east of downtown. Sea Aquarium Beach is the main tourist beach in Curacao, and it features things such as dive operators, restaurants, bars, and changing facilities. Once the sun sets on Sea Aquarium Beach, the nightlife heats up. The nightlife here is some of the best on the island, just in case you're wondering where to unwind after a full day. Another attractive beach in Curacao that can be found near Willemstad is Blauwbaai Beach. Blauwbaai Beach is the biggest and most popular of the Curacao beaches, and offers plenty of room to stretch out on its white sand shores. Changing facilities and showers are available here, and the trees that back the beach provide shady relief from the midday sun.

Heading up the west coast of Curacao, those who are looking for a good beach to relax on might appreciate Daaibooi Beach. There aren't changing rooms or showers here, but the snorkeling is excellent. While snorkeling at this beautiful beach, you can explore the cliffs that rise out of the water and you can observe an array of tropical fish. Corals cover the rocks here, which makes the snorkeling even more attractive. Like Daaibooi Beach, Playa Lagun gets pretty crowded on the weekends. Fishing boats often dock at this excellent family beach, as the waters stay relatively calm. These calm waters are ideal for swimming, partly because of the fact that they are shallow. You can also enjoy some good snorkeling at Playa Lagun.

Heading north of Playa Lagun, you will eventually come to Knip Bay, which is home to one of the top Curacao beaches. Snorkelers will find this beach to be a good fit, thanks to the clear water and the rocky sides. It's important to note that Knip Bay is backed by Manchineel trees, which bear poisonous fruits. Seek shelter under one of these trees when it's raining, and you might get a major skin irritation from the drops off the leaves. As for some of the other beaches that are worth keeping in mind for your Curacao beach vacation, they include Playa Abao and Playa Kenepa. The former boasts fantastic white sand and clear, turquoise waters, while the latter features an offshore reef that is sometimes home to baby sea turtles. Another beach in Curacao worth noting is Santa Barbara Beach, which offers a relatively complete array of facilities. You can rent a motorboat at Santa Barbara Beach and cruise the area waters if you please, or you can access the Curacao Underwater Marine Park and see what lies below the surface.

There are a few things to keep in mind when planning your Curacao beach vacation. For starters, topless swimming and sunbathing is permitted on most beaches, though it is not usually tolerated on resort grounds. Also, you'll want to keep an eye out for sea urchins when entering the water at the various Curacao beaches. These spiny creatures aren't exactly dangerous, but if you get pricked by one, the discomfort can last for several days. Local remedies for sea urchin stings include lime juice and vinegar. Burning the spot of the prick with a match is what some locals advise, though that might not be the best idea. Thanks to the clarity of the water at the various Curacao beaches, spotting a sea urchin before you step on it is relatively easy.