Jan Thiel Beach is very popular as a family beach in Curacao for a number of reasons. There are numerous resorts and hotels near Jan Thiel Beach that are suitable for a variety of budgets. Many of these offer nice apartments, spacious villas, quaint bungalows, and other vacation rentals that can sleep families or groups of as many as six people. This alone makes it a great family beach in Curacao because these kinds of accommodations will have fully equipped kitchens so that families can save money on dining out costs, and have a measure of privacy and space without worrying about children disturbing other guests. Good examples of this kind of lodging are the Livingstone Resort and the Chogogo Resort. The former is a bit more expensive, and both have studio, one- and two-bedroom villas and apartments, swimming pools, and a dining spot and bar.

Jan Thiel Beach is also quite near the historic capital city of Willemstad and to most of the attractions and things to do on the island. The next beach to the north is Sea Aquarium Beach, one of the most popular on the island where visitors can watch the feeding of and even go snorkeling with sting rays, sea turtles, sharks, and dolphins. There are even more hotels near Jan Thiel Beach around this area, including the beautiful Breezes Curacao, set on a private protected stretch of sand and with a full-service spa, and the Kontiki Resort, which is also set on its own beach and is one of the best scuba diving resorts on the island.

Jan Thiel Beach itself only has small areas of sand. What it does have is a series of cement quays, many with ladders into the water, along the bay, and an almost completely enclosed swimming area. This is such a great family beach in Curacao because swimming in this area is so safe and children just love it. There’s even a small water park at the beach. Even young children who are not experienced swimmers can enjoy rewarding snorkeling and develop a love for marine life in this safe environment. Both the sandy beach and cement quay areas have umbrellas and sun beds, and there is a restaurant serving snacks and a bar. The nearby resorts have restaurants, and there are some other dining spots in the area. Active families will also enjoy the fact that there a many coastal hiking trails and trails that lead into the desert interior. These trails can be enjoyed by people of all ages in moderately good physical condition. There are also mountain biking trails.

Curacao Map

Hotels near Jan Thiel Beach can even be in Willemstad, as that vibrant capital city is less than five miles away. Jan Thiel is accessible from Willemstad by diving and sightseeing cruises in small boats from the city, and you can hire boats in Willemstad to drop you off in the morning and pick you up again in the late afternoon. You can drive yourself here, and car rentals are very accessible all over the island, including in hotels and resorts. There are inexpensive public buses that have routes to this beach, and taxis are relatively reasonable.