Travel Guide
The Best Beaches in Curaçao (and How Long It Really Takes to Get There)
Updated April 2026 · By the Dushi Drive team in Willemstad, Curaçao
Curaçao has dozens of beaches, but a handful stand out as the must-visit spots for first-time visitors. Most online guides overstate the drive times — these are realistic estimates from Hato Airport (CUR) based on driving them ourselves regularly. With a rental car you can comfortably visit two beaches in a day.
Mambo Beach
Free entryLively beach boulevard with restaurants, bars and water-sports rentals. Calm water and lots of facilities — ideal for a first-day arrival or families with kids.
Jan Thiel Beach
Free entryCrystal-clear water on the southeast coast with upscale beach clubs, restaurants and good snorkeling along the rocky edges.
Playa Porto Mari
Entrance fee appliesFamous for its double reef just offshore — exceptional snorkeling and diving directly from the beach. White sand, palapas, and a restaurant on site.
Cas Abao Beach
Entrance fee appliesOne of the most beautiful beaches on the island: powdery white sand, turquoise water, palapas and good amenities. Snorkel along the rocks at the far ends.
Playa Kenepa Grandi (Grote Knip)
Free entryOften ranked among the best beaches in the Caribbean. Dramatic cliffs frame a sheltered bay of impossibly blue water. No real facilities — bring your own snacks and shade.
Playa Lagun
Free entryA small, sheltered cove tucked between cliffs. Famous for sea-turtle sightings while snorkeling close to the rocks on either side.
Playa Piskado (Playa Grandi)
Free entryA working fishermen's beach where sea turtles gather to be fed scraps from the daily catch. Easy snorkeling with turtles right from the shore.
Tip: drive times above are with light traffic. Add 10–15 min if you're leaving Willemstad during morning or late-afternoon rush. The roads to Westpunt beaches (Knip, Lagun, Piskado) are scenic but can have potholes — see our driving guide for details.