The most beautiful beaches of Curacao

1. Cas Abao Beach

Cas Abao Beach is, in our opinion, the most beautiful beach on the island. And probably not only in our opinion, as it regularly appears in the top Caribbean beaches. A long stretch of white sand, crystal clear sea, perfect relaxation and many different types of fish await you here.

perfect beach

2. Grote Knip

Grote Knip is the most photographed beach on the island. Turquoise water, white sand and rocky cliffs create the perfect Caribbean picture. The beach is public and entry is free. If you're here over lunch, you may encounter piglets on the beach. This is where we lucked out on them too and it was an amazing experience. In addition, the beach fulfilled everything we expect from a beach - quiet, few people, fine sand and a beautiful underwater world.

Grote Knip

3. Playa Porto Mari

Playa Porto Mari is popular not only because of its beautiful water, but also because of the pigs that are part of it. If you want to go for a swim with them, it's best to get there around noon, otherwise, they stay away from the beach. For snorkelling, this is a great spot, and the cocktails at the beach bar are pretty good, too. As well as the piggies, you can also see iguanas basking on the rocks. Also, the beach is famous for its unique double reef, which has an amazing underwater world.

view from the parking lot

4. Playa Kalki

Playa Kalki is completely different from other beaches. It offers only a very narrow strip of sand, but you can sit right above the sea on a wooden pier with a wonderful view. And every now and then you can pop into the water to catch a fish. This beach is a diver's paradise - there's a popular dive site below the surface with lots of coral and fish. Locals nickname it "Alice in Wonderland" thanks to its fascinating underwater world.

view from the pontoon

5. Kleine knip

Kleine Knip is a small and little-known beach hidden among the rocky cliffs. It will enchant you with its turquoise water, fine white sand and complete solitude. It is still one of the less visited beaches. Unlike Grote Knip, you won't find any amenities here, so you have to bring everything with you. However, this is what keeps the beach authentic and peaceful. The underwater world here is absolutely luxurious, possibly the best on the whole island if you just want to snorkel.

Kleine Knip

6. Playa Lagoon

Playa Lagoon is a hidden gem with fine white sand, stunning underwater life and abandoned boats that have become the place's iconic feature. You'd be hard-pressed to find anyone here - you're more likely to spot an iguana. With its calm and shallow waters, it's a great spot for snorkelling, even for beginners. We saw a really beautiful butterfly fish here that we've never seen anywhere else. Can you find it too?

Ships form a familiar backdrop

7. Kokomo Beach

Kokomo Beach is one of the most photogenic beaches on the island. It combines relaxation by the sea with a pleasant atmosphere and regular sunset parties. Its crystal waters, fine sand and a huge swing over the sea are the perfect combination for perfect holiday photos. Located close to the main town, you can reach the beach in less than 15 minutes.

don't go into the water here

8. Tugboat Beach

Tugboat Beach isn't your typical lazy beach, but if you like snorkelling, it's definitely worth a visit. When you go diving down to the shipwreck, you'll find a fascinating underwater world and a beautiful coral reef. Even if you're not the best swimmer, you'll still be able to get to the wreck as it's not that deep. And the water is incredibly clear so you can see right down to the bottom.

sunken ship

We missed many other beautiful beaches. We deliberately skipped only Mambo beach, as it didn't appeal to us at all. It's full of restaurants, bars and shops, and in the evening it turns into an entertainment center with music parties right by the sea. That's nothing for us.

We also stopped at Jan Thiel Beach. But the beach looked very commercial. There were loads of sun loungers, lots of hotels nearby and you could tell by the number of people there. While the coffee at the bar was great and the view was lovely, that was about all they can offer. To be honest, while the beach had fine white sand, it just didn't have the same charm as the others.

We only missed Klein Curaçao. We chose to visit Klein Bonaire instead, as the islands seemed similar to us, but Klein Bonaire offered a more beautiful underwater world. We couldn't catch both of them anymore. If you are only going to Curaçao, you should not miss this island.