Beaches · Curaçao
The best beaches in and near Curaçao
Where to swim and spend a beach day, and when the water is warm.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
The best-known beach is Playa Kenepa (Grote Knip) (About 45 minutes by car from Willemstad). The sea is usually warm enough for a comfortable swim (21°C+) in January–December.
Key facts
- Beaches in this guide
- 7
- Swimming season
- January–December
- Warmest sea
- 28°C (82°F)
The beaches
About 45 minutes by car from Willemstad · Swimming and photos
1.Playa Kenepa (Grote Knip)
A white-sand cove framed by cliffs with clear turquoise water and a viewpoint above; the island's best-known beach.
About 40 minutes by car from Willemstad · Snorkelling
2.Playa Lagun
A narrow cove between cliffs at the village of Lagun with excellent snorkelling along the rock walls.
About 45 minutes by car from Willemstad · Turtles
3.Playa Piskadó
A small fishermen's beach where green turtles feed in the shallows near the pier.
About 35 minutes by car from Willemstad · Families and facilities
4.Cas Abao
A managed white-sand beach with loungers, a restaurant and a reef off the shore, good for a full day of facilities.
About 30 minutes by car from Willemstad · Snorkelling and diving
5.Playa Porto Marie
A managed beach with a double reef and dive centre on the sheltered southwest coast.
About 10 minutes by car from Punda · Beach clubs and convenience
6.Mambo Beach
A lively artificial beach with breakwaters, beach clubs and a shopping boulevard next door.
About 15 minutes by car from Punda · Families
7.Jan Thiel beach
A sheltered bay beach with a large beach club, restaurants and calm water.
Sea temperature by month
| Month | Sea | Air high |
|---|---|---|
| January | 26°C (79°F) | 30°C (86°F) |
| February | 26°C (79°F) | 30°C (86°F) |
| March | 26°C (79°F) | 30°C (86°F) |
| April | 27°C (81°F) | 31°C (88°F) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 31°C (88°F) |
| June | 27°C (81°F) | 32°C (90°F) |
| July | 28°C (82°F) | 32°C (90°F) |
| August | 28°C (82°F) | 32°C (90°F) |
| September | 28°C (82°F) | 32°C (90°F) |
| October | 28°C (82°F) | 31°C (88°F) |
| November | 28°C (82°F) | 31°C (88°F) |
| December | 27°C (81°F) | 30°C (86°F) |
Staying near the beach
$$$ · Best for families, nightlife and beach
Mambo Beach and Bapor Kibra
About 10 minutes' drive from Punda, the Mambo Beach Boulevard combines a lagoon beach with beach clubs, a shopping and restaurant promenade and several large hotels. It is one of the busiest beach areas, particularly at weekends, and has sheltered water behind breakwaters.
- Good
- Beach, restaurants and shops in one place; Calm, protected water; Close to the city
- Watch out
- Crowded and commercial; Beach clubs charge for loungers
- Nearby
- Mambo Beach, Pietermaai, Jan Thiel
Getting to the beaches
- Car — Renting a car is the most practical way to explore the coves of Banda Abou, Christoffel and Shete Boka; roads are generally good and driving is on the right.
- Bus — Large public buses and smaller privately run 'bus' vans leave from terminals in Punda and Otrobanda for different parts of the island, but services to the west end are infrequent.
- Ferry — When the Queen Emma Bridge opens for shipping, free pedestrian ferries cross the Sint Anna Bay between Punda and Otrobanda.
- Boat — Boat trips to Klein Curaçao and snorkelling cruises leave from Spanish Water, Caracas Bay and Jan Thiel.
Beach-weather months
Days of 24°C (75°F) or more with no more than nine rainy days come in February–September. The busiest of those is February, so book early.
Beach safety
Car break-ins at beaches and isolated parking areas are the most common problem, so leave nothing in vehicles. The north coast has strong waves and currents and is not for swimming; on the south coast, watch for sun exposure and sharp coral. Swim at lifeguarded beaches where possible and follow local flag warnings.
Questions travellers ask
+Does Curaçao have beaches?
Yes: Playa Kenepa (Grote Knip), Playa Lagun, Playa Piskadó, Cas Abao, Playa Porto Marie, Mambo Beach and Jan Thiel beach.
+When is the sea warm enough to swim in Curaçao?
Usually January–December, when the sea averages 21°C or more.
+What is the best beach near Curaçao?
Playa Kenepa (Grote Knip): A white-sand cove framed by cliffs with clear turquoise water and a viewpoint above; the island's best-known beach.