The Beaches and Diving

Curaçao's coastline is dotted with dozens of small, beautiful beaches, many tucked into scenic coves framed by low limestone cliffs, offering calm, clear turquoise water ideal for swimming and snorkelling. Beauties like Cas Abou, the Playa Kenepa beaches and Playa Porto Mari draw sun-seekers, while the island is above all a superb diving destination. Its fringing coral reef often begins just metres from the shore, allowing easy shore diving and snorkelling straight from the beach into a vibrant underwater world of coral, sponges and abundant fish, all in an island that, lying outside the hurricane belt, enjoys sunshine and warm seas year-round.

What you actually see

• The cove beaches - Cas Abou, Kenepa and Porto Mari.
• The shore diving - the reefs reached straight from the beach.
• The snorkelling - the coral, sponges and fish near shore.
• The clear turquoise water - the calm, sheltered swimming.

When to go

Year-round; Curaçao's dry, sunny climate and position outside the hurricane belt make it reliable in any season, with warm, calm, clear seas ideal for swimming, snorkelling and diving throughout the year. Weekdays are quieter at the popular beaches than weekends, when locals join the visitors.

Honest expectations

Many of Curaçao's beaches are small coves rather than long sweeping strands, and some of the nicest charge a small entry fee or are semi-private, so they can feel compact and, at weekends, busy; the real standout is the superb, easily accessible diving and snorkelling rather than vast beaches. For gorgeous, sheltered coves, warm year-round seas and world-class shore diving on vibrant reefs, though, Curaçao's coast is a genuine delight.

Nearby

Willemstad, the Christoffel park and the wild north coast are within reach.