Daaibooi Beach

Daaibooi is a public beach in a shallow bay west of Sint Willibrordus, sandy underfoot with rocky edges and a set of thatched palapas along the back for shade, and unlike the managed beaches on either side of it there is no gate and no fee. The water is calm and shelves gently, which makes it a family beach. A snack truck usually parks at the top. Coral along the rock edges gives reasonable snorkelling. The bay faces west, so the last hour of daylight is the best time to be there if the crowds have thinned.

What you actually see

• The palapas - thatched shade huts along the back of the sand.
• The shallow water - a gentle shelf that suits swimming with children.
• The rocky edges - coral along both sides of the bay for snorkelling.
• The free access - a public beach with no gate between two fee-paying ones.

When to go

Year round; weekday mornings are quietest. Weekends fill with local families. Shade is limited to the palapas.

Honest expectations

Facilities are basic and the toilets are often closed. Palapas are taken early at weekends. There is no lifeguard.

Nearby

Playa Porto Mari is north, and Sint Willibrordus is inland.