The most beautiful beaches can be found on the southwest side of the island, close to Jan Kok Lodges. They all have sheltered locations and crystal-clear waters where you can enjoy swimming, snorkeling, and diving. The beaches are often surrounded by rock formations, offering breathtaking views. Towards the east, you’ll find the busier and more touristy beaches. Whether you’re looking for a secluded spot or a beach full of activities, there is something for everyone.
paradise beaches
porto marie
From Jan Kok Lodges, it’s about a 7-minute drive.
The pearl-white sandy beach and turquoise sea make Porto Marie a true paradise for sunbathers, snorkelers, and divers.
On the beach, there are comfortable sunbeds and umbrellas, allowing you to easily spend the entire day there. The unique double coral reef, perfect for diving and snorkeling, is easily accessible from the shore. There’s a lovely beach bar where you can enjoy great food and drinks. Porto Marie also has its own dive school where you can take diving courses and rent diving equipment.
daaibooibaai
A back-to-basics beach located about a 5-minute drive from Jan Kok Lodges.
A beautiful bay with a white sandy beach, turquoise sea, and shaded areas. Daaibooi Bay is also great for snorkeling and diving.
On both the left and right sides of the bay, you can enjoy a stunning coral wall with various tropical fish, moray eels, turtles, rays, and much more. On the east side, there’s a narrow path along the coastline that leads to a hill. During the hike, you’ll have beautiful views.
The small beach bar sells drinks and simple food. Every Saturday from 12:00 to 15:00, “Life at Daaibooi” takes place, and you can enjoy a fresh fish meal.
cas abou
Cas Abao is about a 10-minute drive from Jan Kok Lodges.
The beach is famous for its pristine white sand, clear turquoise water, and the surrounding tropical nature. Cas Abao is perfect for a relaxing day of sunbathing, swimming, or snorkeling, thanks to the calm, clear water and the rich underwater world.
There are various facilities, including a beach bar, restaurant, and rental of sunbeds and umbrellas, making it a comfortable spot to spend the entire day. The combination of a stunning natural environment and practical amenities makes Cas Abao a favorite destination for both locals and tourists.
kokomo
Kokomo is about a 10 to 15-minute drive from Jan Kok Lodges.
Kokomo is known for its relaxed atmosphere, clear turquoise water, and is perfect for a day of unwinding.
The beach has free access and offers great facilities, including a bar and restaurant where you can enjoy good food with a sea view. There are plenty of sunbeds, umbrellas, and shaded spots under the large tree. You can also enjoy massage services, and there’s a dive school on-site. The wooden pier with a swing is famous and perfect for taking beautiful photos.
jeremi
Jeremi is about a 15-minute drive from Jan Kok Lodges.
Jeremi is truly a hidden gem, nestled between larger beaches like Grote Knip and Lagun. This small, quiet beach is surrounded by rocks and offers a picturesque view of the crystal-clear blue sea. Jeremi is ideal if you’re looking for a secluded spot to relax, away from the crowds.
The beach offers minimal facilities. There are a few beach chairs and umbrellas, but no beach bar. So be sure to bring a cooler with your own food and drinks. Snorkelers can enjoy the clear waters and underwater world, where colorful fish are frequently spotted.
karakter
The beach at Karakter is located on Coral Estate, a residential/vacation resort near Daaibooibaai, and it takes about 10 minutes to get there from Jan Kok Lodges.
As you walk from the parking lot towards the beach, you’ll first pass a few small shops and a bakery where you can have breakfast or lunch. Then you’ll walk past Koraal, a restaurant with a swimming pool and sunbeds. Continuing downwards, you’ll reach Karakter, where the beach and another restaurant are located. Entry and sunbeds are free, but bringing your own cooler with food and drinks is not allowed.
The beach is man-made (not a natural beach), but it’s great for swimming and especially good for snorkeling. There’s a well-built stairway leading into the sea from the beach. At the far end of the beach, there’s a beautiful view through the rocks.
lagun
Lagun is the narrowest beach on Curacao, but definitely one of the most beautiful, and it’s about a 20-minute drive from Jan Kok Lodges.
Lagun is a fishing beach and a favorite among the locals. It’s great for snorkeling, where you can see colorful fish, and often turtles as well. The beach has a relaxed atmosphere with a few shaded spots under palapas, and sunbeds are available for rent. Next to the dive school, there’s a small restaurant, perfect for lunch. It’s an ideal beach for those looking for a peaceful, natural setting.
playa piskado
Playa Piskado (Playa Grandi) is a small, authentic bay in Westpunt, about a 25-minute drive from Jan Kok Lodges.
The beach is best known for the fishermen who bring in their daily catch and the many sea turtles that gather around the pier, making it a popular spot for snorkeling. Swimmers and snorkelers can get close to the turtles, offering a unique and memorable experience.
Playa Piskado is not your typical tourist beach with extensive amenities; it has simple facilities such as picnic tables, beach chairs, and a small fishing pier. On busy days, you’ll find stalls selling souvenirs and cozy seating areas where you can grab a drink. While the beach itself can be a bit rocky, the opportunity to snorkel with turtles makes it a beloved destination.
kalki
Kalki is located at the tip of Westpunt and is about a 20-minute drive from Jan Kok Lodges.
This beautiful, idyllic beach is one of the best snorkeling and diving spots on the island. In the crystal-clear waters, you can see unique mushroom-shaped coral formations that are unlike anything else you’ll find. The variety and colors of the fish species here are also impressive.
There is a wooden pier and several floating platforms with chairs where you can leisurely float on the sea. The beach offers lounge beds, a dive school, and a restaurant with a shaded terrace and a great menu.
If you walk up from the beach, you’ll reach Playa Beach Club, a luxurious beach club with a pool, restaurants, bars, and even a fitness club. There’s an entrance fee, and it’s recommended to make a reservation.
grote knip
kleine knip
Just before Grote Knip, you’ll find the smaller beach, Kleine Knip, about a 15-minute drive from Jan Kok Lodges.
From the parking lot, you can easily walk onto this cozy, back-to-basics beach, which is especially popular with the local population. The facilities are minimal: a few picnic tables, and you can rent beach chairs and umbrellas. There is a single food truck where you can buy some food and drinks.
playa santa cruz
This expansive beach is about a 15-minute drive from Jan Kok Lodges.
Santa Cruz is one of the few beaches where you can enjoy a lovely walk along the shoreline. The water remains shallow for quite a distance, making it less ideal for snorkeling, but it’s a great place for swimming and floating while Captain Goodlife’s boats, based on the left side of the beach, gently bob on the waves further out.
The beach offers few facilities, with just a few picnic tables and not much else. However, at Captain Goodlife, you can arrange a boat trip to explore nearby attractions, such as the stunning Blue Cave.
piscadera
Piscadera is about a 20-minute drive from Jan Kok Lodges.
This expansive sandy beach is especially loved for its crystal-clear and calm, tranquil sea, making it an excellent spot for swimming. Located near several large hotels and resorts, Piscadera is popular among tourists. There are also various restaurants and bars where you can enjoy a wide range of food and drinks. It’s a freely accessible beach with good amenities, such as sunbeds and umbrellas.
tugboat
Tugboat Beach is located at the end of Caracas Bay, about a 40-minute drive from Jan Kok Lodges.
Tugboat refers to the small tugboat wreck that sank about 30 years ago just off the beach. The wreck lies about 5 meters underwater, and since the water at Tugboat is very clear, you can easily see the wreck while snorkeling.
The beach at Tugboat has a cozy, hippie-like vibe. It’s colorful and a bit messy in a charming way. Sometimes you can join a painting workshop, and the beach bar serves tasty drinks and snacks.
mambo en jan thiel
Mambo Beach is about a 30-minute drive from Jan Kok Lodges, while Jan Thiel Beach is farther, taking about 45 minutes to reach.
Mambo and Jan Thiel are the busiest and most popular beaches on Curacao, not only during the day but also in the evenings, when they become hotspots for nightlife.
Just before Mambo, you’ll find Mood Beach and Cabana, where you can rent luxurious beach beds and enjoy pampering all day (for a considerable price). A little further down is the popular Wet & Wild, and at Mambo itself, there’s a boulevard with charming shops and many restaurants.
Jan Thiel is located past the Caracas Bay. There’s a small promenade with shops, and on the beach, you’ll find places like Zest, Papagayo, Zanzibar, and Kokos.
