‘If you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans!’ When realizing our plan going to the Greek Islands is not going to happen, we heard God laughing really loud at us. So we decided not tell him about our Plan B: Curaçao!
We booked the trip spontaneously after seeing a deal by the holiday pirates and searched for information about the island. (Usually, we would do research first, but this time we were desperately looking for a alternative travel destination.)
There were not really any travel guides available for the ABC-Islands (Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao) and bloggers’ opinions differed very much. So we decided to take the little bit of info and let the island surprise us. We fell head over heels for Curaçao.
Not the typical Caribbean island!
Some people have way to high expectations before their travels. Some complain about the oil refinery (which brings a little bit of wealth to the natives; ugly things sometimes have advantages). Some complain that there are no long beaches on Curaçao (First-World-Problems)!
That is really what you shouldn’t expect here. And with a little bit of information before, these people complaining wouldn’t have gone to Curaçao. Or maybe not complaining because of high expectations. But what’s wrong with small bays?
Anyway, if you wish so, you can make a day tour to Klein (little) Curaçao (which we were too lazy for) or you have to choose Aruba or Bonaire as an alternative (but they’re more expensive).
In our opinion, it doesn’t have to be a long beach for example like in Cuba. (Of course, no question it’s beautiful). But the little bays in Curaçao are the most beautiful sites, we’ve ever seen in our lives. Crystal clear, turquoise water, perfect temperatures, and white sand beaches – all of this in little bays. It’s just a different Caribbean.
Rental car is a must
We totally recommend hiring a rental car in Curaçao. There are busses, but you’re not flexible due to running time and unreliability. Combined with the heat, it can really bugger your mood. Cabs can become really expensive. I mean, really. Hiring a rental car is the best thing you can do in Curaçao.
An almost bursting SD-Card full of photos followed us on our trip back and it’s helping us to convince you of Curaçao, setting your expectations so high must be disappointed. Just kidding. Hopefully not!
1. Grote Knip/ Kenepa Grandi
In our opinion, this is the one and only beach in Curaçao. Not only because it’s looking picture perfect from the view point near the parking lot.
The water is totally clear, the turquoise colour of the water is hypnotic and has pleasant temperatures. The beach is kept clean and nonetheless natural (there are some pigs, but they’re harmless). It was so beautiful, it felt like being in trance.
Access to the beach is much more comfy than at the other beaches due to just a few dead corals.
There’s a little bar where you can buy the most important stuff.
And: This beach is free of charge.
2. Porto Mari Beach
This one almost made it to be number one. The infrastructure is better than at Grote Knip, but firstly you have to pay for sun beds and parking (it’s not that much; around 20 Gulden). And secondly there were more dead corals.
BUT: There’s a pier, which is not only photogenic, but perfect to jump into that crystal clear water. The bar offers good and reasonably priced food and drinks.
3. Blue Lagoon Beach
A very beautiful bay and in our opinion, the only one worth snorkelling. The access to the sea is perfect as there are no dead corals here. It’s also possible to see turtles here, if you’re lucky enough. But you have to swim further away from the beach to see them.
The stairs lead to a nice restaurants. Their regular guests look a bit different than us and they’re a bit brash. But they were really photogenic and very entertaining.
Access to the beach is free of charge.
4. Cas Abou
Actually, we were mostly excited about this beach due to being in one of the Raffaelo Beaches commercials. Our expectations were high.
And it was really amazing here, BUT: So many dead corals here. Unbelievable. Being in the water it wasn’t a problem anymore, but with freshly pedicured feet, it was a nightmare. Maybe, it has already changed. At least, we hope so. The amount of dead corals here are the reason why this beach is not in first row of our beach rating.
Parking is without charge, but you pay 10 Gulden for a sun seat. Which we think was ok.
5. Jan Thiel Beach
We’ve been here in the late afternoon and wanted to see the sunset. Actually, we didn’t plan to come here as it is said to be a party beach and we didn’t feel like going there.
If we only knew, how cool this place was. We would definitely have spent a day here. It’s cool and people are totally relaxed here. When we heard about this beach, we thought about the German creeps in Mallorca. Here, it’s totally something else.
Generally, it’s a place for young people. Most people here are of Dutch descent. Some of them were celebrating graduation. But there were people of other ages, too.
The sunset was amazing and next time, we would definitely come back here.
Before 5 p.m. it costs 10 Gulden for parking, after 5 p.m. it’s free of charge.
Riki Chitcanean
I appreciate your honesty in the blog posts guys, keep it up! This definitely looks like a heavenly place!
senorabubu
Thank you very much! It was heavenly indeed!