Just wanted to give back to this community since it was super helpful when I was planning this trip 🙌

We (me and my girlfriend) spent 10 days in Curaçao, staying at an Airbnb in Jan Donker. The location was perfect for what we wanted: just relaxing and visiting the best beaches (zero interest in parties or nightlife). From there, it took us anywhere between 10 and 25 minutes to reach most beaches.

Beaches we visited

• Piskado – Went mainly for the turtles. Saw a lot of them between 8:30–10:30 AM 🐢
• Grote Knip – First beach we visited and WOW. Seeing it from above when you arrive is mind-blowing.
• Playa Lagun – Top 3 for sure. One of the most beautiful beaches. Great cliffside restaurant + a pizza place behind the parking lot. Umbrellas and chairs are nicely spaced.
• Klein Knip – Also beautiful, less crowded, but I personally prefer its big sister (Grote Knip).
• Playa Kalki – Excellent, but probably the second worst for jellyfish after Piskado. Don’t freak out though—stings weren’t a big deal, just itchy like mosquito bites. Vinegar helps a lot if you apply it right away.
• Playa Jeremi – Rustic, less crowded, super peaceful. Amazing sunset view. A must-go in my opinion 🌅
• Daaibooi – Top 3. Amazing beach, lots of space, and we saw turtles here too (not as many as Piskado, but way more enjoyable overall). I’d go here twice and skip Piskado.
• Cas Abao – Top 3. The most beautiful water—insanely clear and probably the most beautiful beach. Downsides:
  • Hard to keep shade all day (you only pay for chairs, not shade)
  • Food can take ~1 hour
  • Most crowded beach Also, you get kicked out before sunset. Still: absolutely worth it. Must visit.
• Playa Porto Mari – Honestly, also top-tier (I know I already said top 3 😅). Great service, beautiful beach. Only downside was a weird smell near the restaurant area. Otherwise, perfect.

Willemstad (city center)

We went on our last day before the flight and I highly recommend it.

• Breakfast at Van Gogh – Excellent coffee (and I’m picky—I have a Rancilio Silvia Pro X at home).
• Lunch at Plasa Bieu – Had goat stew. Very crowded and hot inside, but good food.

General tips

• Most beaches (except Jeremi) have food service. Expect ~$25–$50 USD for two people.
• Bring water shoes and goggles—lots of fish and rocky entries.
• Jellyfish: don’t stress too much. If you swim a lot like I did, you’ll probably get stung, but it’s manageable. Bring vinegar just in case.
• Rent a car at least 2 months in advance. Cheap options get booked fast.
  • Avoid manual cars unless you’re very comfortable—there are steep inclines.
  • I rented from R&R—super friendly and punctual, no issues.
• I don’t recommend renting a motorbike (I actually considered it since I’ve been riding for years and love it), but there are two reasons: It’s too hot and also I saw many people driving way too fast, which didn’t feel safe.
• If you stay on the west side, don’t worry about buying everything in Willemstad. There are small markets with everything you need.

Comparison

I went to Mexico last year (Playa del Carmen, Bacalar, Isla Mujeres, Holbox), and honestly, Curaçao is just as beautiful—just different.

Only thing: don’t expect the same level of service. Mexico is on another level in that regard.

Final thoughts

Amazing trip overall. Curaçao is truly a beautiful place on Earth and I hope to come back someday.

Also, shoutout to the Dutch people we met—super friendly! I honestly expected them to be more distant, so that was a very nice surprise.

I’m from Argentina btw 🇦🇷

Happy to answer any questions!