Updated Info needed

[mimigatt]

With luck, we will be cruising to the ABC Islands in early January.  Regal Princess will be the only ship in Curacao that day.

We plan on snorkeling or diving in Aruba * Bonaire but just kinda want to relax at a beach in Curacao.

We need chairs and shade  and probably the possibility of food and beverages.

Mambo beach just sounds too commercial, kinda like a Disneyland beach.

Where would you suggest?

[crewsweeper]

We usually just explore Willemstad when in Curacao.  Good alt to getting over-beached.  But Blue Bay Beach and Cas Abou are a couple of the best beaches you'll find with the amenities you seek.

 

[njhorseman]

On 4/9/2021 at 1:03 PM, mimigatt said:

With luck, we will be cruising to the ABC Islands in early January.  Regal Princess will be the only ship in Curacao that day.

We plan on snorkeling or diving in Aruba * Bonaire but just kinda want to relax at a beach in Curacao.

We need chairs and shade  and probably the possibility of food and beverages.

Mambo beach just sounds too commercial, kinda like a Disneyland beach.

Where would you suggest?

We are pretty happy with Blue Bay Beach although it can get crowded if more than one cruise ship is in port...apparently something that won't be a problem when you're in Curacao. It's part of a large residential and golf resort . 

IIRC and if prices haven't changed a taxi for up to 4 people from the pier to Blue Bay is $30 USD and adult admission is $8 per person. Admission includes use of a lounge chair, and there is food and drink available. I think it's best to arrange a pick up time with the taxi driver who takes you there as the location, while not terribly far from Willemstad, is a bit out of the way.

[sofietucker]

So what we do--if you are adventurous--is rent a car ($2 7 and unlimited mileage from AARP, pick up at the end of the walkway from the ship). Then we head halfway up the coast to Playa Porto Mari. #5 of things to do in Curacao: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g147277-d2169479-Reviews-Playa_PortoMari-Curacao.html

Whole bunch of photos. Including an octopus...

Actually the next beach down from Cas Abou:   https://www.google.com/maps/place/Playa+Porto+Marie/@12.2263571,-69.0871328,15z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x8e849a71f3fc1ebb:0xe4359b28e9c64cf!8m2!3d12.2189814!4d-69.0863123 

It's a funky little daytime beach club, has a tiny dive shop, in a wildlife reserve, food and drinks... Think California surf places in the 70s. Minus the surf--has 2 manmade riprap jettys to ease the current and attract fish. A floating platform for swimmers. 

Try to get there early because it's a locals fave. It's a $10 entry fee plus anything you buy. Rent a chair, etc. for cheap. Coupla bucks for parking. The road still was not paved last time we went.

 

PROMISE ME that you will not try to get there on any kind of a tour unless you hire a private car for $50--and even some of those insist on stopping at the "distillery" for the blue juice.. Every single one that goes there (few, thank gods) stays very briefly and everyone is unahppy. Or they run out of time and never get there at all...

Edited April 22, 2021 by sofietucker