Discovering Paradise
Discovering Paradise
Type
Island / Day Trip
Location
Uninhabited island southeast of Curaçao (boats from Spanish Water / Caracas Bay)
Entrance Fee
Organised day-tour fee per person
Hours
Day trips depart early and return late afternoon
Duration
Full day including the crossing
Best Time
Early start; calmer seas earlier in the day
Difficulty
Easy (rough boat crossing)
Established
Uninhabited island day trip
Guided Tours
Available
Accessibility
Reached only by boat; soft sand and an open island with no facilities beyond huts
Klein Curaçao (Little Curaçao) is an uninhabited, low-lying island a couple of hours by boat off the southeast tip of the main island, and one of the most rewarding day trips in the southern Caribbean. There is nothing here but brilliant white sand, clear turquoise water, a weathered coral-pink lighthouse, the rusting hulk of a shipwreck on the wild side, and a handful of simple shade huts. That emptiness is exactly the draw.
The west-facing beach is calm, shallow, and gin-clear, ideal for swimming and snorkelling, and sea turtles are frequently seen gliding through the water just off the sand. The eastern, windward shore is rough and rocky, strewn with driftwood and the bones of wrecked boats, a stark contrast that makes the short walk across the island worthwhile. The old lighthouse can be climbed for a view over the whole island.
Klein Curaçao is reached only by boat, on organised day trips that leave early from the Spanish Water area and Caracas Bay. The crossing takes around 90 minutes to two hours each way and can be bumpy in open water, so the open sea is part of the adventure. Operators typically include snorkel gear, lunch on the beach, and drinks.
Book a day tour in advance, bring reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, and water, and start early to make the most of a full day on one of the emptiest, clearest beaches in the region.
Klein Curaçao is uninhabited and reached only by boat, on organised day trips that leave early from the Spanish Water area and Caracas Bay. The crossing takes around 90 minutes to two hours each way and can be rough in open water.
Swim and snorkel off the calm, clear west beach (where sea turtles are often seen), climb the old lighthouse, and walk across to the wild windward shore to see the shipwreck and driftwood. There are simple shade huts but no shops.
Bring reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, water, and anything else you need, as there is no shop, fresh water, or natural shade beyond the huts. If you are prone to seasickness, take precautions before the open-sea crossing.
Yes. Sea turtles are frequently seen gliding through the clear, shallow water off the calm west-facing beach, which makes snorkelling there a highlight of the day trip.
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