Playa Cas Abao

Playa Cas Abao is the most polished of Curacao's white-sand beaches, a wide, well-kept crescent where powder sand meets water in vivid shades of turquoise. Because it is privately managed, the sand is raked, the loungers are tidy, and there are real facilities, restrooms, a beach bar, massage palapas and a dive shop, which is why it tops many visitors' lists for an easy, comfortable beach day.

The water is calm and clear with a gentle, sandy entry that suits swimmers of every level, while the rocky point at the northern end gives snorkelers and divers a healthy reef to explore. Shade comes from both rented palapas and clusters of trees at the back, so you can settle in for the whole day without baking.

Visiting Cas Abao

• A modest entrance fee per car applies, with extra charges for loungers and umbrellas.
• The on-site dive shop runs reef dives and rents snorkel gear.
• It gets busy on weekends and cruise days; arrive early for the best loungers and shade.
• No lifeguards, but the water is calm and the entry is gentle.

Cas Abao sits on the central west coast near Sint Willibrordus, close to the double-reef snorkeling of Playa Porto Mari and the free local cove of Daaibooi Beach. The three together make an easy beach-hopping day along this stretch.