Skip to main content
Curaçao365
Director's Bay (Directeursbaai)
Photo: dronepicr via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)
Spanish WaterBeach

Director's Bay (Directeursbaai)

A calm cove beside the Tugboat wreck

WaterClear
SandCoral rubble and rocks
VibeSheltered & scenic
WaterClearCurrentCalmSandCoral rubble and rocksVibeSheltered & scenic

Director's Bay, or Directeursbaai, is a compact, sheltered cove on the Caracas Bay peninsula that once served as a private beach for an oil-company director, hence the name. A set of steps leads down from the parking area to a shore of coral rubble and rocks and calm, clear water where the reef starts almost immediately and slopes into deeper water.

The bay is well protected, so the water stays calm and the snorkeling along the rocky edges is good for all levels. Its biggest draw, though, is its proximity to the Tugboat, one of Curacao's most photographed shallow shipwrecks, which lies around the point; the route from Director's Bay is current-dependent, while Tugboat Beach offers a short shore approach. For a shorter snorkel to the wreck, enter from Tugboat Beach.

Visiting Director's Bay

  • Access is down a flight of steps; wear sandals and watch your footing.
  • Bring your own snorkel gear; facilities are limited, though a snack spot sometimes operates.
  • The Tugboat wreck is nearby, so pack a camera for the shallow snorkel.
  • No lifeguards, but the cove is sheltered and calm.

Director's Bay sits on the Spanish Water side of the island next to Caracas Bay, where the Tugboat actually lies. The two are easy to pair, and the beach clubs of Jan Thiel Beach are a short drive back toward town for lunch or sunset.

Facts on this page were last compared with their sources on . Details may have changed since. How we check

In pictures

Photo gallery

Director's Bay Curacao (34750561502)

Photo: dronepicr via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)

Good to know

Director's Bay (Directeursbaai) questions

How do you get down to Director's Bay?

+

Access is by a flight of steps from the parking area above the cove. Wear sandals and watch your footing, but the descent is short and the reward is a sheltered beach with coral and rocks with calm, clear water.

Is the Tugboat wreck near Director's Bay?

+

Yes. The famous shallow Tugboat shipwreck lies just around the point, in the neighbouring Caracas Bay, and is reached by a longer, current-dependent route from Director's Bay. Tugboat Beach offers the shorter shore approach.

Are there facilities at Director's Bay?

+

Facilities are limited. There is free parking above the steps and a snack spot that sometimes operates, but you should bring your own snorkel gear, water and sun protection.

Is Director's Bay good for snorkeling?

+

Yes. The bay is well protected, so the water stays calm and the snorkeling along the rocky edges is good for all levels, with the bonus of the nearby Tugboat wreck.