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BandabouCoastal National Park

Shete Boka National Park

Seven wild inlets on Curaçao's rugged north coast

DifficultyEasy to moderate coastal walking
Area4.5 km²
Duration1-2 hours
Type
Coastal National Park
Entry fee
Around US$10 per adult
Difficulty
Easy to moderate coastal walking
Duration
1-2 hours
Guide
Self-guided OK
Area
4.5 km²
Established
Established as a park in 1994
Best time
Morning, when the light is good and the heat is bearable
Hours
Roughly 09:00-17:00 daily
Elevation
0-25 m (shoreline and low coastal cliffs)
UNESCO
Not a UNESCO site
Cell coverage
Limited along the exposed coast
Camping
Not allowed
FacilitiesEntrance GateParkingBasic ToiletsMarked PathsViewpoints
Key speciesGreen sea turtleHawksbill sea turtleBrown pelicanRoyal ternRock iguana
Key featuresBoka Tabla wave caveCoastal blowholesBoka PistolTurtle nesting beachesCliff-top coastal path
TrailsBoka Tabla cave accessBoka Pistol coastal walkShete Boka clifftop path
What to bringWaterSun protectionCameraClosed shoes for sharp rock
WarningsSwimming is not allowed; the surf and currents are dangerous.Stay back from cliff edges and never turn your back on the waves.The limestone is sharp and slippery when wet, so watch your footing.
The park

Shete Boka National Park

The wild north coast where Atlantic swell hammers a string of rocky inlets. Walk to the Boka Tabla wave cave, watch blowholes erupt, and look for sea turtles that nest on the hidden beaches.

Shete Boka National Park protects a dramatic stretch of the windward north coast, where the open sea meets the island head on. The name means "seven mouths" in Papiamentu, a reference to the chain of bokas, rocky inlets and coves, that the surf has carved into the limestone shore. This is the wild, raw face of Curaçao, the opposite of the calm leeward beaches, and the contrast is the whole point of coming.

The star of the park is Boka Tabla, a sea cave you can climb down into and stand inside while waves thunder through an opening below your feet. Along the coastal cliffs the swell forces water up through natural blowholes that erupt in spray on a good day. A coastal hiking path links several of the bokas, with crashing surf the constant soundtrack.

Turtles and the rough coast

Quiet pocket beaches inside the park, such as Boka Grandi and Boka Kalki, are important sea-turtle nesting sites, and you may spot turtles in the water or, in season, signs of nesting on the sand. The water here is far too rough for swimming, so the park is for walking, watching, and photographing rather than bathing.

  • Stay back from the cliff edges and never turn your back on the sea; rogue waves and slippery rock are the real hazards here.
  • Wear proper shoes for the sharp limestone and bring sun protection, as there is almost no shade.
  • Pair it with neighbouring Christoffel National Park for a full day on the wild west of the island.

The park lies in the Bandabou countryside near Westpunt, an easy add-on to a day spent hiking or beach-hopping on that end of the island.

Before you go

Park information

Entry feeAround US$10 per adult
Opening hoursRoughly 09:00-17:00 daily
DifficultyEasy to moderate coastal walking
Guide requiredNo
Recommended duration1-2 hours
Best time to visitMorning, when the light is good and the heat is bearable
Elevation0-25 m (shoreline and low coastal cliffs)
Area4.5 km²
Nearest townWestpunt
Visit official website →Get directions →
Good to know

Park questions

No. The north coast here faces the open Atlantic and the water is rough, with powerful surf and strong currents crashing into the rocky inlets. Shete Boka is for walking, watching the waves and blowholes, and photography, not for swimming. For safe swimming, head to the calm leeward beaches instead.