Private tour Curaçao: swim with turtles, beach-hop the west coast

Five beaches and a turtle encounter, all in one afternoon without the planning

A private tour of Curaçao's west coast covering five beaches — Playa Kalki, Playa Piskado (the turtle beach), Playa Forti, Grote Knip and Playa Lagun — with snorkeling gear, an air-conditioned vehicle and a live English or Dutch-speaking guide. Hotel pickup is included, and the itinerary can skip Shete Boka National Park if you prefer more beach time. Children from age 4 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore beaches and natural sights

• Visit Shete Boka National Park
• View blowhole and seaside scenery
• Stop at Playa Kalki for snorkeling
• Swim with turtles at Playa Piskado
• Take photos and lunch at Playa Forti
• Relax and swim at Grote Knip beach
• Snorkel at Playa Lagun
• See flamingos in natural habitat

The Experience

You get picked up from your hotel and spend the afternoon moving between five named beaches on Curaçao's west coast, each one different. Playa Kalki sits on a cliff with snorkeling straight below; Playa Piskado is the turtle beach, where fishermen clean their catch and the turtles come to feed. Playa Forti has the sharpest water views and cliff-jump spots, with a restaurant on top if you want lunch. Grote Knip (also called Playa Kenepa Grandi) is the island's most famous beach for swimming and relaxing. Playa Lagun is a small hidden cove in a natural inlet, thick with sea life for snorkeling.

Snorkeling gear comes with you the whole day, and the vehicle is air-conditioned between stops. Your guide speaks English or Dutch and knows which beaches have the clearest water and where the turtles actually show up. The route can include a stop at Shete Boka National Park on the rough north side of the island — you'll see the blowhole where water sprays high and a sea cave — but that part is optional, so if you'd rather spend the time in the water, you skip it.

Five to six hours total. You get a bag of chips and cold water for the day. The driver adjusts the stops based on what you want to do: more time snorkeling, more time on one beach, or a lunch break at Playa Forti's clifftop restaurant (you pay for food separately).

What’s included

• Snorkeling equipment for the day.
• air-conditioned vehicle with hotel pickup.
• English or Dutch-speaking guide.
• a bag of chips and cold water throughout the tour.
• optional stop at Shete Boka National Park to see the blowhole and sea cave.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Fun in the sun, Vip tour Curacao

Is this one for you?This is a private tour, so the route and timing are yours alone — your guide adjusts the stops and how long you stay at each beach based on what you want to do that day. If you're arriving with a free afternoon and want to see multiple beaches and swim with turtles without renting a car or figuring out which beaches are worth the drive, this tour handles the logistics and the route.

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Top questions

What's the turtle beach actually like when we get there?

Playa Piskado is a working fisherman's beach where locals clean their daily catch, and that activity brings fish and turtles to the shallows. You swim in the same water where the turtles feed, so encounters are common, though not guaranteed on every visit.

Can we skip Shete Boka National Park and spend more time swimming?

Yes. The national park stop is optional, so your guide can skip it and give you extra time at the beaches instead, or move faster between them so you hit all five.

Do we need to bring our own snorkeling gear?

No. Snorkeling equipment is included for the whole day, so you just bring a towel and sunscreen.

Is there a lunch break built into the tour?

The tour itself doesn't include a meal, but Playa Forti has a restaurant on the cliff above the beach where you can order lunch if you want to stop. Your guide can arrange the timing so you have time to eat.

How old do children need to be?

Children from age 4 are welcome. Infants and small children can travel in a pram or stroller, and specialized infant seats are available in the vehicle.

What's the water like for snorkeling at these beaches?

Playa Kalki and Playa Lagun are known for clear water and sea life. Playa Piskado is where the turtles are. Playa Forti has the clearest blue water and the best views from above the cliff. All five beaches have snorkeling spots, though conditions vary by tide and season.