Beaches, boats, and blue water

After exploring the wild windward coast of Curaçao and taking a trip into the capital of Willemstad, we opted to spend the rest of the week on the calmer west coast. We hit several different beaches, each of them offering something unique: sea turtles and easy snorkeling at nearby Playa Lagun, a wide sandy beach at Grote Knip (and cliff-jumping), cliff-jumping at Playa Forti, a working fishing harbor at Playa Piskadó, and a coral reef and dropoff at Playa Kalki (not pictured).

We ended each day with a snorkel off the platform at our Airbnb, some rum, and the sunset. After watching people jump off the cliffs at Grote Knip, I worked up the nerve to dive off the 6-8 foot platform at the place we’re staying. It feels really high up when you’re about to willingly leave firm ground to fall through the air, but being airborne for that slip of time, then feeling the cold water crash on the crown of your head, rush across your ears, and bubble along your skin as you bullet into the ocean is exhilerating.

Stairway to our Airbnb ladder

Ladder to get in the water at our Airbnb