Snorkeling Tours in Curaçao

Two guided ways to snorkel in Curaçao: a private sea scooter ride over the reef to the Tugboat wreck at Caracasbaai, or a full day by 4x4 that pairs the caves of Shete Boka with turtle snorkeling and an afternoon at Cas Abao. Compare them below, along with the other tours that include time in the water.

Curaçao makes snorkeling easy. On the calm south and west coasts the reef often starts a few strokes from the beach, the water is warm all year, and sea turtles feed in the shallows of several bays. A guided tour adds what's hard to arrange on your own: the right spot for the day's conditions, gear that fits, and someone who knows where to look.

What snorkeling in Curaçao is like

The island has a rough side and a calm side. The north coast takes the full force of the trade winds and the open sea; it's spectacular to watch from the cliffs at Shete Boka, but not a place to swim. The south and west coasts are sheltered, and that's where nearly all the snorkeling happens.

Under the surface you'll see coral heads and sponges, clouds of striped sergeant majors, angelfish and, with some luck, green sea turtles. Visibility is usually good, though it varies by spot: at Playa Santa Cruz, for example, the mangroves attract birdlife but can reduce how far you see underwater.

A few rules keep the reef healthy: never stand on coral, give turtles and other wildlife space, and use reef-safe sunscreen.

The two snorkeling tours compared

Private sea scooter tour to the Tugboat wreck (Reef Riders Curaçao)

This tour adds a motor to your snorkel. Each guest gets their own underwater sea scooter and glides over the reef to the Tugboat, a small wreck in shallow water at Caracas Bay, where the fish come right up to you. You meet at Fort Beekenburg in Caracasbaai, come 15 minutes early, and start with a safety and scooter briefing. The whole tour takes about 2 to 2½ hours, including the briefing.

Reef Riders Curaçao is a small family business that guides its own guests. The tour is always private: just your group, up to 4 guests, never a mixed group. You don't need any diving experience; if you can swim, you can ride. It's for guests from 10 years old, and beginners are welcome.

Included are complete snorkel gear, a snorkel vest, a private guide, cold water, and free underwater photos and videos of your ride, taken by your guide. You choose the day and time when you send your request.

Who it suits: families with children aged 10 and up, beginners who like a little help getting around, and anyone who wants pictures of themselves underwater. The private sea scooter tour to the Tugboat wreck is also the shortest option here, so it fits around a beach day.

Snorkel & Beach Adventure (Yellow Adventures)

This one is a full day by 4x4. It starts at the caves of the north shore in Shete Boka National Park, where you can watch the sea break into the Boka Tabla cave. Then comes the snorkeling, where sea turtles swim beside you, and finally an afternoon at Cas Abao, one of the island's most beautiful beaches. The named stops are Shete Boka, Playa Piskado, the fishing beach in Westpunt where turtles are often seen, and Cas Abao.

Included are a driver-guide, mask, snorkel and fins, the beach entrance, the Shete Boka National Park entrance, cooled water, and at Cas Abao a beach bed, a shower coin and a free soft drink. There's a lunch stop, but lunch itself is not included. The day runs from 9 AM to 3 PM, with pickup at most major hotels; the pickup time depends on your hotel.

It's for guests aged 6 and older who can swim and are comfortable in open water. It isn't suitable when pregnant or with back problems. If you want sightseeing, snorkeling and a proper beach afternoon in one day without driving, the Snorkel & Beach Adventure covers all three.

Side by side

• Length: about 2 to 2½ hours for the sea scooter tour; 9 AM to 3 PM for the Snorkel & Beach Adventure.
• Group: the sea scooter tour is always private, up to 4 guests; the Snorkel & Beach Adventure travels by Land Cruiser, with bench seats in the back.
• Age: 10 and older on the scooters; 6 and older on the beach day.
• Gear: scooter, snorkel gear, vest and free photos and videos; or mask, snorkel and fins plus a beach bed at Cas Abao.
• Getting there: meet at Fort Beekenburg in Caracasbaai; or pickup at most major hotels.

More tours with snorkeling

Snorkeling is part of several other trips on Kua Kaminda:

• On the Mermaid's day trip to Klein Curaçao, you can snorkel with the sea turtles in front of the boat. Masks are on board, but bring your own fins.
• The Jeep + Boat Blue Room Experience by Real World Adventures includes a two-hour boat trip into the Blue Room sea cave and two calm snorkel spots, with snorkel gear included.
• On Real World Adventures' half-day and full-day Jeep tours, the Blue Room Dive extra is a short coastal hike, cliff jumps and a snorkel into the cave.
• Their custom private Jeep days let you choose snorkeling and turtles as part of the plan.

Ready to go below the surface? A try dive with an instructor needs no certificate, and one of its beginner sites on the south coast is the Tugboat.

Where to snorkel in Curaçao

The sea scooter tour is in the southeast, in the Jan Thiel and Spanish Water area, where Caracasbaai, Fort Beekenburg and the Tugboat wreck sit close together.

The west of the island has the beaches. Banda Abou and Westpunt covers Playa Piskado, Cas Abao, Grote Knip (Playa Kenepa Grandi), Kleine Knip (Playa Kenepa Chiki) and Playa Lagun. If you have a car and your own gear, our self-guided free-beaches driving route links six bays, from Playa Santa Cruz to Westpunt.

Practical tips

• Bring swimwear, a towel, reef-safe sunscreen and a change of clothes.
• A rash guard or old T-shirt protects your back from the sun while you float face down.
• Water shoes help at beaches with rocky entries, such as Playa Piskado.
• For the sea scooter tour, arrive at Fort Beekenburg 15 minutes early.
• On the Snorkel & Beach Adventure, bring money for lunch.
• You must be able to swim on both tours. On the sea scooter tour a snorkel vest is included.

How booking works

For the sea scooter tour, send your preferred date and time and the number of guests. Kua Kaminda passes your request to Reef Riders on WhatsApp. Once they confirm, you pay 15% online to book and the rest in cash after the tour.

For the Snorkel & Beach Adventure, send your preferred date, the number of guests and your hotel. Kua Kaminda passes your request to Yellow Adventures, who confirm it.