The Blue Room: Curaçao’s glowing sea cave
Beaches & nature · 3 min read · Checked November 8, 2026
Short answer
The Blue Room is a small sea cave on the west coast of Curaçao, in the Santa Cruz area of Banda Abou. You swim in through a low gap at the waterline, and inside the light that enters under water turns the whole cave an electric blue. Most visitors snorkel it on a boat or jet ski trip.
Where it is
The Blue Room lies on the west coast in Banda Abou, the western part of the island, near Playa Santa Cruz. It sits at the end of a one-kilometre stretch of rocky coast, next to the well-known dive site Mushroom Forest. From the water you could easily pass the small opening without noticing it.
What you see inside
- The entrance: a narrow gap only about a foot (30 cm) high above the water. You duck under it and the cave opens up.
- The light: once you are inside, the water turns a vivid electric blue, and reflections dance over the ceiling and the sea floor.
- The cave: an air-filled chamber with tiny bats. The water is only about 6 metres deep, so snorkelers see the whole cave from the surface.
- Sea life: orange cup coral and copper sweepers, small gold-bronze fish, all year round. From late August through September the cave fills with silversides that move like mercury.
How to get there
- By boat or jet ski: the easiest way. Trips stop near the cave and you swim or snorkel the last part. You can book one below.
- Diving: dive boats combine the Blue Room with Mushroom Forest and other west coast sites.
- From the shore: visitors describe a path along the coast from the Santa Cruz side, but it is not signposted and you swim in from the open sea. Only try it on a calm day, never alone, and with fins.
Tips for your visit
- Go when the sea is calm. The entrance is at the waterline, and with waves it is not safe to swim in.
- The blue is brightest when the sun is high, around the middle of the day.
- Bring a mask, snorkel and fins, and an underwater camera if you have one.
- Don’t touch the coral or disturb the bats.
Want more snorkelling? Read about the Tugboat wreck.
Source: Curaçao Chronicle, 9 April 2019.
Photos: the Blue Room, from the Curaçao Tourist Board gallery.
Plan it
- Jeep + Boat Blue Room Experience · The west coast and the Blue Room · USD 418 for 1 or 2 guests on tours through 30 November 2026, then USD 502. Larger groups pay less per person.
- Double Thrill: Jet Ski Tour to the Blue Room and Turtle Beach · The west coast and the Blue Room · USD 275 per jet ski · extra rider USD 25
- West Coast Snorkel Adventure by Speedboat: Sea Turtles at Playa Piskado and the Blue Room · Playa Piskado, the Blue Room and Kokomo Beach · USD 185 per adult, USD 155 per child (6 to 11)
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Blue Room on Curaçao?
On the west coast, in the Santa Cruz area of Banda Abou, next to the dive site Mushroom Forest. The entrance is a small gap at the waterline in the rocky coast.
How do you get to the Blue Room?
Most people go on a boat or jet ski trip that stops near the cave, and swim in from there. There is a path from the Santa Cruz side, but it is not signposted and you swim in from the open sea, so only on a calm day.
Can you snorkel the Blue Room?
Yes. The cave is only about 6 metres deep, so snorkelers see it all from the surface. You duck under a low gap to get in. Divers visit it too.
When is the best time to visit the Blue Room?
On a day with a calm sea, around the middle of the day when the blue is brightest. From late August through September the cave fills with silversides.
Are there bats in the Blue Room?
Yes, tiny bats live in the air-filled part of the cave. Leave them alone and don’t touch the coral.
More about Curaçao
- Can you drink the tap water in Curaçao?
- The bridges of Willemstad: which to walk, drive and photograph
- What does the flag of Curaçao mean?
- Traffic signs on Curaçao: what they mean and who has priority
- Best time to visit Curaçao: weather and events month by month
- Klein Curaçao boat trips compared: five day trips side by side