playbook
Snorkel Day at Playa Cas Abou
A day on the west side of the island: clear water, a reef just off the shore, and a beach bar for a midday break. About an hour's drive from Jan Thiel.
7u
duration
€ 25–70
budget
Ground
pace
Playa Cas Abou sits on the west side of Curacao, about an hour's drive from Jan Thiel. The small entrance fee is worth it: a wide white beach, palm trees, a reef that starts close in, and clear water that stays warm all year. Leave early from the villa so you can still park under a tree and grab a spot on the left side.
From the rocks on the north side you snorkel out onto the reef. Parrotfish, a trumpetfish, sometimes a turtle drifting past. Lunch at the beach bar: a toasted cheese sandwich, a ceviche if they have it. It gets busy around midday, so go for a second round in the water around three. Drive back just before sunset, shower at the villa, easy evening.
Checklist
0 of 6
Snorkelset per persoon
Cash voor entree
Zonnebrand factor 50
Voldoende water mee
Shirt voor in het water
Volle tank benzine
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Leave before nine. Snorkel set, towels, water, sunscreen factor 50.
Arrive at Playa Cas Abou, pay the small entrance fee. Find a sun lounger or a spot in the shade.
First snorkel round from the north rocks. Twenty minutes along the reef.
Dry off in the shade, drink cold water. A rest for your back.
Lunch at the beach bar. Small and local, nothing too heavy.
Second snorkel around three, once the crowds thin out.
Head off before the traffic builds. A quick stop at a viewpoint on the way back.
For anyone copying this
Do as we did
Suggestions
- Bring cash, entrance is cash only on quieter days.
- Sunscreen factor 50 and a shirt for in the water, the reef is unforgiving.
- Snorkel along the rocks, not in the middle of the bay, there's less to see there.
- Drink water every hour, even when you're floating in the sea.
- Leave before five o'clock, otherwise you'll hit traffic heading towards Willemstad.
Variations
- - Andere westkust-stranden: Playa Kenepa Grandi of Playa Lagun voor variatie.
- - Halve dag in plaats van hele, vertrek thuis na de lunch.
- - Met duikset in plaats van snorkel, vraag een lokale duikschool ter plekke.