- AreaSoutheast coast, 15–20 min from Willemstad
- Best forFamilies, watersports, villa stays
- TimeBase for several days
- TipMost Klein Curaçao boats leave from here
The southeast corner of the island, around Jan Thiel and the inland lagoon of Spanish Water (Spaanse Water), is where many Dutch and repeat visitors base themselves. It has apartments, villas and resorts, supermarkets and restaurants nearby, and Willemstad is a 15–20 minute drive.
Jan Thiel
Jan Thiel Beach is a sheltered, man-made bay lined with beach clubs, restaurants and a dive school. Entry usually comes with a fee or minimum spend, and in return you get loungers, showers and calm water. Sunset drinks on the rocks at the end of the bay are a local favourite. Inland you'll find salt pans where flamingos sometimes feed.
Spanish Water and Caracasbaai
Spanish Water is a large, calm natural bay with a narrow opening to the sea, full of moored yachts and fishing boats. It's popular for sailing, kayaking and stand-up paddling, and the fishing harbour is where most day trips to Klein Curaçao depart: compare Klein Curaçao trips. Across the water, the slopes of the Tafelberg table mountain dominate the view.
Just west, Caracasbaai has the 18th-century Fort Beekenburg and a small beach that is the entry point for the Tugboat wreck, one of the island's easiest wreck snorkels, in shallow water close to shore.
Where to stay
The area has everything from apartment complexes around Jan Thiel to waterfront homes on Spanish Water: compare Jan Thiel hotels and apartments. Prefer your own pool? Our friends at Papaya Chiki rent holiday villas on Curaçao. Wherever you stay, you'll want a rental car to explore the west.
Nearby: Mambo Beach is 10 minutes west. Read where to stay in Curaçao to compare areas.
Outdoors around the lagoon
Spanish Water is lined with mangroves on its quieter inlets, and a kayak or paddleboard tour is a good way to see them and spot herons and pelicans. Beyond the lagoon's eastern side, the Santa Barbara area has its own beach and the flat-topped Tafelberg, which has been mined for phosphate. Back at Jan Thiel, the salt pans behind the beach host flamingos on some days; look from the road and don't walk onto the flats. For a lazy afternoon, rent a small boat or join a sunset sail from the lagoon.
Tours: Jan Thiel and Spanish Water
Compare guided trips, transfers and tickets.
Frequently asked questions
Is Jan Thiel a good area for families?
Yes. Calm water at Jan Thiel Beach, plenty of apartments and villas, and shops nearby make it one of the easiest family bases.
Do I need a car in Jan Thiel?
For the beach and restaurants you can walk or take a taxi, but to see the rest of the island a rental car is the practical choice.
Where do boats to Klein Curaçao leave from?
Most depart from the Spanish Water fishing harbour or Caracasbaai; check your ticket for the exact pier.
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