Playa Kenepa

Playa Kenepa, universally known by locals as Grote Knip, occupies two adjacent coves separated by a low rocky point on the island's western shore. The western cove is the larger and more popular, with a broad arc of white coral sand and a shallow entry that makes it safe for children and snorkellers alike. The eastern cove is smaller, less developed and more popular with divers who enter from the rocks rather than the beach.

The water at Playa Kenepa shows the characteristic clarity of the southern Caribbean, with visibility regularly exceeding 20 metres. Close to shore the sand appears almost white, and the water near the surface is a pale aquamarine. From knee-depth downward the colour deepens through teal to cobalt in the deeper channels between the reef formations offshore. The contrast between the pale sand and the vivid blue water is the visual signature that appears in virtually every travel photograph taken on Curaçao.

The cliffs that frame the beach rise to about 30 metres and are composed of the same coral limestone as the rest of the island. They are steep but not vertical, covered in scrub and occasional cashaw trees, and form a natural amphitheatre that gives the beach a sense of enclosure even when fully occupied. The cliff face is crossed by a narrow road that leads to the car park above, and there is a small cluster of informal beach bars built on the sand that provide shade, cold drinks and grilled fish.

Snorkelling is excellent directly from the beach, particularly in the morning when the sun is still low and the water surface is mirror-flat. A rocky reef runs parallel to the shore about 30 metres out, home to parrotfish, angelfish and the occasional sea turtle. The current is usually mild but can strengthen near the rocky points at either end of the beach, and swimmers should be aware of this before venturing out to the reef.

The beach is managed as part of a public recreation area and has basic facilities including toilets, changing areas and showers. Parking is available in a lot above the cliff road, reached by a short but steep descent. The beach can become very crowded on cruise ship days when ships dock in Willemstad, as many passengers choose Playa Kenepa as their beach excursion. Visiting on a day when no cruise ships are in port will give a completely different experience.

Playa Kenepa's water-colour gradient from pale turquoise to cobalt blue is among the most photogenic in the Caribbean.

The beach offers excellent snorkelling directly from the sand with no need for a boat or equipment beyond a mask and fins.

The twin-coves configuration and dramatic cliff framing give the beach a visual drama absent from the flatter beaches on the island's south coast.