Klein Curaçao

Uninhabited offshore island of white sand, clear water, an abandoned lighthouse, and rusting wrecks.

Klein Curaçao is a flat, uninhabited island off Curaçao's southeast coast. Its main beach is a long strip of white sand beside clear, usually calm water, while the windward shore is rougher and littered with the remains of ships driven onto the rocks. An abandoned lighthouse stands in the dry interior.

Reaching the island requires a boat excursion, generally taking most of a day. Operators differ in boat size, shade, food, and where they anchor, so compare the practical details rather than the sales pitch. The outward crossing can be rough; seasickness medication is worth considering. Once ashore, carry water when walking to the lighthouse and wrecks because the island has almost no natural shade.

Guide

Activities

Nobody lives on Klein Curaçao, so the only way to see it is on a day boat. The crossing from the east end takes about two hours and can be rough on the way out. Boats usually stop at the island's reef for snorkelling, and turtles are common; you then have a few hours on the long white beach below the abandoned lighthouse. All the operators below leave from Banda Riba early in the morning.