Klein Curaçao

• Highlights
• Perfect day
• Map & getting there
• Where to stay
• When to go
• Mistakes to avoid
• Quick answers

The island that nobody lives on

Klein Curaçao is a flat, sandy island of about 1.7 square kilometres, with no permanent residents. Its only buildings are an old lighthouse, a beach house and some huts. Boats anchor off the beach, and visitors use palm-frond sheds for shade.

The lighthouse was first built in 1850 and rebuilt in 1879. The tower you see today was first lit in 1913 and is solar-powered.

The windward side of the island is rough, and old wrecks lie along the shore. A small tanker, the Maria Bianca Guidesman, has been broken apart by the waves since 1988.

The beaches are also one of the most important nesting places for sea turtles in Curaçao. Hawksbill, loggerhead and green turtles all nest here.

What to see

• The lighthouse: a white tower with a red-roofed building at its foot. It is a 20 to 30 minute walk from the beach, so go early or late and take water.
• The shipwrecks: rusting hulls on the rocky windward shore. Walk carefully on the rocks.
• The beach: long pale sand and shallow turquoise water right where the boats anchor.
• Snorkelling: clear water and reefs near the beach. Most day trips include snorkel gear.
• Sea turtles: you may see them in the water. The island is a nesting site, so keep your distance and never touch them.

Stay away from marked turtle nests and dunes, take all your rubbish with you, and do not take shells, coral or sand. Klein Curaçao is a protected nesting and bird area.

A perfect day trip

There is one way to do Klein Curaçao: a full-day boat trip. Most boats leave early in the morning and come back in the late afternoon.

1. Early morningMeet at your boat. Some trips start as early as 6:45 am.
2. MorningCross to Klein Curaçao, about 1 to 2 hours depending on the boat. Dolphins sometimes appear near the boats.
3. MiddaySwim, snorkel and have lunch at the beach.
4. AfternoonWalk to the lighthouse and the shipwrecks if it is not too hot, then sail back.
5. Late afternoonBack on Curaçao. Trips run about 6 to 10 hours in total.

Where it is and how to get there

Klein Curaçao is a small island in the southern Caribbean, about 10 km south-east of Curaçao.

• By boat only There is no ferry and no airport. You need a day-trip boat from Curaçao. The crossing takes from about 50 minutes to just under 2 hours, depending on the boat.
• Prices Day trips were about $115 to $170 per adult in the listings we checked, and most include lunch and snorkel gear. Weekend and luxury trips cost more.
• Which boat? Larger boats and catamarans tend to be steadier and have more shade. A speedboat is faster. Compare them before you book.
• Meeting point Your tour company will tell you where to meet. Start times are early, so plan your own transport, or ask about hotel pickup.

Book early: the popular trips fill up about 4 to 7 days ahead. The morning crossing can be bumpy, so take motion-sickness tablets if you are prone to seasickness. Trips run in most weather unless it is unsafe.

Where to stay on Curaçao

When to go

• All year Curaçao is warm and sunny all year, and boats run in most weather. What changes is the sea: it can be rough on windy days, and the morning crossing can be bumpy.
• Turtle nesting Sea turtles nest on the island's beaches, so keep to the open areas and away from marked nests whenever you go.

Our tips for Klein Curaçao

• Take shade with you. There is almost no natural shade on the island. Wear a hat and a long-sleeved top, and use plenty of sun cream. Boats and beach houses have some shade.
• Bring water and sturdy shoes. The walk to the lighthouse and the shipwrecks takes 20 to 30 minutes in the heat.
• Keep your distance from turtles. Never touch or chase them, and stay away from marked nests.
• Check what is included. Most trips include lunch and snorkel gear. Drinks are sometimes extra.
• Book early. The popular boats sell out days ahead.

Don't make these mistakes

• Booking late. Trips can sell out several days ahead.
• Forgetting sun protection. There is almost no shade away from the beach huts and boats.
• Walking to the lighthouse in the midday heat. Go earlier or later, and take water.
• Touching turtles or taking shells. Both are against the rules and harm the nests and reef.
• Expecting facilities. There are no shops or hotels on the island. Your boat is your base.

Quick answers

A note on prices: fees, opening hours and timetables change, and we update them every year. The details in this guide were checked in autumn 2026 and may be different by the time you travel, so please confirm them on the official website before you book.