10 Best Curacao Snorkel Tours in 2024 – Local’s Guide
Are you looking for the best Curacao Snorkel Tours for your vacation? You are not alone!
Curacao is famous for its pristine underwater and marine life, so it is no surprise that there is an abundance of snorkel tours available.
I lived in Curacao last year, and I know how hard it can be to choose from such a big offer of snorkel tours.
Luckily for you, I have created this list with the 10 best snorkel tours in Curacao for your vacation in 2024.
Let’s dive in! (pun intended)
Looking for Scuba Diving Tours instead? I got you covered as well.
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1. Private Boat Trip | Swim, Board or Snorkel
🥰 5/5 (27 reviews)
This Private Curacao Tour was my favorite tour on the island. I booked the tour with the super nice hosts, Marc and Bettina, to celebrate our anniversary with my husband.
The boat tour starts in a small marina by the Spanish Waters. The tour is fully customizable, but we chose to let the guides plan something for us.
The first things we saw were the coral stone rock formations and the view of the Tafelberg. We drove by all the fancy houses by the Spanish water.
Later we decided to do some water sports. They showed us how to wakeboard and then we visited some amazing snorkel spots.
This tour is an amazing option with a smaller group. You can bring up to 5 people and split the fee for some of the best snorkeling in Curacao.
The guides know all the coolest spots on the island and have amazing ideas on how to plan the day. This is one of my favorite Curacao snorkel trips!
For more private Curacao Tours check out my in-depth guide.
Included: Equipment for snorkeling, tubing, and wakeboarding, bottled water
Duration: 3 hours
Best way to see Curacao! I would give more stars if I could! Bettina and Marc were incredible hosts, and we had such a great time. We had rough water so we improvised, and got an incredible tour within the safe and calm waters of the bay. We saw all of the beautiful homes, stopped at Santa Barbara beach where some snorkeled. We will definitely rebook with Bettina and Marc on our next visit, and hopefully be able to do more (weather permitting).
A Tripadvisor Reviewer, Jan 2023
2. Curacao Private Beach Hopping and Snorkeling Tour
🥰 5/5 (81 reviews)
This private and customizable beach hopping and snorkeling tour is probably the best thing you can get for your money! You get a private and personal tour guide to plan a perfect day in Curacao for you.
This tour is ideal for cruise guests because the times are flexible and pick-up from the ship is included in the tour. I still can’t get over the fact that you get a private tour around the island that costs just as little as any other tour in a big group!
Your guide can take you to the best snorkeling beaches in Curacao: Grote Knip Beach, Playa Piskado (to see sea turtles), Playa Lagun, and Playa Porto Mari. Of course, you can add many more stops to the itinerary.
If you wish, you can even check out other Curacao highlights, such as Shete Boka National Park, the Blue Room Caves, or Landhuis Chobolobo, the Liquor Distillery.
There is nothing not to love about this private Curacao tour and sailing trip.
Included: Equipment, Hotel Pickup, Water
Duration: 5-7 hours
Awesome customizable excursion tour Lee was always prompt in his responses to my questions prior to the tour, which was booked almost 9 months in advance. He met us at our Cruise Ship dock and gave us an awesome tour for snorkeling the best beaches, driving around town and touring the distillery. Definitely more than I expected. Highly recommend!
Christina_I, Feb 2023
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3. Full Day Catamaran Trip to Klein Curacao With BBQ Lunch
🥰 5/5 (575 reviews)
A day trip to Klein Curacao needs to be on everyone’s Curacao itinerary. The small, uninhabited island is located an hour off the coast of Curacao – and it is paradise on earth. The snorkeling there is next level, and you might even see sea turtles.
This full-day Catamaran Tip is a great option for Klein Curacao. There is a super yummy BBQ lunch included – and an Open Bar is always fun!
Included: Lunch, Open Bar, Equipment
Duration: 9 hours
Klein Curaçao day trip All parts of this trip were memorable. From start to finish 10 out of 10. Food, staff, professional service. Sailing back to Curaçao at the end if the trip was really special.
David_H, Feb 2023
4. Small Group Aquafari Tour in Curacao
🥰 4,5/5 (452 reviews)
An Aquafari Tour is an amazing way to get the experience of scuba diving without all the hassle. The bell-shaped helmet will help you comfortably breathe underwater.
The tour takes about 1,5 hours, and you can sit on a small underwater scooter. No prior experience is needed!
This tour is such a fun way to explore Curacao underwater! The groups are super small, so you will have personal attention from your tour guide.
This is one of the best Curacao adventure tours you can find. Totally recommend it.
Included: Equipment, Professional diver to help out
Duration: 1,5 hours
A very unique experience! My husband and I did the Aquafari. It was a very unique experience! We both enjoyed it. I was very anxious about doing it but it was much easier than I had anticipated. We were given excellent instruction and the divers kept us together. The pictures they took and emailed to us were so good! Would definitely recommend this!
Diane_W, Feb 2023
5. Curacao Private Seabob Snorkel Tour – Bearded Butlers
🥰 5/5 (124 reviews)
The Curacao Sea Bob Tour is a fun way to do some snorkeling a bit further out on the ocean. The propulsion device can take you to the most beautiful snorkeling spots in Curacao – without getting fatigued.
Your tour guide will show you the most amazing spots. The entire experience is super personalized because it is a private tour.
This is another super fun and adventurous way to discover the pristine marine life in Curacao.
Included: Equipment
Duration: 1 hour
Great Seabob experience! Andy was a great tour guide! Friendly, patient, and went out of his way to find cool things for us to look at. The seabobs themselves were fun to use and allowed you to get out much farther into the sea than snorkeling alone. Really recommend.
George_L, Nov 2022
6. Klein Curacao Adventure Day Trip
🥰 5/5 (49 reviews)
This amazing Klein Curacao Adventure Day Trip will fulfill your every wish. A catamaran will take you to the small, uninhabited island for some pristine snorkeling.
Your experienced guide from Curacao, Irie Tours, will give you snorkeling instructions if needed. They can set you up with all the equipment you need.
Since there are no amenities on the island itself, it is super convenient that the tour provider sets up everything on the catamaran. And the BBQ lunch is to die for!
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Snacks, Open Bar, Equipment
Duration: 9 hours
Klein Curaçao amazing experience Klein Curaçao is a must if you visit Curaçao (the most beautiful beach in both islands) and the tour agent and our crew were amazing (thank you so much!) this tour is highly recommended!!
Arturo_M, Feb 2023
7. Snorkel and Beach Adventure Tour
🥰 5/5 (49 reviews)
For everyone craving some adventure on your Curacao snorkel tour – I got a total gem for you with this tour.
The Snorkel and Beach Adventure Tour will take you to all the highlights of Curacao. You will be traveling around in a 4 x 4 vehicle and exploring off the beaten tracks.
You will pass by Playa Piskado to swim with turtles. My favorite place is the Shete Boka National Park, where you see huge waves and impressive cliffs.
This is one of the best Curacao island tours you can find.
Included: Driver, Equipment, Water, Hotel Pickup
Duration: 6 hours
Best tour in Curaçao! If you do one tour in Curaçao- this is THE one! Our guide Karl was fabulous. He shared his love for the island and abundant knowledge about it’s history, nature and culture. Pick up at our resort was so convenient. The Shete Boka National Park was so impressive and different from the rest of the island. Swimming with the turtles and amazing sea life was wonderful at Playa Pisquado (easy but bring water shoes or water socks to make going in water easier). It was very interesting to watch the men cut up fresh fish afterward. Then on to a photo opportunity above the fabulous Playa Kenepa with its unreal turquoise water. Then, lunch and swimming at one of the most beautiful beaches in the world Cas Abou beach. Swimming or floating here is heavenly. It is also a good snorkeling beach and Karl tells you where to go and provides snorkeling gear. Beach chairs, shower coin and non alcoholic drink is included in the tour. This is truly a beach to cherish, in my top 3. We ended with a visit to the flamingo estuary. Again, I must say that Karl made this day incredibly special – thank you so much!
Jacqueline_L, Feb 2023
Do you need travel insurance in Curacao? Yes, travel insurance in Curacao is highly recommended. Unsafe roads, water sports accidents, and food poisoning are only a few examples of when travel insurance could come in handy. EKTA offers worldwide travel insurance with 24/7 service and no hidden fees or restrictions.
8. Swimming with Sea Turtles and Professional Pictures
🥰 5/5 (136 reviews)
All my fellow Instagram lovers will absolutely go nuts for this tour. Not only will you be able to swim with sea turtles, but you will have a professional photographer by your side that can capture the moment.
The four-hour tour will take you to Playa Piskado and Playa Grandi to snorkel with the sea turtles. On your way back you can stop by to see the flamingos in their natural habitat.
Also, the tour is private, so you can relax and get some great info about the island from knowledgeable tour guides.
Included: Equipment, Soft-Drinks, Hotel Pickup/Drop-off, GoPro Pictures
Duration: 4 hours
Don’t miss out! You have to do this! Can’t say amazingly awesome loud enough! Patrick, his wife and the driver were amazing! Great information about the island so you’re not riding in silence. The swimming and beach spots are terrific! They made us want to move here! The nicest most beautiful people! 10/10 recommend!
Megan_W, Feb 2023
9. Treasures of the East and West Tour (Tugboat Beach)
🥰 5/5 (11 reviews)
This fun tour is a favorite among Curacao travelers – and mainly because of one special stop.
Tugboat Beach is no ordinary snorkeling spot. You can see an amazingly cool, sunken shipwreck on this beach. This is a super secluded spot, so going with a tour guide is recommended.
I loved the sunken shipwreck and all the cool fish I saw there. Another great spot on the tour is an underwater marine park.
The tour is perfectly suitable for cruise guests as well because pickup is included in the fare.
Included: Bottled Water, Guided Tour of the Cultural Museum
Duration: 4 hours, Snorkeling Equipment, Hotel Pickup
Great First Snorkel Experience! The ladies who led the tour were delightful! In addition to two wonderful snorkel adventures we got a history of the island along the way. Getting to the tugboat site requires good swimming skills though we did have inflatable vests on tons of pretty fish. The turtle swim was very easy right off the beach plenty of turtles.
Jocelyn_A, Jan 2023
10. Swimming with sea turtles & Grote Knip Beach
🥰 5/5 (389 reviews)
This fun Curacao adventure tour is an amazing option for cruise guests since they pick you up at the pier for free.
On this Curacao snorkel tour, you will be able to see two famous snorkeling spots and then relax at Grote Knip Beach.
A professional photographer will capture your moments with sea turtles. And as a bonus, you will be stopping by Jan Kok Landhuis to see flamingos!
One of the best Curacao turtle excursions on the island!
Included: Bottled Water, Equipment, Photographer
Duration: 5 hours
Best Excursion I’ve Done Patrick was my favorite excursion leader along with Eddie. All the detailed reviews are so true. This was fun, and informative, and we got to enjoy the natural beauty of Curacao. I won’t forget this day especially with Patrick’s amazing photos!
Elizabeth_O, Feb 2023
How to Get Around Curacao for Snorkeling?
I have mainly picked tours that offer free hotel or cruise port pickup. If you wish to explore the island more or book a tour without a pickup, I suggest getting a rental car. Public transport in Curacao is not a thing.
Discover Cars offers the best rental cars on the island. They have amazing rates and the service is always great. Make sure to get a 4×4 if you plan on driving off the beaten tracks!
Where to Stay in Curacao for Snorkeling?
There are some amazing resorts in Curacao that are excellent for snorkeling. Some of my favorite Curacao Snorkeling Resorts are:
FAQs:
Yes, Curacao is worth visiting. The island has amazing coral reefs, pristine white sandy beaches and lots of cultural highlights to offer. Curacao is unique and vibrant and the locals are very kind people.
Yes, Curacao is an amazing place to vacation. The white sandy beaches are dreamy, the people are friendly and the lush island has so much to offer. The underwater world is pristine, so snorkeling and diving is great.
Yes, Curacao is safe for tourists. There are certain neighborhoods that should be avoided at night, but they are far off the beaten tracks so you won’t just stumble in there.
Yes, there is good snorkeling in Curacao. The sunken shipwreck at Tugboat Beach or the famous double reef in Playa Porto Mari are visitors’ favorite snorkel spots in Curacao.
Yes, you can snorkel from shore in Curacao. Most beaches have amazing corals and lots of tropical fish to see right by the shoreline, usually on the sides of the bays.
Curacao has better snorkeling than Aruba. The water quality in Curacao is a lot better, and there are many more corals close to the shore.
Curacao is an year-round amazing destination. There are no bad times to go to Curacao. It is located outside the hurricane belt, so the weather is pretty stable. There are smaller rain showers from November until March.
Conclusion: 10 Best Snorkel Tours in Curacao in 2024
These are my 10 best snorkel tours in Curacao – and whichever one you choose you will have an amazing time.
The marine life in Curacao is pristine, and lots of these tours will even take you to see sea turtles. Klein Curacao is always worth a visit – so make sure to plan at least a day for that.
If you plan on staying longer on the island, have a look at my Ultimate Curacao Travel Guide!
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About the Author
Sabrina is a passionate travel blogger and content creator, based in the Netherlands. She spends most parts of the year abroad at various destinations with her husband.
She provides slow-paced itineraries that focus on quality over quantity. Sabrina wants to help her readers to get more out of their travel experiences – while doing less. Read more.
