Swim and snorkel with turtles in Curaçao – turtles guaranteed!

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Latest update: 26 June 2024

How close? Extremely close. In the cooling waters of Curaçao, you not only have about a 100% chance to spot a turtle, but you can also view them extensively from just a few meters away. I’ll tell you where to go.

Where do you find turtles on Curaçao?

You can find yourself some turtle spotting security near Klein Curaçao (in theory) or at Playa Grandi (in reality). You’ve also got a reasonable shot at either Playa Lagun or Porto Marie. You can even encounter them at the other beaches of Curaçao, but if you want to see them for sure, I recommend Playa Grandi.

Snorkeling with turtles near Klein Curaçao

I’m out of luck at Klein Curaçao. I can’t find a single turtle, and I actually don’t find snorkeling here that interesting. There is hardly any coral, and the number of fish is limited. Now, I have also been spoiled by snorkeling trips in Belize and Mexico, for example. But it is only when the crew of the Mermaid boat (on which I sailed to Klein Curaçao) throws the lunch leftovers into the water that the fish appear. Still no turtle.

I do find a turtle nest on Klein Curaçao, neatly marked so that no one damages it. When I did an internship in Aruba years ago, I witnessed a nest of turtles hatching. With a group of people, we admired the spectacle for hours at a distance. Someone even drove up and down to KFC or McDonald’s to feed us all with supper. I even refused to go home to get my camera; I didn’t want to miss a minute of it. All those little turtles finding their way to the water, it was magical.

At Klein Curacao, the turtles only show themselves when we are back on the boat, ready to leave. I hadn’t quite imagined it that way, but I still can’t take my eyes off them.

Well, although I was unlucky, that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to spot turtles at Klein Curaçao! Definitely give it a try because it is a fun day trip! Even without turtles. 😉

Tip! You can rent a snorkel set in many places, but you often get quite old equipment. And, honestly, today’s snorkel masks are so good! If you plan to do a lot of snorkeling on holiday, this is an excellent investment. Buy a snorkel mask, for example, at Amazon.

Snorkeling with turtles at Playa Grandi

Playa Grandi, or Playa Piskado, is all the way in Westpunt. It is not a particularly attractive beach, and there is a lot of activity. There is a diving school, chickens roam the parking lot, I count quite a few fishing boats, and a cheerful beach bed rental company welcomes us immediately. Two beds with a parasol and table cost 20 guilders. The man points to the places in the water where we have the best chance of spotting a turtle, and he watches our bags for free. That’s great: my best friend and I can snorkel together without worrying about our stuff.

On the waterfront, along the pier, is a small, sheltered workshop for the fishermen. Local fishers bring their catch here and clean the fish immediately. What’s left, they throw back into the sea. And that is exactly why you have a turtle warranty here!

At the end of the pier, the fishermen throw their fish waste into the water. This is where the turtles come to. While during my first snorkeling attempt at Playa Grandi, I was still swimming enthusiastically after a turtle in the distance; at this point, there appeared to be four of them simply enjoying an easy snack. They are very chill, very quiet. They are just eating, occasionally swimming away and returning. The turtles come so bizarrely close! Magic!

Of course, you will be floating around the turtles with a group of fellow tourists. And, of course, there is always someone who finds it necessary to constantly block everyone’s eyes because he wants the best Instagram selfie, and even worse, even touches the turtles. Don’t do this – this is REALLY not good for the turtles in terms of stress, but you can also make them sick with the dangerous substances in your sunscreen.

But, despite the fact that it is sometimes busy and not everyone behaves, it is really beautiful. If you have a little stamina, at a certain point, you will almost be alone with the turtles because the rest have already dropped off.

You can find Playa Grandi here.

If you like, you can also take a fully catered tour and spot turtles. This one for example.

Is swimming with turtles scary?

I’m no hero in the water. Far from it. While some people find the underwater world extremely relaxing, I see danger everywhere. But the crystal blue sea of ​​Curaçao is so inviting at Caribbean temperatures that I enthusiastically forget my fear of water. Especially when I have the chance to swim with turtles.

The turtles at Playa Grandi are anything but shy. So they swim right past you, sometimes they even swim straight towards you. I sometimes find that a bit scary, but not scary. I actually can’t get enough of it. I take numerous pictures and easily float around the turtles for an hour.

Not threatening, but threatened

The turtle may be the least threatening species in the ocean, but it is an endangered species. The rubbish in the sea is a big problem for the turtles, they eat the plastic, but their nests are also robbed by people. You can read all about it at the World Wildlife Fund.

Tips for safe snorkeling with turtles

Snorkeling with turtles on Curaçao is so beautiful and that’s why everyone wants to enjoy it as intensely as possible. You can, at a distance. Treat the turtles with respect or they will stay away or even get sick.

• Don’t touch them! Such a shell may seem rock hard, but a turtle has feeling in its shell. They don’t like being petted at all. And let’s face it, if you’re enjoying a swim, you wouldn’t want to be touched unsolicited, would you? Moreover, that touch can get your sunscreen on the turtle, and you don’t want that:  ⬇
• No sunscreen or eco-friendly sunscreen. Turtles, like the rest of ocean life, cannot tolerate the substances and chemicals in our ‘regular’ sunscreen. It can make them sick. Therefore, use sustainable sunscreen when you go into the sea.
• Pick up your garbage. If you take something nice to eat or drink with you on the beach, always throw away your trash. Take it back with you, find a waste bin, but don’t leave it lying around. The remains end up in the sea, and the plastic is a major danger to the turtles.

Voor het eerst gepubliceerd: januari 2021. Daarna geüpdatet!