Westpunt

Westpunt is the village at the far northwestern tip of Curaçao, the quiet, scenic end of the island where the leeward coast delivers its most photogenic beaches. This is a place of limestone cliffs, deep clear coves and a slow pace. There is little in the way of nightlife or big resorts, so people come here for the water: the shore diving and snorkeling around the western tip are among the best in the Caribbean, with reefs that drop away just metres from the sand.

The beaches are the reason to make the drive. Grote Knip (Playa Kenepa Grandi) is the island's poster beach, a wide horseshoe of pale sand above astonishing turquoise water, with a low cliff at one end that locals leap from. Its smaller sibling Kleine Knip sits just down the road, shadier and more intimate. At Playa Forti the draw is the cliff itself, a clifftop restaurant with a sweeping view and a popular jumping spot for the brave.

Snorkeling and diving

• Playa Grandi (Playa Piscado) is a working fishermen's cove where green sea turtles gather for the fish scraps, so you can snorkel alongside them straight off the beach.
• The reefs off Westpunt are easy shore-entry sites, clear and full of life, ideal for both new and experienced divers.
• Bring your own gear or rent locally, as facilities are simpler out here than in the resort areas.

Westpunt sits within the rural western half of the island, so it pairs naturally with the countryside and national parks of Bandabou and the flamingo lagoons and postcard beaches around Sint Willibrordus. The far north coast beyond the village faces the open Atlantic and is wild and rough, beautiful to look at but not for swimming.

As a base, Westpunt suits divers, snorkellers and travellers who value scenery and calm over amenities. It is about a 45-minute to one-hour drive from Willemstad, so many people visit on a day trip, but staying out here rewards you with empty early-morning beaches and some of the island's best sunsets.