The Turtle Beach of Curaçao
Playa Piskado — also widely known as Playa Grandi — is a small fishing beach near the village of Westpunt on Curaçao's western tip. It is not the prettiest beach on the island (it is a working fishing pier, after all), but it offers something no other beach in Curaçao can match: a virtually guaranteed encounter with wild green sea turtles in waist-deep water, completely free of charge.
The story is simple. For generations, local fishermen have cleaned their catch at the dock here, tossing scraps into the water. Green sea turtles, which are primarily herbivorous but will happily supplement their sea grass diet with easy protein, figured this out long ago. Now, multiple turtles visit the dock area daily, swimming right up to the shore to feed on fish scraps. Some of these animals are enormous — adults can weigh over 150 kilograms — and they come close enough to touch (though you absolutely should not).
What makes Playa Piskado special is the accessibility of the experience. There are no tour operators to book, no entrance fees, no schedules. You just show up, wade in, and find yourself face-to-face with one of the ocean's most magnificent creatures.
When to Go and What to Expect
The best time to visit is in the morning, roughly between 8:00 and 11:00 AM, when the fishermen are most active and the turtles are feeding. Mornings also tend to have calmer water and better light for underwater photography. That said, turtles are often present throughout the day — they know where the food is and tend to hang around.
On a typical morning, you might see anywhere from two to eight turtles in the water around the dock. They surface to breathe every few minutes, giving you a clear look at their shells and heads, then dive back down to feed. With a snorkel mask, you can float in the water and watch them from above as they glide beneath you — it is mesmerizing.
The water around the dock is relatively shallow (1–3 meters) and usually calm, since the pier and surrounding rocks provide some shelter. Visibility depends on how much the fishermen's cleaning stirs up the water, but it is generally good enough for a clear view of the turtles. The bottom is a mix of sand and rocky rubble, so water shoes are helpful.
Local tip: Go on weekday mornings for the fewest crowds. Weekend mornings can get busy with both tourists and locals. The earlier you arrive, the more likely you are to have the turtles to yourself.
Responsible Turtle Watching
Green sea turtles are a protected species, and the turtles at Playa Piskado are wild animals, not attractions. While they are habituated to human presence and will not flee from snorkelers, it is essential to treat them with respect. Do not touch the turtles, no matter how close they come. Touching can stress them, damage the protective layer on their shells, and potentially transfer harmful bacteria in both directions.
Maintain a distance of at least a meter and let the turtles come to you. Do not chase them, block their path, or try to ride them (unfortunately, this has to be said). Do not feed them anything — the fishermen's scraps are one thing, but tourist handouts can disrupt their natural feeding behavior and nutrition.
If you are snorkeling, float calmly on the surface and let the turtles move around you. Avoid kicking fins near them, which can startle them and stir up sediment. Keep flash photography to a minimum, as it can disorient them. The best approach is to be a quiet, respectful observer — the turtles will reward your patience by going about their business inches from your mask.
- •Never touch the turtles — it stresses them and can cause harm
- •Keep at least 1 meter of distance; let them approach you
- •Do not chase, block, or attempt to ride the turtles
- •Do not feed them anything beyond what the fishermen provide
- •Float calmly and avoid sudden movements when snorkeling
- •Minimize flash photography
Practical Information
Playa Piskado is located about 45 minutes west of Willemstad, near the small village of Westpunt. There is a free parking area near the beach, though it can fill up on busy mornings. The beach itself is free — no entrance fee, no facilities fee. There are basic restrooms nearby, and a couple of small local restaurants and snack bars within walking distance.
Bring your own snorkel gear if you have it — the experience is dramatically better with a mask and snorkel than without. If you do not have your own, a few rental shops in the Westpunt area can set you up. There is no formal snorkel rental on the beach itself, so plan ahead. An underwater camera or waterproof phone case is highly recommended; the photos and videos you get here will be the envy of everyone back home.
The beach is a working fishing pier, so it is not set up for sunbathing or spending the whole day. Most visitors stay for 30 to 90 minutes — long enough to have a magical turtle encounter — and then head to one of the nearby beaches for the rest of the day.
Combine with Nearby Beaches
One of the great things about Playa Piskado's location near Westpunt is that it is surrounded by some of Curaçao's best beaches. After your turtle encounter, you are just minutes from several world-class spots for swimming and snorkeling.
Kleine Knip (Playa Kenepa Chiki) is about 10 minutes south — a postcard-perfect cove with turquoise water, good snorkeling, and no entrance fee. Playa Lagun, another 5 minutes further, is a small sheltered cove where you often see turtles and octopus while snorkeling. Playa Kalki, about 5 minutes north of Westpunt, is one of the best shore-diving and snorkeling sites on the island.
A popular day plan is to start with turtles at Playa Piskado in the morning, then spend the rest of the day beach-hopping along the west coast. Pack a cooler with drinks and snacks, throw your snorkel gear in the car, and you have the ingredients for a perfect day in Curaçao — and most of it is free.
Local tip: Plan your west-coast day trip: turtles at Playa Piskado first thing in the morning, then head to Kleine Knip or Playa Lagun for beach time, and finish with a late lunch at a local restaurant in Westpunt.
