Blue Bay Beach or Mambo Beach

[Seapoint]

We have a day in Curacao and want a nice beach with chairs, shade and good swimming. Snorkeling a plus, but not essential.

Considering Blue Bay Beach and Mambo Beach.

Which do you recommend? What are pros and cons?

[bup1224]

2 hours ago, Seapoint said:

We have a day in Curacao and want a nice beach with chairs, shade and good swimming. Snorkeling a plus, but not essential.

Considering Blue Bay Beach and Mambo Beach.

Which do you recommend? What are pros and cons?

Either will probably be crowded on a cruise ship day.

Mambo has a rock barrier and no rocks in the water, several different areas, beach bars, restaurants, calmer water.

Blue Bay is a more natural beach imo. Beach bar, restaurant,  good snorkeling.

[ICANDIGIT]

I found Blue Bay Beach but couldn't find Mambo beach. Which way from port?

[bup1224]

49 minutes ago, ICANDIGIT said:

I found Blue Bay Beach but couldn't find Mambo beach. Which way from port?

Mambo is East.

[OCruisers]

Actually Mambo Beach is beside the Seaquarium and often called Seaquarium Beach.

Edited January 19, 2020 by OCruisers

[bup1224]

21 hours ago, OCruisers said:

Actually Mambo Beach is beside the Seaquarium and often called Seaquarium Beach.

Yep, on the eastern side of the island. 

[cruiseapril]

Both have good websites where one can see the area.

 

We went to Blue Bay as it is natural.  But there is coral there as on most Curacao beaches.

[Seapoint]

Are there umbrellas/palapas for shade at both beaches?

[kathynorth]

We went to Blue Bay last Dec. I found out when the ship tour was departing and we made sure we jumped in a cab before then. While on the cab line I asked if anyone else was interested in going to Blue Bay and recruited 2 other couples to share the ride. We each paid $8 for the 20 min cab ride to Blue Bay, then another $8 for entry. Since we arrived before the cruise tour group we have plenty of loungers and palapas to choose from at that time of day. People who came later seemed to wander about looking for empty loungers. The water, beach, and bathrooms were clean, but bring your own towels. We didn't buy any food, so I can only say there was a restaurant and lots of people were buying food to take back to their loungers. Several servers circulated taking drink orders. There were outside showers to rinse off your feet. We asked our drop off cab driver to pick us up at 2 and he was waiting for us at the gate when we wanted to leave for our $8 pp return trip. Our overall $24pp trip was a much better deal than the ship tour to Blue Bay. IMO this was a nice and inexpensive  beach day and we'll likely return on future trips.