Any calm/uncrowded beaches - good for not-so-great swimmer and toddler?

[niemeyer3]

We will be in Curacao on RCCL for 8 hours in September, and are having a hard time finding a good excursion for the three of us - a beach lover, non-great swimmer, and a 1 year old. Any ideas? We are looking for calm waters, sand, and some facilities/concessions. If we can't find a great beach, we may just walk around town and go to the aquarium instead. Any help appreciated - thanks!

[O.G.]

We just returned from our cruise on the Adventure. Per the instructions on this board (dated July 27th I think) we took the local bus to Kontiki Beach. Once out on the beach you can walk further down the beach (to the left if you are facing the water) and there are two other beaches. They all have facilities, chairs, shade, refreshments, bathrooms etc. The only problem is the bottom is rocky on Kontiki as you are first going into the water. So just keep walking and the next beach down is all sand. All three beach areas are VERY close running into each other and all have nice facilities. The entire section of beach here is protected (no waves or current) BUT even in this protected area the water did slope and get over my head. As long as you stay in fairly close to shore you can have a grand time. I'm not much of a swimmer and that is what I did. There were families and it's very pretty. Lots of people were snorkeling also. If you keep walking left I think you come to the seaquarium beach area next. We followed the directions on the board and took the bus which was quite easy but you could certainly also take a taxi. If you go by bus just look for one that says Seaquarium on the front. The drivers were friendly and when we were done at the beach we walked back out to Breezes and the bus was sitting there. If you take the bus when you get off at Breezes (it will be on your right) just walk on up the road to the construction area. Turn into it (right). There is a little toll/gate booth which will probably be empty. You walk through there. The construction guys pointed us to the entrance. There is a sign that says Kontiki Beach Club but I didn't see it at first. One caution, it is really HOT and it is a little hike from where the cruise ship docks, through the Rif Fort area, across the bridge into town, along the water, past the floating market, across the little bridge and up to where the buses park. For two adults it's no big deal especially if you are shopping and sightseeing along the way. But with little ones you may just want to get a taxi right at the pier and go directly to the beach. Have fun. If you are walking around town. I would suggest eating at a place called Scampi. If you see the yellow building that looks like a church but is actually a gov't building it is behind there. I can't give you very good directions but from the outside it looks like it is in a long building with an iron gate. When you go inside the gate there are several restaurants and they sit along the water. Scampi's has tables on the waters edge and you can see eels and crabs in the rocky water beneath you. Kids think it is great. Sorry for the poor directions but you can ask someone when you get there. If you walk through the fort area and go up to the second floor to get a view of the town you will see it as a long narrow one story kind of pinkish red building. It is actually behind a hotel and casino but I don't know the name of the hotel. Curacao is lovely. My favorite port by far. Enjoy.

[niemeyer3]

Thanks for the detail - this is very helpful for us!