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Sandals Royal Curaçao

Nieuwpoort, Curaçao

4.7(3,041 reviews)

Adults OnlySandals Resorts International

Sandals Royal Curacao opened in June 2022 after Sandals bought the former Santa Barbara Beach and Golf Resort on the Spanish Water bay and put it through a $55 million conversion. Its signature is the Kurason Island Suites, a cluster of rooms wrapped around a heart-shaped pool with a garden at its centre, alongside Awa Seaside Bungalows with private pools and the two-level Dos Awa infinity pool overlooking the bay. The resort is adults-only and built for couples, and it pairs the Sandals formula with Curacao's Dutch colonial character, strong diving and drier weather than most of the Caribbean. Couples who come for food, diving and a striking setting tend to leave very happy; couples who expect a classic Caribbean beach often wish they had picked Sandals Barbados or one of the Jamaican resorts.

Traveler Insights

Pros

+Kurason Island Suites wrap around a heart-shaped pool with a garden at its centre, one of the most photographed spots in the Sandals portfolio and a genuinely different take on the brand's swim-up formula
+Scuba is included for certified divers through the PADI dive programme, with snorkeling trips and gear also in the rate, which delivers outsized value on an island known for its reefs
+Eight restaurants plus three beachside food trucks for 351 rooms, ranging from Butch's Island Chop House and Vincent to Gatsu Gatsu sushi, Pietra's stone-oven pizza and Toteki's Curacao street food
+Thirteen bars, including a swim-up bar, pour top-shelf spirits with no upgrade tier, and the in-room minibar is stocked and included
+Curacao sits south of the main hurricane track, so the weather is drier and more predictable year-round than at Sandals properties in Jamaica, Saint Lucia or the Bahamas
+Willemstad, a UNESCO World Heritage city, is a short drive away, giving the trip a cultural side that most Sandals destinations cannot match
+Butler-level guests staying seven nights or more get the Island Inclusive Program: a $250 dine-out credit at partner restaurants plus use of a MINI Cooper to explore the island, and everyone gets Dutch bikes to ride around the resort
+Round-trip airport transfers are included in every room category for the 26 km drive from Curacao International Airport

Cons

−The beach is the most-cited disappointment: it is a built stretch of sand on the sheltered Spanish Water inlet, protected by a floating pier, rather than an open Caribbean strand, so beach-first couples often leave underwhelmed
−The sheltered setting also limits open-ocean watersports compared with the beachfront Sandals in Jamaica or Barbados, even though the calm water snorkels well around the pier
−Pool chairs get claimed early, with guests reporting loungers reserved around the Dos Awa infinity pool by 6:30 AM, so shaded seating is hard to find at peak hours
−The resort is spread out and can be confusing to navigate at first, and guests with limited mobility find the distances between restaurants, bars and rooms tiring
−Golf costs extra: Sandals now runs a golf programme at the adjacent Old Quarry course, a Pete Dye design voted the Caribbean's top course for 2026, but at an additional fee with guest rates
−Curacao has fewer direct US flights than Jamaica or the Bahamas, and many itineraries connect through Miami or Atlanta, adding time and cost
−It prices at the top of the Sandals range, so guests bring high expectations and feel the beach limitation more sharply than they would at a cheaper resort

Dining is the main draw after the scenery: eight restaurants plus three beachside food trucks for 351 rooms. Butch's Island Chop House and Vincent take reservations, while Zuka (South American), Strand (seafood), Aolos (Mediterranean), Gatsu Gatsu (sushi), Pietra (stone-oven pizza and pasta, serving until 2 AM) and the Kanaal cafe are walk-in, and the Toteki, Kishi and Heart & Sol trucks cover Curacao street food, Asian fusion and healthy bowls. Thirteen bars, including a swim-up bar, pour top-shelf spirits, and the minibar is stocked and included. Scuba is the other headline: certified divers dive as part of the rate through the PADI programme, and snorkeling trips and gear are included too. The beach is the consistent weak point. It is a built stretch of sand on a sheltered inlet, protected by a floating pier that snorkels well because it is open underneath, but it is not the open Caribbean strand many guests picture.

Sandals Royal Curacao suits couples who rank dining, diving and a photogenic setting above beach sprawl: honeymooners, divers and food lovers will all find a lot here. It sits at the top of the Sandals price range alongside Sandals Barbados and Sandals Saint Vincent. Golfers can play the adjacent Old Quarry course through Sandals' golf programme at an extra fee. Off property, Willemstad's Punda district, the Queen Emma pontoon bridge, the Floating Market and Museum Kura Hulanda make an easy half day, Klein Curacao is the island's favourite boat trip, and Christoffel and Shete Boka national parks are worth a full day for hikers and birdwatchers.

Common Questions

Is the beach at Sandals Royal Curacao really as bad as some travelers say?

It is the most consistent criticism, so know it before you book. The beach is a built stretch of sand on the sheltered Spanish Water inlet, protected by a floating pier; the water is calm and clear and the snorkeling around the pier is good because it is open underneath. What it is not is an open Caribbean strand like Sandals Barbados or the Jamaican resorts. Guests who come for the beach are often disappointed, while those who come for the pools, diving and dining are much happier.

Is the scuba diving included, and can non-divers try it?

Scuba is included for certified divers through the resort's PADI programme, with dive trips and equipment covered, and snorkeling trips and gear are included for everyone. Beginners can take an introductory resort course, while full certification is charged separately. Curacao's south-shore reefs are known for clear water, and the dive programme is the feature that most often turns a good trip into a great one for divers.

What are the Kurason Island Suites?

Kurason Island Suites are a room category arranged around a heart-shaped pool with a garden at its centre, and that pool has become the resort's signature image. Booking one of these suites is the way to get the setting on your doorstep. For a big shared pool, every guest can use the Dos Awa two-level infinity pool overlooking the Spanish Water.

How does Sandals Royal Curacao compare to Sandals Barbados?

They sit at similar prices and get compared a lot. Barbados wins clearly on beach quality, with a proper open Caribbean beach. Curacao wins on diving, on drier and more predictable weather, and on its setting, with the heart-shaped Kurason pool and the bay views from the Dos Awa infinity pool. For divers and food-focused couples Curacao is the stronger pick; for beach-first couples, Barbados is the better choice.

What is Willemstad like, and is it easy to visit from the resort?

Willemstad is a UNESCO World Heritage city whose pastel Dutch colonial waterfront looks unlike anywhere else in the Caribbean. It is a short taxi ride from the resort, and the Punda district, the Queen Emma pontoon bridge, the Floating Market and Museum Kura Hulanda fit easily into a half-day visit. Butler-level guests on stays of seven nights or more can use the included MINI Cooper and the $250 dine-out credit to make an evening of it.

Is Sandals Royal Curacao worth the price?

It depends on which features you will use. Couples who dive, work through the restaurants and food trucks, and book a butler suite or a Kurason Island Suite generally feel they got their money's worth. Couples who don't dive and plan to spend most of their time on the beach will feel the premium more, given the sheltered inlet beach. The ideal guest is a food-focused couple or honeymooners who want a striking setting above all else.

Restaurants (7)

Type	Restaurants
Italian	Pietra
Japanese & sushi	Gatsu Gatsu
Steakhouse	Butch's Island Chop House
Seafood	Strand
Mediterranean & Spanish	Aolos
International & fusion	Zuka, Vincent

From the resort's own dining pages. Only restaurants the resort lists are shown. All are covered by the all-inclusive rate, per the resort.

What's nearby

Klein Curaçao day trip
20 min drive · 7.8 mi
Hato Caves
35 min drive · 15 mi
Fort Amsterdam
25 min drive · 11 mi
Queen Emma Bridge
25 min drive · 11 mi
Otrobanda
30 min drive · 12 mi
Punda (Willemstad Handelskade)
30 min drive · 11 mi

More things to do (24)

Kokomo Beach · beach40 min drive · 18 mi
Mambo Beach · beach25 min drive · 9.4 mi
Santa Barbara Beach · beach2 min walk · 0.1 mi
Jan Thiel Beach · beach20 min drive · 8.3 mi
Old Quarry Golf Course · golf4 min walk · 0.2 mi
Den Paradera Herb Garden · nature11 min drive · 4.5 mi
Curaçao Aloe Vera Plantation · nature20 min drive · 6.9 mi
Catamaran snorkel trip from Spanish Water · excursion20 min drive · 7.7 mi
Sunset cruise from Spanish Water · excursion20 min drive · 7.7 mi
Landhuis Chobolobo (Blue Curaçao liqueur distillery) · historic site20 min drive · 8.6 mi
Spanish Water (Caracasbaai viewpoint) · viewpoint20 min drive · 8.1 mi
Curaçao Ostrich Farm · wildlife20 min drive · 8.1 mi
Curaçao Sea Aquarium · wildlife25 min drive · 9.6 mi
Dolphin Academy · adventure park25 min drive · 9.6 mi
Tugboat Beach (Caracasbaai) · beach25 min drive · 8.6 mi
Curaçao Marina · marina25 min drive · 9.8 mi
Pietermaai · town25 min drive · 10 mi
Maritime Museum Curaçao · museum25 min drive · 11 mi
Rif Fort · historic site25 min drive · 12 mi
Kurá Hulanda Museum · museum25 min drive · 12 mi
Curaçao Museum · museum30 min drive · 12 mi
Playa Kanoa · beach30 min drive · 11 mi
Mikvé Israel-Emanuel Synagogue · historic site30 min drive · 11 mi
Blue Bay Beach · beach35 min drive · 16 mi

Amenities

Bicycle Rentals

Nightclub

Diving

Swim-Up Bar

Snorkeling

Water Sports Rentals

Free Wi-Fi

Nightly Entertainment

Show 4 more amenities

Buffet Dining

Spa

Gym

Beach

Style & Rooms

Atmosphere

LuxuryRomanticCouples Only

Room upgrades

Beachfront RoomsSwim-Up RoomsPlunge Pool RoomsVillas

Seaweed & sargassum

Curaçao gets sargassum, typically worst April through August, concentrated on the windward north and east coast.See the month-by-month guide →

Every all-inclusive in Curaçao →

Google Reviews★ 4.7 · 3,041 reviews

Barbara L.

a week ago

“This Sandals Resorts was top notch. Large rooms with comfortable bedding, large walk in showers, balcony and plenty of drawers. Housekeeping was wonderful and the room was always clean and freshend with frequent towel exchanges and turn down service...”

Trenna B.

a week ago

“Our trip to Sandals Royal Curaçao was absolutely fantastic from start to finish! A huge shout-out to DenniLee on the entertainment team — she was kind, energetic, and so much fun! What truly stood out was how she remembered everyone in our group thr...”

Michal M.

a month ago

“Our stay was outstanding, and I can’t recommend this resort enough. Everything is thoughtfully designed, making it easy to get around no matter where your room is located. The staff truly stand out—warm, attentive, and always willing to go the extra...”