Koraal Tabak and Sint Joris Bay, the quiet side of Curaçao

Most people's Curaçao is the west: the famous beaches, the snorkelling, Willemstad's coloured waterfront. We chose the other side. Koraal Tabak sits on the north-east of the island, near Sint Joris Bay, and it's a different place.

The bay

Sint Joris Bay is a natural inlet. The open Atlantic crashes on the coast outside it, but the bay itself is sheltered from those waves, and the trade wind blows across it nearly every day. That combination, flat water and steady wind, is why it's the island's kitesurf and windsurf spot.

Three kite schools work from Kitebeach on the bay: Nix Kiteschool, Gusty Kiting and Awa Salu Kiteboarding. Near the beach the water is flat and good for learning. Toward the east side there are waves, which get big when a swell comes in. The windiest months are usually January to April.

There's also Fundashon Sint Joris Baai, a small non-profit on the west side of the bay that teaches local kids to windsurf for free.

On foot

Trails run through Koraal Tabak and around the bay, with views over the water and the hills. Go early, before the heat, and bring more water than you think. Birders come for the native species.

The Koraal Tabak cave is worth the stop: several chambers, and at the right time, bats.

Nearby

The Aloe Vera farm, a short drive away.
Serena's Art Factory, home of the Chichi dolls you'll see all over the island.
The ostrich farm, on the road down to the bay.
Santa Catharina, a quiet drive through the countryside.

The honest part

This side is undeveloped, and that cuts both ways. You need a car. Restaurants and supermarkets are a drive, not a walk. And like much of the windward coast, the shore collects plastic that washes in from the sea.

In return you get space, wind that keeps the heat bearable, and nights that are actually dark. We think that's the better trade.

Living or buying here

If you're thinking about more than a holiday, Koraal Tabak has new villas and apartments for sale, and five new solar homes at Seven & Sea are coming in 2027. We own houses here and look after others, so ask us anything.

Sources: My Curaçao Guide: uncover the eastern coast; For 91 Days: St. Joris Bay; Curalink: kiteboarding in Curaçao; Windy.app: Sint Joris Bay wind statistics.