Kleine Knip

Kleine Knip – Forgotten piece of paradise

On the west coast of Curaçao, we found a beach that, despite its beauty, still retains a quiet, almost forgotten atmosphere – Kleine Knip. It is the smaller sister of the popular Grote Knip, but offers a much more intimate experience. As soon as we arrived, we were greeted by a picturesque cove, which is lined with cliffs, creating a feeling of pleasant privacy.

Beautiful beach, but…

On the beach, you will find fine, light sand that gradually disappears into the crystal clear water. Already from a distance, we saw that the colours of the sea here play with all shades of turquoise. There was no one here except us, so we chose a parasol right in the front row. Surprisingly, no one came to ask for money either.

You’ll find more beautiful beaches than this on Curaçao, but what makes it one of the best beaches is the underwater world. We didn’t find as many different fish as we encountered here on any other beach on the island. However, you have to swim around the rocks on the right side, almost to the open sea.

Diverse inhabitants of the sea at Kleine Knip

In the sea, we were accompanied by a large number of common fish, but also some that we had never seen before. For example, a fish that changes colour – the Honeycomb Cowfish. In addition to changing colour, when threatened, it even secreted a poisonous slime from its skin, which can be dangerous to other fish in the vicinity.

Or the flat fish Bothus Lunatus, which tried to blend in with the sand as much as possible while changing colour slightly to pink. It is a master of camouflage – it can change the colour and pattern of its skin to blend in with the surrounding sand, coral or seaweed. She uses this ability not only to hide from predators, but also when hunting prey.

Another interesting thing was an orange sponge called an Elephant Ear. We’ve never found anything like it in the sea before.

And there were also colourful corals and the usual small curious fish.

The beach is and is not organized

As soon as you arrive, you will see several sun loungers and parasols. This gives the impression that the beach is a popular place for tourists and is organised. However, appearances could not be more deceptive. There will be almost no one on the beach but you, and the umbrellas are the only thing that resembles an organized beach. There was no restaurant or bar. It’s as if Kleine Knip is a long-lost area that is still trying to convince you otherwise.

How to get here?

We got to Kleine Knip by car, which is the best mode of transport on this side of the island. You’ll find a small car parking area right above the beach, with a short path leading down to the sea.

We perceived Kleine Knip as a place that has retained its original character without much interference from tourism. Here you will find the peace, tranquillity and authentic atmosphere that is increasingly difficult to find on the more well-known beaches. If you’re looking for a smaller, quieter beach with beautiful water, Kleine Knip is one of those places that’s definitely worth a visit.