The Turtles of Playa Piskado: How to Watch Without Harm

At the end of the road to Westpunt, Playa Piskado, which locals also call Playa Grandi, looks like no other beach on Curaçao. No rows of loungers, no beach club: colorful fishing boats, a modest pier, sand mixed with pebbles. And, a few meters from shore, green sea turtles surfacing to breathe between the hulls. It is one of the few places on the island where you can watch them from the shore: a mask and snorkel are enough, and entry is free. That privilege comes with responsibility, because these are wild animals, protected under Curaçao law, and how you behave in the water matters more than your gear.

Why the turtles are here, and why it is debated

Every day, the fishermen return from sea and clean their catch right on the pier. The scraps thrown into the water have long attracted green turtles, occasionally joined by a hawksbill, and they have become regulars around the pier. Piskadó, fittingly, means fisherman in Papiamentu.

Let us be honest: this situation divides opinion. Marine biologists point out that regular feeding disrupts the turtles' natural foraging behavior and exposes them to an unbalanced diet, effects documented in a study published in the journal Global Ecology and Conservation. The local organization Sea Turtle Conservation Curaçao asks visitors not to feed them, and a petition has circulated against the harassment of the animals here. The fish scraps come from a traditional fishing routine, not a staged attraction, but for visitors the rule is unambiguous: bring nothing, give nothing.

The five rules in the water

• Keep at least two meters (six feet) of distance, more if the turtle is heading your way.
• Never touch a turtle, not even for a second: contact stresses the animal.
• Do not feed them, even if others are doing it right in front of you.
• Never block their way up to the surface: they need to breathe.
• Stay calm: slow movements, no splashing, no chasing for a photo.

A turtle that swims away has said no. Do not follow it, another will pass by.

Sunscreen, a detail that is anything but

The chemical filters in many sunscreens dissolve in the water and have been implicated in reef degradation. Avoid applying regular sunscreen just before getting in: wear a long-sleeved rash guard instead, or choose a mineral reef-safe formula applied well in advance.

When to go

Come early in the morning: the small parking area fills up fast and the beach is still quiet. On busy days, the water around the pier gets crowded and restless, which is precisely what stresses the turtles. If your schedule allows it, choose a weekday over the weekend: the experience is better for you and for them.

Around Playa Piskado

The beach fits naturally into a day on the wild west coast, between Playa Forti and Christoffel National Park. To keep snorkeling in calmer surroundings, Playa Lagun lies a few kilometers south, and our guide to snorkeling from shore covers the other spots you can reach without a boat. Practical details are on our Playa Piskado page.