Lagoon Ocean Resort

Set atop a rock plateau roughly 10 metres above Playa Lagun, Lagoon Ocean Resort looks straight out over the bay and the open Caribbean Sea. It is a small property, built as a cluster of studios, apartments and bungalows rather than a single block, on the quieter west side of Curaçao near the village of Lagun. Steps beside the neighbouring Scuba Lodge Lagun Beach lead straight down to the sand, so the water is close, not a drive away. Rooms run from studios to a three-bedroom bungalow and a two-bedroom villa, each with a kitchen, balcony or terrace, and several with a private roof terrace. Bahia Restaurant sits above the cliff edge, open daily for lunch and dinner, and on Thursday nights hosts a barbecue evening with local dishes and music. Divers use the SSI/PADI school next door, which runs guided dives and courses along the west coast's reefs. You can hear the sea from most terraces, and the pool offers a flatter alternative to the bay when the swell is up. A car is worth renting, since Willemstad lies about 25 to 30 km away and sites like Shete Boka National Park are a short drive north. Grocery packs and airport transfers can be arranged ahead of arrival.