Playa Manzaliña

Published: January 4, 2024 at 8:27 am.

Have you ever longed for the opportunity to relax on your own private beach in the Caribbean? Then Playa Manzaliña might just be the place for you to go. It is just a few kilometers further to the west than Cas Abou. This beach is relatively unknown and not frequently visited, so if you hang out there long enough, at some point you may just be the only one there. This make Playa Manzaliña it the perfect place to enjoy a romantic beach picnic or undisturbed quality time with your family.

Jesse van Muijden

Host @ Villa Leoni

Getting there

Playa Manzaliña roughly lies between Cas Abou and Saint Martha Bay. This gorgeous and quiet beach is 37 km from Villa Leoni and takes approximately 55 minutes to reach by car. A dirt road through a thick tall tree forest will take you to the entrypoint of the beach area at the San Juan manor.

Route to Manzaliña from Villa Leoni

Road to San Juan manor

Facilities

It costs 10 guilders to enter Playa Manzaliña. A guard will be waiting at San Juan manor to collect the entrance fee in cash. After paying the entrance fee, you will have to squeeze your car through a narrow gate that gives access to all beaches in the area: Playa Chiki, Playa Shon Mosa, Playa Largu and, of course, Playa Manzaliña. There are no facilities on these beaches, so be sure to bring your own beach chairs and a cooler with enough to eat and drink. You can park your car directly on the beach. Be careful though, if your car gets stuck in the sand, it may take a while before another car comes along to pull you out. Also, you may not be able to get a signal on your cell phone to call road side services. When we arrived at the beach we actually found people in this situation and we helped them dig out their car by hand to no avail. Fortunately, a big truck arrived to hours later, that was able to pull their car out.

Manzaliña sign

Background

The yellow colored San Juan manor is a monument from the 17th century, that used to be the heart of the mighty San Juan plantation. At present, the area is a lush natural habitat home to a wide range of flora and fauna.

San Juan manor

Swimming

Manzaliña has a white sand beach. There are hardly any rocks or sharp corals and the like on the shoreline, but it is easy to navigate barefoot. The water is warm and clear and the entry is quite shallow. The sea currents are weak and the water surface is usually flat. When we visited Playa Manzaliña, there was only one other car and for some time we had the whole beach entirely to ourselves. Considering the entry price of ten guilders and the high levels of privacy, Playa Manzaliña is definitely worth a visit.

Manzaliña beach

Snorkeling

Right from the shoreline you will find a large variety of coral and tropical fish with all colors of the rainbow. You can venture out quite far into the sea without the water getting too deep, which makes for a relaxed snorkeling experience.

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Published: July 30, 2023 at 5:32 am.

Food & Drinks Nearby Art Bar Barber Local Restaurant

Jesse van Muijden

Host @ Villa Leoni

Pasawá Box Eatery opened its doors in July 2023 and immediately became an immensely popular culinary hotspot on the east side of Curaçao. At Pasawá you can enjoy local food from a variety of restaurants surrounding a buzzing central plaza with a huge bar in the center. The bar serves amazing cocktails and great coffee. It is at the base of the building’s impressive central tower that features huge televisions all around playing live sports games, a DJ booth and a 360 degrees curved digital display at the top. Pasawá Box Eatery is almost completely constructed with shipping containers, but you will hardly notice, because every inch of them has been hand-painted by local artists. If it was not for the delicious smell of food, you would almost think you were visiting a museum.

Published: July 17, 2023 at 5:32 am.

Experience Nearby Animals Pony Ranch

Jesse van Muijden

Host @ Villa Leoni

Published: May 20, 2023 at 5:32 am.

Active Nearby Beach Scuba diving Sea Water sports

Jesse van Muijden

Host @ Villa Leoni

At Villa Leoni we love to give recommendations for activities, restaurants and beaches to help guests get the most out of their stay. However, we have noticed that many guests overlook the incredible experience of scuba diving, which is one of Curaçao’s top attractions. This captivating Caribbean island is renowned for its mesmerizing dive sites, easily accessible from the shore. With warm waters and excellent visibility, it is the ideal destination for beginners to embark on their scuba diving journey. We understand the concerns that may hold you back from trying scuba diving: the unfamiliarity of breathing underwater, handling the equipment, and worries about the costs. Villa Leoni’s host Olga, who lived on the island for almost a year without trying scuba diving, was no exception. But all her concerns evaporated when she took her first plunge! Curaçao is home to many outstanding PADI certified diving instructors ready to guide you into the enchanting underwater world. Our preferred diving instructor, Pascal Hermes from Curadivers, took exceptional care in introducing Olga to scuba diving at Tugboat Beach, one of the island’s premier diving sites. In just one morning, Olga went from zero experience to having the dive of a lifetime. And here is the best part: at the time of writing, her private scuba diving lesson, tailored to her needs, cost only ANG 150 (~$80), including convenient pick-up and drop-off at the villa. This article aims to address any apprehensions you may have about scuba diving and ensure it lands at the top of your to-do list for your next trip to Curaçao. We will cover everything you need to know, making your first-time scuba diving experience in Curaçao a memorable and exhilarating adventure. Get ready to dive in and discover the captivating wonders awaiting beneath the surface!

Published: March 25, 2023 at 5:32 am.

Experience Animals Jungle Rainforest

Jesse van Muijden

Host @ Villa Leoni

Published: March 24, 2023 at 5:32 am.

Food & Drinks Cactus Local Lunch Soup Stew Tamarind

Jesse van Muijden

Host @ Villa Leoni

When you think of Caribbean cuisine, Curaçao may not be the first place that comes to mind. But this island offers a rich and diverse culinary tradition, and one of the best places to experience it is Plasa Bieu. Located in Punda, right by the Waaigat, Plasa Bieu is also known as Marshe Bieu or Old Market. The building used to be a covered market hall, but now it’s solely devoted to food. It’s a popular spot for locals and tourists alike, who gather at communal tables to enjoy delicious and affordable lunches. For only around twenty Antillian guilders you can get a satisfying hot meal and refreshing cold beverage. Keep in mind that It is open until three o’clock in the afternoon, so plan accordingly.

Playa Manzaliña

Getting there

Facilities

Background

Swimming

Snorkeling

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Pasawá Box Eatery

PonyPret Curaçao

Introduction to Scuba Diving at Tugboat Beach

Amazonia Curaçao: The Jungle Experience

Lunch at Plasa Bieu