Scuba Lodge is less than 20 minutes away from the Curaçao International Airport, nestled in downtown Willemstad and very close to tourist attractions like the floating Queen Emma Bridge and the Handelskade waterfront.
The roads in Curacao are easy to navigate and we highly recommend renting a car. The drive from the airport to the hotel will take you across the Queen Juliana Bridge with sweeping views of the city and sea beyond. From there, explore all the best thing Curacao has to offer. For our Curacao recommendations, check out –
13 Things To in Curacao
Where is Curacao – And why it’s awesome.
And now for something completely different. Rather than a typical, sprawling beachside report, Scuba Lodge is a collection of beautifully restored and colorfully decorated 1860s Dutch colonial buildings. These are nestled in the heart of Pietermaai, a downtown district of Willemstad, Curacao renowned for its artistic ambiance and local flair.
If you prefer to stay in-town on your vacations (but with an ocean view of course) and don’t mind driving to explore an island’s beaches, this is a great hotel for you. It is important to note, while the rooms offer ocean views, the nearest swimmable beach is a short drive away.
The ambiance is relaxed and carefree, with the lovely grounds linked by garden pathways. There are two small pools on site: a small but stunning and inviting infinity pool overlooking the ocean, and a shady garden pool next to the restaurant.
Scuba Lodge has 28 standard rooms and 11 apartments, several of which are great options for families. Modern finishes, flat-screen TVs, iPod docks, mini-fridges, and coffee and tea-making amenities are included in every room. The bathrooms have walk-in showers with rainfall showerheads. Bedrooms are air-conditioned, but the living room in the apartment is not.
Each apartment has a dedicated living space and fully equipped, contemporary kitchen with refrigerator.
Standard rooms offer small patios, but the apartments—our top choice for families—have large balconies offering stunning views of the hotel grounds and sea beyond.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served in the hotel’s boho-beachside restaurant, De Heeren @ sea. Sunsets are dramatic at this open-air eatery and kids can make the most a small, shaded playground right on-site. Pastries, coffee, and lighter lunch fare can be found just a stone’s throw away at next door at La Reina café. And a ton of other restaurants are right at your fingertips, walking distance from the hotel.
Scuba Lodge is, as its name implies, a dive-centric hotel, but thanks to its warm, inviting charm, proximity to the town, and sea views, it still has a lot to offer to non-divers. If you’re looking for a quiet spot to read a book or simply relax in the sun, there are some quiet nooks with seating areas and day beds in the garden. There are no fitness centers or spas on-site, but the staff can help arrange an in-room massage for you.
Don’t waste your time searching for rates and availability. We can handle it (and love it!), at no additional cost to you.
Great stay! Awesome location, even better staff and food We stayed at the scuba lodge for a week and it was great! Even the basic rooms had a huge bed and nice bathroom and wardrobe. A good size locker was included. We had breakfast included with our stay and it was great, no buffet, just order what you want from the menu, including local specialties such as pumpkin pancakes (MUST TRY) and the best fresh orange juice. The staff from the restaurant (de Heeren@sea) is super nice and welcoming and give you the perfect holiday vibe (especially Pablo with his big smile). Beside that the hotel staff is really kind and flexible and accommodated to every need (even when we had to stay an extra night due to circumstances).Even though the hotel name says “scuba lodge” this hotel is perfect for everybody, whether you want to try diving at the diving school 3 doors down the road, or whether you just want to lounge by one of the two pools. Or even if you just want the have breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks or a snack, the restaurant is fantastic by itself!We would definitely stay here again if we’re ever back in the country
Reviewed by WildJunket, February 2021, via TripAdvisor
Our family of three absolutely loved our stay at Scuba Lodge. We had a spacious 2-bedroom apartment with a big terrace overlooking the sea. Every morning we’d sit out on the terrace to have breakfast while watching the huge waves tumbling beneath our feet. After a day of exploring, we would return for a swim in the infinity pool (which we often had all to ourselves) and watch sunset. The pool was an excellent spot for catching the epic sunsets of Curacao. We also slept very well here — I loved being lulled to sleep by the sound of the crashing waves.We also really enjoyed eating at the restaurant at Scuba Lodge — there was always an endless flow of people coming in to eat, whether at breakfast, lunch or dinner time. The breakfast box was amazing, with generous portions of yogurt, granola, eggs, and bread. Dinner at the restaurant during sunset was even more amazing — the food was excellent (though pricey) and the ambiance was lively.Another thing that we loved about Scuba Lodge was its location. It’s located in the colorful, hip Pietermaai district, within walking distance from beautiful architecture and great restaurants. The popular Nieuwestraat is nearby and the heart of Willemstad is just a 10-min walk away. We felt like we had everything we needed surrounding us.All in all, I highly recommend the Scuba Lodge to families and couples who want to be in the heart of Curacao and right next to the sea.
Reviewed by WildJunket, February 2021, via TripAdvisor
Want to see more of what Curacao has to offer? Dive into our complete Curacao Collection for more family-friendly hotels in Curacao and must-do activities. If you’re still in the ‘Hmm, which island?’ phase, our ‘Find Your Caribbean Island‘ page is designed to help busy parents like you sift through the noise and pick the perfect family getaway.
