Sandals Royal Curaçao
Adults-only luxury on Spanish Water Bay, with an island worth exploring
“This Sandals is my favorite Sandals resort.”
Karen Cavadas, Twinsburg Travel, first-hand visit (August 2026)
Sandals Royal Curaçao is an adults-only, all-inclusive resort for couples on Spanish Water Bay, about 16 miles from Curaçao’s airport. It’s a big, beautiful property with 8 restaurants, 3 food trucks, 13 bars, three pools and the Old Quarry golf course right next door.
We’ve booked Sandals since 1994, have been to every Sandals resort, and stayed here in August 2026 for our 34th anniversary, so everything on this page comes from first-hand experience. See Sandals Royal Curaçao on Sandals.com.
Sandals Royal Curaçao at a glance
| Location | Santa Barbara, Curaçao On Spanish Water Bay |
| Airport | Curaçao Intl (CUR) About 16 miles, transfers included |
| Adults only? | Yes Designed for couples |
| Restaurants | 8 restaurants + 3 food trucks 13 bars |
| Price range | $$$–$$$$ Varies by room and travel dates |
| Stay at 1, Play at 2? | No The only Sandals on the island |
| Safe to explore? | Yes Travel + Leisure: one of the safest Caribbean islands |
| Best for | Anniversaries · Honeymoons · Golfers · Divers |
How do I get the best price at Sandals Royal Curaçao? We stack every promotion you qualify for, at no fee. See this week’s deals or ask us for a quote.
Jump to: Photos · Is It Worth It? · Best Suite · What’s Included · Restaurants · Arrival · FAQ
Sandals Royal Curaçao Photos: What It Really Looks Like
Is Sandals Royal Curaçao Worth It? Our Honest Review
Yes, for most couples. We rate it a top-tier Sandals resort, and Karen calls it her favorite. The one honest trade-off is the beach: it’s calm and swimmable, but the swim area is small and it sits on an inner channel instead of open ocean.
- Love it for: restaurant variety, three very different pools, golf, diving, and an easy, friendly island to explore
- Think twice if: a wide-open ocean beach is your top priority, or you want a small resort where everything is steps from your room
Our full write-up covers the beach, every restaurant, whether you need a butler, and how we’d book it.
The Coolest Suite at Sandals Royal Curaçao: The Rondoval Butler Villa
If you want the room that feels unlike any other Sandals, it’s the Asombroso Rondoval Butler Villa, and it’s the one we stayed in.
- Your own private pool and outdoor soaking tub, plus indoor and outdoor showers
- A wide-open patio near the tropical gardens
- Butler service, including golf-cart rides to dinner on this long property
- Central and quiet. We walked to the main pool and beach, and the road behind the villas only serves the resort.
Not sure it’s worth the upgrade for your trip? Ask us and we’ll compare it with the other room levels.
Only at Sandals Curaçao: Heart Locks, a MINI Cooper and Dine-Out Credit
Seal your love with a heart lock. Couples add a lock at the resort to celebrate their love, and locks bought at the gift shop support the Sandals Foundation. We brought one from home, bought a second, and interlocked them for our 34 years.
The Island Inclusive Program
Butler-level guests staying 7 or more nights get a $250 dine-out credit at local restaurants plus a MINI Cooper to explore the island. Give 24 hours’ notice to use the dine-out vouchers. Not in a qualifying suite? Enterprise rents cars right on property.
What’s Included at Sandals Royal Curaçao?
- All dining: 8 restaurants, 3 food trucks and in-room minibars
- All drinks: 13 bars, top-shelf spirits and Robert Mondavi Twin Oaks wines
- Water sports: snorkeling, paddle boards, kayaks, aqua trikes and Hobie Cats
- Scuba diving for certified divers
- Land sports: 8 pickleball courts, 2 tennis courts, beach volleyball, bikes and a fitness center
- Day and night entertainment
- Round-trip airport transfers, all taxes and gratuities, and Wi-Fi
Not included: golf, spa treatments and off-resort excursions. We can plan your excursions for you. See our Curaçao island guide.
Included when you book with us: free planning, help choosing the right room, every promotion you qualify for stacked into your price, and someone watching your booking after you book. No fees, ever.
Gatsu Gatsu (Sushi)
Made-to-order sushi at dinner. Our pick: the champagne sushi, sitting at the bar.
Strand (Seafood)
Right on the beach for lunch and dinner, no reservation needed. Our pick: the mahi tacos.
Aolos (Greek and Mediterranean)
Breakfast and dinner overlooking hole 1 of Old Quarry and the ocean. Beautiful under the stars.
Butch’s Island Chop House (Steakhouse)
Prime cuts at dinner (reservation required), plus breakfast. Not hard to get into.
Vincent (International)
European-inspired dinner, reservation required.
Zuka (South American)
Latin American flavors at dinner, no reservation needed.
Pietra (Italian)
Stone-oven pizza and Southern Italian pasta, with an antipasto bar and late-night pizza.
Kanaal (Café)
Coffee, pastries, cheese and wine, plus ice cream and crêpes. We went every night.
Toteki (Food Truck)
Curaçao favorites like stoba and funchi fries.
Heart & Sol (Food Truck)
Fresh bowls, sandwiches and juices.
Kishi (Food Truck)
Asian-inspired bao, curries and bowls.
Sandals Royal Curaçao Restaurants: Our Favorites and Tips
Sandals Royal Curaçao has 8 restaurants, 3 food trucks and 13 bars. Our favorites: Gatsu Gatsu for the champagne sushi (sit at the bar and watch the chef), Strand on the beach for the mahi tacos, and Aolos for dinner under the stars overlooking hole 1.
Reservation tips: Butch’s Island Chop House and Vincent take dinner reservations, so book them early in your stay at the Culinary Concierge desk. The rest are walk-in. If you’re in a butler suite, your butler can drive you to dinner by golf cart, which helps on this long property.
Bars, Entertainment and Nightlife
13 bars, including a swim-up bar at the main pool and a tiki bar by the activities pool. Evenings bring Latin dancing, wine and paint nights, shows, local singers and performers, stargazing and mixology classes. The big beach becomes the nighttime stage, and Kanaal is the spot for coffee, pastries and wine.
Golf at Sandals Royal Curaçao: Old Quarry Golf Course
Golf isn’t included, but the Old Quarry golf course is right next door, and Sandals guests are guaranteed a tee time. A round was about $175 when we stayed in 2026, and Sandals notes Old Quarry was voted the #1 Caribbean golf course for 2026.
- 18-hole Pete Dye championship course with oceanfront holes
- Tee times booked through the resort
- Hole 1 sits right on the water, and you can see it from Aolos and the food trucks
- Curaçao sits outside the main hurricane belt, so golf is good year-round
See our guide to golf at Sandals resorts.
Scuba Diving and Snorkeling at Sandals Royal Curaçao
Scuba is included for certified divers through Sandals’ PADI dive program. The dive team is serious, so bring a current certification card. Night dives cost extra, and resort courses and PADI certification are available if you’re new.
Not a diver? Snorkel right off the beach. Bring your own snorkel and you can skip the safety vest, and ask about night snorkeling.
Red Lane Spa at Sandals Royal Curaçao
The Red Lane Spa is optional, with treatments at an extra cost, including couples massages and treatments rooted in Caribbean tradition. Yoga and Pilates classes and the fitness center are included.
Arrival: What It’s Like to Get to Sandals Royal Curaçao
Sandals Royal Curaçao is about 16 miles (26 km) from Curaçao International Airport (CUR), and round-trip transfers are included with every room. Sandals staff meet you after customs and take you to your transfer. We booked private transfers.
- Where it is: inside a gated community on Spanish Water Bay with the Old Quarry golf course and a yacht club. It takes about 10 minutes just to get out of the gates.
- Getting into town: local restaurants are 20 to 30 minutes away, and downtown Willemstad makes an easy day trip.
- Renting a car: Enterprise is on property. There are no street signs, so use Google Maps but double-check the route yourself.
- On the resort: it’s a long property. Grab a bike, or let your butler drive you by golf cart.
Honeymoons, Anniversaries and Weddings at Sandals Royal Curaçao
Sandals Royal Curaçao is built for celebrating. We celebrated our 34th anniversary here, and while we were there we saw beach weddings, cocktail parties and an evening event for 100 to 250 people under lights on the beach. The resort has the space for groups and never felt overrun.
- Honeymoons: private pools, private dining and heart locks
- Anniversaries: you may qualify for a free night
- Destination weddings and group trips
Sandals Royal Curaçao Resort Map
Talk With Us About Whether Sandals Royal Curaçao Is Right for You
Is Sandals Royal Curaçao adults only?
Yes. Sandals Royal Curaçao is an adults-only, all-inclusive resort designed for couples.
How far is Sandals Royal Curaçao from the airport?
About 16 miles (26 km) from Curaçao International Airport (CUR). Round-trip airport transfers are included with every room.
Is Sandals Royal Curaçao all-inclusive?
Yes. Meals at 8 restaurants and 3 food trucks, drinks at 13 bars, water sports, scuba for certified divers, transfers, taxes and gratuities are included. Golf, spa treatments and excursions cost extra.
Is Sandals Royal Curaçao worth it?
For most couples, yes. We stayed in August 2026 and rate it a top-tier Sandals resort, with great restaurants, three pools and an island worth exploring. The trade-off is a small beach on an inner channel instead of open ocean. Our full Sandals Curaçao review covers it all.
Does Sandals Royal Curaçao have a swimmable beach?
Yes, but the swim area is small. The beach sits on an inner channel rather than open ocean, so boats pass by, and parts of the shoreline are rocky. The sand is white, there’s plenty of room to lay out, and floating rafts sit in the swim area.
What restaurants are at Sandals Royal Curaçao?
8 restaurants (Gatsu Gatsu, Strand, Aolos, Butch’s Island Chop House, Vincent, Zuka, Pietra and Kanaal), 3 food trucks (Toteki, Heart & Sol and Kishi) and 13 bars.
Does Sandals Royal Curaçao have golf?
Yes, next door. The Old Quarry golf course isn’t included, but Sandals guests are guaranteed a tee time, and a round was about $175 when we stayed.
Is Sandals Royal Curaçao safe to leave the resort?
Yes. We rented a car from the Enterprise desk on property and toured the island, and everyone we met was friendly. Travel + Leisure calls Curaçao one of the safest Caribbean islands to visit.
Is Curaçao outside the hurricane belt?
Yes. Curaçao sits outside the primary hurricane belt, which makes it one of the most reliable Caribbean destinations for weather year-round.
What is the Island Inclusive Program at Sandals Curaçao?
Butler-level guests staying 7 or more nights get a $250 dine-out credit at local restaurants plus a MINI Cooper to explore the island. Give 24 hours’ notice to use the dine-out vouchers.
Is Sandals Royal Curaçao good for honeymoons?
Yes. It’s adults-only and built for couples, with villas that have private pools, private dining with a butler, and heart locks to seal your love.