Curaçao has earned another major international travel recognition. Mambo Beach and Cas Abao Beach have both been named among the 15 best beaches in the world in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards.
Mambo Beach ranked #6 worldwide, while Cas Abao Beach took the #12 spot, placing two Curaçao beaches alongside celebrated destinations in the Maldives, Thailand, Turks and Caicos, Bora Bora and the Philippines.
The annual Readers’ Choice Awards are based on ratings submitted by Condé Nast Traveler readers, with hundreds of thousands of travelers taking part across the awards’ different travel categories.
Mambo Beach Ranks #6 in the World
Just outside Willemstad, Mambo Beach is one of Curaçao’s best-known beach destinations.
Its appeal goes beyond the Caribbean water and sandy shoreline. Mambo combines swimming and sunbathing with beach clubs, restaurants, shops and nightlife, making it one of the island’s most complete day-to-night destinations.
In Condé Nast Traveler’s 2026 ranking, Mambo Beach received a score of 92.00, securing the #6 position worldwide.
For visitors staying around Willemstad, Pietermaai or the eastern side of the island, it is also one of Curaçao’s easiest major beaches to reach.
Cas Abao Takes the #12 Spot
Further west, Cas Abao Beach offers a very different Curaçao experience.
Known for its clear turquoise water, white sand and snorkeling, Cas Abao is surrounded by the island’s characteristic rugged landscape.
Condé Nast Traveler readers gave Cas Abao a score of 91.14, placing it at #12 in the world.
Its inclusion alongside Mambo also highlights the variety of Curaçao’s coastline. One is known for beach clubs, restaurants and entertainment; the other for a more natural Caribbean beach experience.
What Are the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards?
Condé Nast Traveler is one of the world’s best-known travel publications, covering destinations, hotels, resorts, cruises, airlines and travel experiences around the globe.
Its annual Readers’ Choice Awards are based on ratings submitted by travelers rather than being selected solely by the publication’s editors.
The 2026 awards cover destinations and travel experiences around the world, including beaches, islands, hotels and resorts.
For Curaçao, having two beaches within a global Top 15 gives the island significant international recognition in one of the travel industry’s established reader-voted awards.
Curaçao Also Has the Caribbean’s #1-Ranked Resort
The beaches weren’t Curaçao’s only major result in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards.
Baoase Curaçao was ranked #1 among resorts in the Caribbean Islands, receiving a score of 99.65.
The result means Curaçao appears prominently in two different categories of the 2026 awards: with two beaches among the world’s Top 15 and the #1-ranked resort in the Caribbean Islands.
A Strong Showing for Curaçao
The recognition of Mambo Beach and Cas Abao is particularly interesting because the two beaches represent very different sides of the island.
Mambo offers Curaçao’s lively beach-club culture, restaurants and entertainment, while Cas Abao showcases the clear water, snorkeling and natural scenery for which the island’s western coastline is known.
Together with Baoase’s result, the rankings add to Curaçao’s international visibility as a Caribbean destination.
For travelers planning a Curaçao itinerary, the 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards provide two more reasons to explore beyond a single stretch of coastline — and experience just how different the island’s beaches can be.
Source: Condé Nast Traveler, 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards — Top Beaches in the World. Rankings and scores referenced from the original Condé Nast Traveler publications.
