Bandabou is Curaçao's western half, where Willemstad's suburbs give way to low cactus hills, old plantation land, fishing villages, and a string of small beaches cut into the limestone coast. This is the side of the island to keep a rental car for. Buses are too infrequent for a satisfying beach-hopping day.
The coast supplies the easy pleasures. Playa Kenepa Grandi has the grand view from above and Playa Lagun is a narrow fishermen's cove with good snorkelling. Cas Abao Beach, Kokomo Beach, and Playa Porto Mari have more facilities without losing the clear water and easy shore access that make the west coast so appealing. Bring your own snorkel if you have one; you will use it repeatedly.
Inland and on the north coast, Bandabou becomes rougher. Christoffel National Park protects the island's highest ground and best hiking, while Shete Boka National Park follows a coast of caves, inlets, and violent surf. Start early, carry more water than you think you need, and treat the west as a full day rather than a quick loop from Willemstad.
The west also holds much of Curaçao's rural history. Museo Tula occupies the plantation where the 1795 revolt against slavery began, while Kas di Pal'i Maishi preserves the domestic life and traditions of the island's post-emancipation countryside. These small sites add essential context to the landhouses and salt pans passed on the drive.