TUI BLUE Curaçao resort opening reshapes the west coast luxury map
TUI BLUE has confirmed the TUI BLUE Curaçao resort opening for October 1 at Groot Santa Martha on the island’s quieter western flank, according to the official TUI BLUE Curaçao fact sheet and a press release from TUI Group dated March 2024. The new premium all-inclusive resort brings 297 rooms across six low rise buildings, with starting rates set at 413 dollars per night for an included stay that targets couples seeking a refined Caribbean break. This is the first large scale all inclusive resort on this stretch of the Curaçao coast, shifting the island’s luxury focus beyond Willemstad, Jan Thiel and Pietermaai and into the lesser developed west.
The resort sits directly on the Caribbean Sea near Santa Martha Bay, giving guests a wide beach, calm water to swim and uninterrupted ocean views that feel far from cruise ship traffic. TUI positions the property as a premium inclusive hotel rather than a party complex, with a stated minimum age policy for certain room categories and quiet zones designed for couples who want a relaxed stay. A member of the opening team describes the atmosphere as “more barefoot-elegant than spring-break,” with most guests ending the evening on their balcony rather than in a nightclub. For travelers comparing Curaçao options, the price point undercuts ultra luxury villas yet offers more structure than independent vacation rentals, especially when every meal, bar order and most activities are already included.
Key to the TUI BLUE Curaçao resort opening is its focus on rooms that bring the sea as close as possible to the bed. Guests can book a standard room with a balcony terrace and partial ocean view, or upgrade to a bedroom suite with a separate living room and a wide ocean view over the Caribbean Sea. Higher categories include swim room options and bedroom suites with terrace swim access, where you step from your terrace directly into a shared pool that runs the length of the building. Entry level rooms typically sleep two adults, junior suites add a small seating area, and top tier bedroom suites with private pools are aimed at couples who want extra privacy. From Curaçao International Airport (Hato), the drive to Groot Santa Martha takes roughly 35 to 45 minutes by car or pre-booked transfer, so arrivals can realistically be on the sand before sunset even on late afternoon flights.
Rooms, dining and daily life at the new inclusive resort
The 297 rooms at TUI BLUE Curaçao are spread across low rise blocks, with categories ranging from entry level rooms to bedroom suite layouts and junior suites with private pools. Every bedroom includes a modern rain shower, neutral blue accents that echo the sea and the brand, and either a balcony terrace or ground floor terrace swim deck depending on category. Couples who want to wake to the Caribbean Sea can choose full ocean view rooms, while those watching budget can opt for partial ocean view rooms that still frame the water between palm trees. A typical day might start with coffee on the terrace, a quick swim from the shared pool and then a short walk to breakfast without ever leaving your building.
For dining, the resort leans into live cooking and à la carte restaurant experiences rather than buffet only service. The main venue, simply called The Restaurant, anchors the inclusive offering with daily breakfast, lunch and dinner, while specialty concepts such as IVO Beach, Mesa Caribe and Culinarium add focused menus that rotate through Caribbean, Latin and international flavours. Thea’s Coffee & Juices and a Grab & Go counter keep soft drinks, snacks and light bites flowing throughout the day, which matters when your stay is fully included and you want flexibility between pool, beach and excursions. IVO Beach doubles as both a beach bar and a relaxed lunch spot, where servers circulate with soft drinks and cocktails while guests move between the sand, the sea and the pool.
Several bars are positioned so you never walk far from your room to your next drink, including a pool bar that serves as the social hub in the late afternoon. Guests who want a quieter rhythm can retreat to shaded loungers or book a spa treatment while others join aqua fitness or casual games by the main pool. If you are planning an elegant island escape with time in Willemstad, you can pair a few nights here with urban dining by following our guide to what to do in Curaçao for an elegant island escape, then return to the inclusive resort calm of Santa Martha.
Diving, sustainability and how to position TUI BLUE Curaçao in your trip
Location is the strategic play behind the TUI BLUE Curaçao resort opening, because Groot Santa Martha places guests within easy boat reach of dive sites such as Mushroom Forest, the Blue Room and Watamula. Ocean Encounters will operate an on site PADI 5 Star dive shop, turning the resort into a launch pad for serious underwater time in some of the clearest water in the Caribbean Sea. According to divecuracao.info, Mushroom Forest regularly ranks among Curaçao’s signature reefs, and the Blue Room cave offers accessible cavern-style light effects for intermediate divers and guided snorkelers. Non divers still benefit from the setting, with calm conditions for a morning swim, stand up paddle sessions along the bay and long walks on a beach that feels far removed from the busier eastern districts of Curaçao.
The project, built on the former Coral Cliff Hotel site, represents an 80 million dollar investment and brings hundreds of jobs in both construction and ongoing operations, according to local tourism data and a statement from the Curaçao Tourist Board. Sustainability measures include solar energy systems, efficient water management and a partnership with Reef Renewal Curaçao for coral conservation, aligning the resort with travelers who want an inclusive stay without ignoring environmental impact. One example is the planned support for coral nursery trees and outplanting on nearby reefs, detailed in a joint Reef Renewal Curaçao project update. For couples who prefer more privacy on part of their trip, it is easy to combine a few nights at this inclusive resort with a stay in one of the premium villas highlighted in our guide to Curaçao vacation homes and luxury stays.
On site, guests can expect multiple pools, several bars and a kids’ splash zone, but the overall tone remains more refined than high volume party resorts elsewhere in the Caribbean. The TUI BLUE brand describes its offer clearly for planners who like specifics : “Multiple pools, restaurants, bars, spa, and kids' splash zone.” If you want to balance time at this inclusive resort with quieter days on the water, consider a small group sailing charter on Curaçao’s lee shore using our insider sailing guide for non party boats, then return to your balcony terrace or living room with an ocean view and a cold blue Curaçao cocktail from the bar.
Sources
Caribbean Journal; divecuracao.info; USA Today 10Best; TUI Group press release (March 2024); TUI BLUE Curaçao fact sheet; Curaçao Tourist Board statement; Reef Renewal Curaçao project update.