Aruba's beaches
All of Aruba's beaches are public and free to visit. The west and south coasts are calm and swimmable; the north and east are wild, windy and best admired from the shore.
Calm water
Arashi Beach
Calm, shallow north-west beach below the California Lighthouse, with free palapas, easy snorkelling on the left side and west-facing sunsets.
Calm water
Baby Beach
Sheltered, waist-deep lagoon at Aruba's south-east tip: the island's best beach for small children, with free huts and snorkelling near the inlet.
Calm water
Eagle Beach
Aruba's widest beach: soft white sand, calm west-coast water, public palapas, the famous fofoti trees and most of the island's turtle nests.
Calm water
Palm Beach
Aruba's liveliest beach: 3.2 km of white sand in front of the high-rise hotels, calm water, piers, beach bars and most of the island's water sports.
Boca Catalina
Small, calm sandy bay on the Malmok coast with clear water and easy shore snorkelling, five minutes north of Palm Beach. Little shade.
No swimming
Boca Grandi
Wind-blasted south-east beach for advanced kitesurfers; strong current, swimming strongly discouraged. Great for watching and beachcombing.
No swimming
Boca Prins
Dune-backed cove on Arikok's wild north-east coast. Strong, constant undertow: no swimming. Park conservation pass required to enter.
Swim with care
Hadicurari Beach (Fisherman's Huts)
Aruba's windsurf and kitesurf hub just north of Palm Beach: shallow, calm water for learners, schools on the beach and the Hi-Winds each June or July.
Swim with care
Malmok Beach
Rocky coves with very clear, calm water on the north-west coast, popular with snorkel boats; offshore lies the Antilla, a German wreck scuttled in 1940.
Swim with care
Mangel Halto
Mangrove-fringed lagoon in Savaneta, a marine reserve since 2019: calm shallows for beginners, a reef wall beyond, public huts and kayak channels.
Calm water
Rodgers Beach
Quiet, calm bay beside Baby Beach with fishing boats at anchor and a view of the old Lago refinery; a local alternative to the crowds.
Calm water
Surfside Beach
Oranjestad's town beach, two minutes from the airport: shallow, almost flat water for families, beach bars and planes passing low overhead.
Beach basics
Good to know before you go
- Shade is scarce: bring a hat, reef-safe sunscreen and water.
- Most beaches have free parking; some have no facilities at all.
- Strong currents on the north and east coasts — admire, don't swim.
- Sea turtles nest on some beaches; keep clear of marked nests.
- Loungers and palapas in front of resorts may be reserved for guests.