Arashi Beach

Arashi Beach is a white-sand beach near Aruba's north-western tip, just past Malmok and below the California Lighthouse. The Aruba Tourism Authority describes calm, shallow water, free shade huts, a beach bar and chair rentals, and a quieter, more local feel than the resort beaches. It is one of the easiest places on the island to combine swimming, beginner snorkelling and a sunset.

Is Arashi Beach safe for swimming?

On most days it is one of the calmer beaches on the island: the water is shallow and the bay faces west, away from the trade wind. That shelter ends quickly beyond the tip. Do not swim around the point towards the north coast, where the open sea is rougher. Parts of the shoreline are rocky, so water shoes help, and there is boat traffic further out from snorkel cruises that anchor in the bay.

Where is the best snorkelling at Arashi?

According to the tourism authority, the best snorkelling is on the left-hand side of the beach as you face the sea, where coral and rocks attract fish close to shore. It is a good first snorkel: you can enter from the sand and stay in shallow water. Do not stand on coral, and do not take sand, shells or coral home: the tourism authority asks visitors to leave them to protect the ecosystem.

Is there shade at Arashi Beach?

Yes. Thatched palapas along the beach are free to use, on a first-come basis, and loungers and umbrellas can be rented. On weekends local families arrive early, so if you want a free hut, come in the morning. There is a parking area right next to the beach.

What does the name mean?

Arashi is an indigenous place name. One proposed origin links it to warashi, the Papiamento word for bonefish, which were an important food for the Caquetío people and are still caught here; another reads it as "head of the people". The beach is also a classic spot to watch pelicans diving for fish.

When is the best time to visit?

Weekday mornings for the calmest water and the pick of the palapas, and late afternoon for sunset over the sea. Combine it with the California Lighthouse, a short drive or walk up the hill, and with Boca Catalina and Malmok Beach on the way back south. For tips on gear and etiquette, see snorkelling in Aruba; for the whole area, Malmok & the north-west tip.