Malmok Beach

Malmok Beach is a narrow strip of sand that breaks up the limestone terrace along the Malmok coast in north-west Aruba, between Palm Beach and Arashi. The Aruba Tourism Authority singles out its shallow, very clear water for snorkelling, and catamarans and sailboats stop just offshore on daytime snorkel trips. Off this coast lies the SS Antilla, a German freighter scuttled in 1940 and one of the largest shipwrecks in the Caribbean.

What is the Antilla wreck?

The Antilla was a 121 m cargo ship of the Hamburg America Line, completed in 1939. When war broke out she sheltered in Aruban waters. On 10 May 1940, the day Germany invaded the Netherlands, Dutch marines moved to seize her; the crew opened the seacocks and set fires, and she sank off Malmok within hours. The crew were interned until the end of the war, and an open-air memorial was completed in 2024. Today the wreck lies on her port side in up to about 18 m of water, broken in two by storms. It is visited by snorkel and dive boats rather than as a swim from the beach: it lies in open water used by boats. See scuba diving in Aruba for wreck dives.

Is Malmok Beach good for swimming and snorkelling?

The water is calm on most days and among the clearest on the island, but this is a rocky coast rather than a soft sandy beach. Entry is over limestone and rubble in many places, so wear water shoes and look for a sandy gap before you go in. Snorkel close to shore along the rocks, where reef fish gather, and watch for the catamarans that anchor offshore during the day. Keep off the coral, and avoid the middle of the day if you want the bay to yourself.

Is there shade or facilities?

Very little. Malmok is a residential area of large homes and holiday villas, and the beach is a series of small coves along the road with no bars or rentals listed by the tourism authority. Bring water, shade and your own snorkel gear, or rent it in Palm Beach.

What else is there to do?

The Malmok road is popular early in the morning and late in the afternoon with locals who walk, run and cycle along the coast towards the California Lighthouse and Arashi. Nearby Boca Catalina and Arashi Beach have easier sandy entries, and many sailing and snorkel cruises stop here. The beach also faces west for sunset.

The area history goes back much further: archaeologists have dated human settlement at Malmok to between 450 BC and AD 240.