Aruba in 3 days: a beach weekend itinerary

Three days in Aruba is enough for the island's three best beach zones: the long west-coast beaches of Eagle Beach and Palm Beach, the snorkelling coves of the north-west tip, and the sheltered south coast down to Baby Beach. Everything is within about 45 minutes' drive of the main hotel area, so this plan keeps time in the car short and leaves the middle of each day for swimming. It assumes a rental car for day 3; days 1 and 2 also work with the Line 10 bus.

Before you go: what to sort out

• ED card: every traveller, including infants, must complete the online ED card on the official portal edcardaruba.aw, within the 7 days before travel. Air arrivals also pay the US$ 20 Sustainability Fee through the same system (children under eight are exempt).
• Transport: for a beach weekend you can rely on the bus and taxis for the first two days, then rent a car for one day. Arubus does not take luggage, so use a taxi or transfer from the airport — fixed fares are US$ 37 to the Eagle Beach low-rise area and US$ 40–41 to the Palm Beach high-rise area, before surcharges. See getting around Aruba.
• Sun: bring more sunscreen than you think, a hat and something with UV protection to swim in. The trade wind hides how strong the sun is.

Day 1: Eagle Beach and a west-coast sunset

Morning — arrive and settle in. Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA) is 15–20 minutes by car from Eagle Beach and about 20 minutes from Palm Beach. If you land early, leave your bags at the hotel and go straight to the sand.

Afternoon — Eagle Beach. A wide, long beach on the calm west coast, and the easiest first swim after a flight. Shade is the thing people misjudge: away from hotel loungers there is little of it, so take an umbrella or arrive early enough to claim a palapa. Sea turtles, including leatherbacks, nest on Eagle Beach between March and September; leave marked nests alone and keep lights off on the sand at night.

Evening — sunset and dinner. The west coast faces the sunset. Walk along the beach towards Palm Beach, where the high-rise hotels, restaurants and the busy strip behind them make dinner easy without a car. If you want the local picture first, read our area guides to Eagle Beach & Druif and Palm Beach & Noord.

Day 2: the north-west tip — snorkelling coves and the lighthouse

Early morning — Boca Catalina or Arashi Beach. These small beaches near the island's north-west tip are among the most popular spots for snorkelling from the shore, and the water is clearest and calmest before the wind picks up and the tour boats arrive. Line 10 runs from the hotel area to Arashi; by car it is about 7 minutes from Palm Beach. Bring your own mask or rent one before you leave the hotel area, and use reef-safe sunscreen.

Late morning — Malmok Beach. A short hop south from Boca Catalina, with rocky entry points and more snorkelling. Water shoes help.

Afternoon — rest, then the California Lighthouse. After lunch and a siesta, drive the 10 minutes from Palm Beach to the lighthouse on the Hudishibana plateau. Completed in 1916 and 30 m tall, it is the tallest structure on Aruba and takes its name from the steamship California, wrecked offshore in 1891. The view covers the dunes, the north coast and the line of hotels. From here, Alto Vista Chapel is about 15 minutes away on the road towards the north coast.

Evening — sunset at Arashi, or join a sailing or sunset cruise from the Palm Beach area. More ideas for this corner of the island: Malmok & the north-west tip.

Day 3: the south coast — Mangel Halto, Zeerovers and Baby Beach

Pick up a rental car in the morning — one day of driving is enough for this loop.

Morning — Mangel Halto. About 20 minutes from Palm Beach and 13 minutes from Oranjestad, this sheltered south-coast beach is a favourite for a calm swim, snorkelling or a kayak or paddleboard session. Go in the morning, before the wind and the crowds pick up, and stay close to shore if you are not a strong swimmer.

Lunch — Zeerovers in Savaneta. A few minutes east along the coast, this casual waterfront seafood spot is a local institution; read more about the village in our Savaneta area guide.

Afternoon — Baby Beach. About 20 minutes on from Mangel Halto, at the south-eastern tip near San Nicolas. The Aruba Tourism Authority describes a half-moon beach in a calm, shallow lagoon where you can wade out a long way; there is a refreshment stand, public toilets and free shade huts. Snorkel only inside the marked area near the mouth of the bay. On the way back, stop in San Nicolas for its murals.

Back to the hotel — about 35–45 minutes from Baby Beach to Palm Beach, longer at rush hour around Oranjestad.

Departure day: how much time to leave

If you are flying to the US, you clear US immigration and customs at Aruba's airport before boarding (US preclearance), so you arrive in the US as a domestic passenger. That takes time on the Aruba side: airlines such as JetBlue recommend arriving 3 hours before departure. A last morning swim at Eagle Beach is realistic; a last trip to Baby Beach is not.

How to adapt this plan

• No car at all: replace day 3 with a morning on the free Oranjestad streetcar and an afternoon at Eagle Beach, or take Line 1, 2 or 3 to San Nicolas and Line 900 on to Baby Beach.
• Windy season (May–August): do the north-west coves at first light; in the afternoon, watch the windsurfers at Hadicurari Beach.
• Rainy season (October–December): showers usually fall in the early morning, so start beach days a little later.
• More time? Extend into our 5-day first-time itinerary.