Kayak & paddleboard

Kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding in Aruba happen on the sheltered side of the island. The Aruba Tourism Authority singles out Mangel Halto in Savaneta, where the water is shallow and relatively calm, as well as Malmok and Palm Beach on the west coast. Guided paddles from Savaneta follow the south coast to Mangel Halto and Spaans Lagoen, a wetland protected under the Ramsar Convention.

Where can beginners paddle?

• Mangel Halto – shallow water inside a reef, edged by mangroves at Pos Chiquito. Its coastal waters, together with Isla di Oro and Santo Largo, form one of the four marine protected areas of Parke Marino Aruba.
• Spaans Lagoen – the "Spanish Lagoon", an inlet next to Mangel Halto managed by the Aruba Conservation Foundation (ACF) and listed as a Ramsar wetland of international importance.
• Palm Beach – calm enough to keep your balance on a board, with water-sports huts along the sand that rent boards and kayaks.
• Malmok – shallow, clear water at the north-west end of the hotel coast; the tourism authority describes it as suitable for all levels.

Why does the wind matter so much?

The trade wind blows from the east all year — the Departamento Meteorologico Aruba's 1991–2020 normals give a mean direction of 80–90° in every month. On the west and south coasts that wind blows from the land out to sea. It keeps the water flat close to shore, but if you drift beyond the sheltered zone it will push you away from the beach, and paddling back into a breeze averaging 7.7–8.8 m/s (15–17 knots) from February to August is hard work. Stay close in, turn back early, and save longer outings for lighter days: October to December have the lowest mean wind speeds (5.6–6.6 m/s).

What about clear kayaks and snorkelling stops?

Some trips use transparent kayaks so you can see the reef below, and many combine a paddle with a snorkelling stop. In Mangel Halto's protected waters, feeding wildlife is strictly prohibited; keep a respectful distance from birds in the mangroves and from sea turtles.

How do you get there?

Mangel Halto is on the south coast between Oranjestad and San Nicolas; Arubus lines L1 and L3A run between the two towns, but check the timetable for the nearest stop. From the hotel area, line L10 serves Palm Beach and continues to Arashi near Malmok.

What do people commonly misjudge?

The sun reflected off the water doubles your exposure: wear a long-sleeved UV top and use oxybenzone-free sunscreen (sunscreens with oxybenzone cannot be sold in Aruba since July 2020). Wear a leash on a board and a buoyancy aid on longer trips, and never paddle on the north or east coast, where surf and currents — as at Boca Grandi — make it unsafe.