Aruba's beaches are the delight of vacationers that flock to this
paradise island again and again. Aruba is a friendly country located north of Venezuela
and near Curacao and Bonaire. Some call them the ABC Islands. Aruba is an independent
country with close ties to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Most of the Caribbean beaches are located on the west
side of the island where the waters are calm and protected from the winds and extreme
surf. The beaches are mainly quiet although there are some exceptions that I will mention
on this page. There are numerous beaches on Aruba and I will describe the most important
of them.
Baby Beach - This beach is one of the exceptions for
Aruba's Exotic Beaches, since it is not as quiet as the others. It is located on the
easternmost tip of the island about a mile from Colorado Point Lighthouse. It
features white powdered sand and warm waters. You'll find here many huts for shade as well
as many grape trees.
The shallow waters and the gentle waves makes this beach
an ideal place for Family Vacations because the children will have a great time without
the parents having to worry much for them. This beach is also popular for plain swimming
and snorkeling.
Eagle Beach - This a real quiet white sand beach that
stretches for several miles, surrounded by calm clear waters. It is easily accessible and
features many hotels along the beach just across the street.
On this beach you may enjoy many of the Caribbean sports
that are offered by local rental equipment agencies. It is a paradise for snorkeling. The
beach is popular with tourists and sometimes is a little crowded.
The balance on this beach however is great, because you
are near the towns but not near enough to be disturbed. This beach is located on Aruba's
western coast near the town of Nord. La Cabana All Suite Beach Resort & Casino is
located here. Other nearby hotels is Bucuti Beach Resort, Manchebo Beach Resort & Spa
among others.
Hadicuri Beach - This is a white sand beach, the waters
are shallow for swimming. There are huts providing shade along the coast. It is located on
the northwestern coast of the island near Palm Beach, so you can visit the town as an
option.
The area is known by its great Windsurfing and it attracts many competitors and sports
enthusiasts. Beginners can start learning about windsurfing here because they have all
thefacilities for teaching.
Manchebo Beach - This is Aruba's largest beach and one of
the island's topless beaches. It is a laid back and quiet beach with its own personality.
It is secluded and at the same time near the towns so you won't miss anything.
The waters here are rough. That's good news because it is
not so crowded. You'll enjoy less noise and a relaxed atmosphere. Because it's a topless
beach, it more geared to singles and couples, than to families.
Palm Beach - It is located in the center of the tourist
area and several important hotels are lined nearby. Palm Beach is a long stretch of white
sand and many palm trees for shade to protect you from the sun.
The landmark hotel here is the Marriott Aruba Surf Club.
Other nearby hotels are the Marriott Aruba Ocean Club, Aruba Grand Beach Resort &
Casino, Radisson Aruba Resort & Casino, Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort & Casino.
Arashi Beach - This beach is located at the northwestern
tip of the island near the
lighthouse and Boca Catalina Beach. Both beaches are perfect for great caribbean
snorkeling.
Rodgers Beach - This beach has rough surf. It is located
near Baby Beach and has many shaded areas and some shower and dressing facilities. It is
located near the town of San Nicolas on the southeastern tip of the island. The shallow
waters are protected by coral reefs. Snorkeling is very popular in these shallow waters.
The
Caribbean island of Aruba is known for its spectacular coastline, and Eagle
Beach is most definitely its most famous sandy strip. This beach is
frequently visited not only for its turquoise waters and white sand but also
for its water sports. But if you are looking for a beach more ideal for
swimming, then head out to the west side of the island and you will find the
gorgeous two-mile long Palm Beach.
With its powdery sugar white
sand and blue colored water, it is definitely one of the most beautiful
beaches on the island. And because there are fewer wakeboarders and jet skis
around, you will be more comfortable swimming in a wide space. Palm Beach is
a smooth-looking sandy stretch with no random rocks lying around. It is a
perfect spot to sunbathe and people watch. The section closest to the shore
is shallow, but as you go farther, it goes a bit deeper.
While Eagle Beach is Aruba's
low-rise area; Palm Beach is considered to be the "high-rise" one. This is
where you can find some of the most luxurious hotels, time-shares and 5-star
resorts in the area. Some of these upscale accommodation options include the
Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort & Casino, The Radisson Aruba Resort, Hotel Riu
Palace Aruba and the Aruba Marriot Resort. If you decide to be a guest in
one of these fancy joints, be ready to be pampered with their top-notch
service and amenities. But even if you are not staying in one of these
hotels, the beach is always open for everybody. Some establishments even
allow visitors to change in their lobby bathrooms and buy snacks from their
concession stands and bars.
Palm Beach has become a
favorite among visiting families not only for its calm waters; but because
of its children-friendly atmosphere. Here, the tourist office offers
activities, events, discounts and freebies to young children. Many of the
hotels and resorts on Palm Beach also provide baby-sitting services and kids
programs to keep the little ones busy so parents can spend some time
enjoying adult tours and dinner dates.
If you want to spend some of
the hottest time somewhere other than the wide open beach, make your way to
the attractions nearby Palm Beach. One of them is the protected natural area
called Bubali Bird Sanctuary. The other popular spot that will surely
delight families is the Butterfly Farm.
And after spending a memorable
day at Palm Beach, don't be in a hurry to leave! Walk barefooted along its
lovely coastline during sunset, and you will never forget its captivating
beauty. Because of the presence of luxury hotels and entertainment spots,
you know that the nightlife at Palm Beach is never dull. Try out your luck
at the various chic casinos or shop at the two largest shopping malls in
Aruba, which are quite close to Palm Beach. You also do not need to travel
far to look for world-class restaurants and exciting bars. So when the
evening sets in at Palm Beach, go for a nice candle lit dinner, order your
favorite drink and mingle with fellow travelers - a fitting end to a
fantastic day in this quintessential Caribbean attraction.
Arashi Beach is on the northern end of the island with a beautiful view of
the California lighthouse, so it is very easy to combine visiting the
lighthouse with an afternoon at the beach. While spending time at this beach
the one thing that you will definitely need is a large beach umbrella.
There are several thatch roofed huts along the beach but these are quickly
taken so a beach umbrella is required. The sun is fierce and the rays
reflect off the powdery white sand so you want shade. Fortunately beach
umbrellas and lounge chairs are available for rental. There is a beach bar
providing drinks and meals and an open car park.
Most persons snorkel within the roped off area immediately off the beach but
the largest congregation of fish and therefore the best snorkeling is in the
open area to the left of the beach bar and outside the roped off area. Here
there are the larger rocks and coral outcrops that the fish congregate
around. If you are fortunate like the writer you may see barracuda, small
grouper, octopus in addition to the usual Caribbean reef fish. The water at
Arashi is very calm with hardly a wave. The water depth is shallow,
sufficient to swim and snorkel but allowing you to stand at any time.
Baby Beach
in the south of the island below Serro Colorado is aptly named; it is indeed
a beach for babies. On one end the rocks wall off the beach from the sea
creating an almost salt water swimming pool that is shallow.
Baby Beach is
one of the stops on the tours offered by various tour companies that include
a snorkeling activity as part of the tour. The rocks that wall off one side
of the beach provide the opportunity to snorkel in a safe environment.
Scattered around the beach are thatch roofed huts. On the rear of the beach
are sea grape trees that also provide shade. Beach chairs are available for
rental.
There is a snack
bar and also a restaurant on this beach and the restaurant is a minor
attraction with its Flintstones theme.
To learn more about Aruba, visit our other Aruba Pages.
