Once you’ve decided to go to Aruba and used some of our tips, the hard part is deciding which beach to go to first. There are so many to choose from! Due to the fairly small size of the island, you can just keep driving until you find what appeals to you. Do you want to soak up some sun? Windsurf? Snorkel? Enjoy jetskis? Whatever your preference, there is sure to be a beach perfect for you, and usually with a bar on site! Most of the beaches are located along the South shore of the island which is more developed. The beaches on the North shore are beautiful but the tides are rougher, so most of them have signs warning you not to swim. They looked beautiful but dangerous.
Manchebo Beach
We picked the best beach for our hotel location. Manchebo Beach’s white sands and beautiful blue waters created a postcard perfect combination. The beach was wide and because of its exposure as a bit of land that sticks out into the sea, it was perfectly windy. Enough wind to keep you cooler but without the pain of sand flying up against you constantly! This is considered part of the low rise resort area so most of the palapas and chairs you’ll see belong to a resort. But this is still a public beach so guests or visitors frequented. For evening entertainment, we watched a group of young men skim boarding.
Eagle Beach
Depending on the day, Eagle Beach is often listed as the number 1 thing to do/see on TripAdvisor.com. And with good reason. This beach, also in the low rise area, is stunning. Manchebo Beach is sometimes included in the Eagle Beach description but for purposes of this blog, I’ve separated it since it is a specific wide point on the beach. Eagle Beach has beautiful white sand and some of the bluest water I’ve ever seen!
Mangel Halto Beach
Our tour guide took us to Mangel Halto to assuage my disappointment in not being able to go to Baby Beach (which we saw another day when we rented a car). I would say this beach is more local and not as many tourists know about it or have explored it yet. Our guide came with his father when he was a boy. There isn’t so much room to lay out except for the occasional alcove. But there are ladders and platforms for guests to enter the water. And it is a beautiful place to snorkel, or if you’re into it, dive. There were no facilities, restaurants or bars here, so bring your own!
Rodgers Beach
Everything about this beach is perfect except for one thing: the view is of the Valero refinery across the way. Which is really a shame! When we went, there was only one family enjoying the quiet under a shade tree and one gentleman fishing. A large, and judging by the crowd popular, restaurant sits between Rodgers and Baby Beaches.
Baby Beach
Having heard so much about the wonders of Baby Beach, I did not want to miss this scenic spot. Unfortunately, the word is out and either did anyone else! This was a beautiful white sand beach with a protected swim area that makes it perfect for families. There really is no shade out here, so you are dependent on finding an empty palapa. On the main beach, a restaurant caters to the munchies and thirst. You can also rent a beach chair and a sun cover as well as a float or snorkel equipment. As beautiful as this beach was, I just couldn’t get over how crowded it was and that is not my idea of fun. Plus it is located at the Eastern most tip of the island, making it farther away from most of the resorts.
Palm Beach
Palm Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Aruba because it is located in the high rise area. Many of the hotel chains have huge resorts in this area. That means that the palapas fill up quickly in the morning. Yes, the sand is just as pretty and the water just as blue, but as someone who is not a huge fan of crowds, this one did not impress me as much as I hoped. Since we only drove by, I don’t have any photos to share but if you Google resorts like Ritz Carlton or Riu, you’ll see the beautiful beaches.
Bachelor’s Beach
We happened upon this beach by accident as we left Baby Beach. Hidden behind beach dunes, this beautiful spot is perfect for windsurfing. One of the spots we stopped at had a kitesurfing school as well as a bar. The view is really pretty and the water rougher. There is no shade out here! As long as you don’t mind the prison behind you – and I bet the guards have a beautiful view from the towers!
Divi Beach
While driving to our hotel from the airport, we could see splotches of blue from our shuttle van. But when I saw Divi Beach as we rounded a corner, my heart skipped a beat with the thought – if all beaches look like this, we are in heaven! This is one of the more public beaches, and very active as well with a young crowd including families. And easy to get to when coming by cruise or staying downtown.
Arashi Beach
Hearing so much about this newly more popular beach, I really wanted to check it out. The parking situation seemed a bit tight. There was a bar with some palapas. I saw lots of people snorkeling, which is a good sign. The crowd here seemed younger and more active (although that may have been due to the triathlon). People would use this beach as their base to either run or bike up the hill to the California Lighthouse. It is a pretty place to watch the sunset.
Surfside Beach
I would describe this beach as located in town. Nestled between the airport and the cruise terminal. If you’re short on time, it would be a good place to go from a cruise for a cheap alternative (you can even walk it in about 15-20 minutes). There were plenty of trees so that you could find a spot to hide from the sun but the beach itself seemed fairly narrow. The downside for me was its location next to the very busy Route 1.
Flamingo Beach
Sitting on the beach with flamingoes? You can absolutely do that here! You can read all about it here.
As long as you love blue waters and white sandy beaches, you really can’t go wrong with any of Aruba’s many options. The beaches attract new travelers and are sufficiently fabulous to have convinced thousands of others that their search for paradise is over (judging on the number of repeat guests!). This truly is heavenly spot for relaxation on the beach.
A final word of caution. Aruba’s latitude takes you quite close to the equator and the sun is very strong. However, the constant breeze makes it feel cooler than it actually is. You don’t realize how much you sweat as it’s quickly whisked away. Be sure to reapply sunscreen often and drink lots of water to remain unburnt and hydrated.
Happy travels!
Annick, The Common Traveler
Raised as a third culture kid living in South America and Europe, Annick caught the travel bug early. Now that the children are gone, but still saving for retirement, she enjoys traveling in an affordable way and wants to share those ideas.
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This was a great post, I had no idea that Aruba had so many amazing beaches to visit and each equally enticing. I can understand why there are so many repeat holiday makers because a week or two just doesn’t seem enought. I do have to say that if I ever do visit Aruba Flamingo Beach would have to be my first point of call.
Hey Annick, thanks a lot for these amazing recommendations! All the beaches look breathtakingly beautiful, but Eagle Beach would probably be my top choice for now! The water looks fantastic. I’ll definitely keep your tips in mind for a future trip to Aruba.
You’re welcome! We found Eagle Beach amazing!
Bachelors beach has a prison right on the beach? Interesting, the guards have some view, eh?! I would skip the crowded beaches such as the Palm Beach, I prefer the more isolated, empty ones myself. Thanks for such a comprehensive list of beaches and what to expect from them. This makes one’s job of choosing the best beaches to visit so much easier!
I dislike crowded beaches too – their prettiness is lost when you have to fight for a spot!
It’s been about 30 years since I was in Aruba but I will never forget that soft sand and pristine water! We stayed at the Bushiri, a long gone all-inclusive. (Oh, those “free” pina coladas!) It was lovely to see these beaches again. In with you, the fewer on the beach, the better!
I was surprised by the number of people we met that were repeat vacationers here. When you find a good spot it is easy to want to come back again and again.
Aruba sounds like a paradise for beach lovers. I like the Eagle Beach for it’s white sands and blue waters. Divi Beach also looks and sounds beautiful, as you mentioned it looks like heaven. Flamingo Beach would be my favourite. I mean, who doesn’t want to share the beach with these fascinating birds and watch their delicate movements?
Flamingo Beach was ah.ma.zing!
I have been to Aruba many many years ago. (I was 7, haha) and would love to go there again one day. Thanks for the list of beaches. I would definitely check it out ones I get there 🙂 Good tip about the latitude btw!
Thanks! Time to go back!
I never knew Aruba has so many beaches! I appreciate your advice that some are dangerous; sometimes paradise can be misleading! I love the sound of Eagle Beach and of course Flamingo Beach. I remember reading your blog on it, and would love to see them with my own eyes one day!
So many beaches! You should go one day!
Thanks for sharing the list of beaches in Aruba. I loved Eagle beace as it has perfect blue waters and also tge number 1 listing. Mangel Halto beach also looks photogenic, peaceful and less crowded.
There were a handful of people at Mangel Halto, so I loved the feeling of exclusivity.