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Aruba-best beaches

Douglase

By Douglase,
in Aruba

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  • 3 weeks later...
Arubalisa

Arubalisa

Posted
Posted

Also, for a beach with facilities close to the cruise terminal, see posts #62 & #63 in this thread.

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Arubalisa

Arubalisa

Posted
Posted

Eagle Beach

 

Amsterdam Manor Beach Resort

Beach chair rental

Full day rental $15 each

Half day rental $10 each

Free wifi

Passions Beach Bar & Restaurant with beach service

No shade palapas available

Taxi fare $10 each way for a maximum of 5 people, with an additional $3 charge on Sundays & holidays

 

MVC Eagle Beach Resort

Beach chair rental

Full day rental $10 each

Half day rental $5 each

Tulip Restaurant (across the street from the beach)- breakfast, lunch, dinner & drinks

Free wifi

Restrooms

Shower

Changing room

Shade palapas available

Taxi fare $10 each way for a maximum of 5 people, with an additional $3 charge on Sundays & holidays

 

Source

 

Surfside Beach

 

Nikky Beach Club http://www.beach-aruba.com

Beach chair and

Full day rental $12.00

Bar & restaurant

Free wifi

Swimming pool

Showers

Restrooms

Taxi fare $7 each way for a maximum of 5 people, with an additional $3 charge on Sundays & holidays or 1 mile walking distance along the new linear park

 

Palm Beach

 

MoomBa Beach http://moombabeach.com/

Beach chairs

Float rentals

Restrooms

Free wi-fi

Beach service

Kitchen open 8 am to 11 pm

 

Also on Palm Beach

Assorted vendors renting chaises and umbrellas

Enter the beach at the walkway entrance for De Palm Pier and there are 2 vendors directly to the right as you approach the beach.

Food and drink are available for sale at the end of the pier at Bugaloe Bar & Grill

 

all inclusive day pass in Aruba?

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  • 4 weeks later...
Arubalisa

Arubalisa

Posted
Posted (edited)

There is no snorkeling within walking distance of the cruise terminal.

 

All below are accessible by public bus, with Boca Catalina, Catalina Cove and Arashi beach being the furthest from the port. Plan on a good hour. It will be less than that, it depends upon whether or not the bus has to stop at every stop.

 

The closest, but poorest choice would be Palm Beach. There is nothing to see snorkeling off of Palm Beach (or Eagle Beach). With a "only" a white sandy bottom, you may see some fish swimming by, but that is just a random thing.

 

On Palm Beach, there is a spot between the Westin and Divi Phoenix Resort (south end of Palm Beach) which you can snorkel. The water is very calm there as well. About 150 yards off the beach there is a little jetty like rock island.

 

palai_sm.JPG click on thumbnail to enlarge

 

Here you can view fish, octopus, and other critters such as lobster, etc. There are also rock jetties along both sides of the Phoenix's beach which may offer some glimpses of sea life.

 

No chaises though nor much else real close by. The Westin is a short walk and the closest resort.

 

North of Palm Beach, by bus or taxi, there is a small beach at Boca Catalina which is perfect for swimming and snorkeling. There are a few shade palapas here but no restroom facilities. There are no "real" rest room facilities at all along the coast at either BC, Catalina Cove or Arashi. Though from what I understand, port-a-potties were a recent addition to Arashi beach as well as chaise lounge rentals. It is a beautiful white sand beach if only to get away from the hubbub of the Marriott.

 

Below is Arashi on a day with a few waves, it can be very calm here as well.

arashi_beachh_thumb.jpg click on thumbnail to enlarge

 

Below is Boca Catalina

boca_catalinaa_sm.jpg click on thumbnail to enlarge

 

If you enter at above, Boca Catalina there is a plain white sandy bottom. On some days, early in the morning, you will be able to see your feet. Put your fins on and walk backwards into the water or walk in as far as you need, sit or get into a crouched position and put your fins on there. This is the easiest spot for a beginner.

 

The snorkeling is a bit better at Catalina Cove below, though it is rocky which makes for a difficult entry. We normally enter the water at Boca Catalina and swim northward due to the difficult entry here at Catalina Cove pictured below.

catalina_covea_sm.jpg click on thumbnail to enlarge

 

Catalina Cove, I would definitely put your fins on before entering and just walk backwards as best as you can. If one of you has more tender feet than the other, have the tough foot wade in without, holding your back so you do not fall.

 

I have further information and photos of this area here

 

Take the public bus and ask the bus driver to drop you off wherever you wish. It will literally be a few foot steps onto the beach. If you are at Boca Catalina the bus runs "about" every hour. Keep an eye out for it heading north and you can gather your things and be ready after it goes up and turns around at Arashi.

 

When we head to Boca Catalina to snorkel there are always other tourists there. It is a popular spot for those folks staying at apartments or villas to have beach access. Dh and I generally ask someone to keep an eye on our towels and of course never bring anything valuable in the first place.

 

There is a minuscule beach at Malmok. This photo is from 2 years ago. There was less beach here this past June.

 

malmokf_sm.jpg click on thumbnail to enlarge

 

Arashi Beach is again pictured below. You can enter here and swim south towards and around the rocks and there is a reef there on the other side.

 

arashif_thumb.jpg click on thumbnail to enlarge

 

It is a fairly easy walk street side from Arashi southward to Catalina Cove and then Boca Catalina. Malmok beach is further to the south.

 

Other options would include taking the public bus to Baby Beach, booking an excursion, day pass at Renaissance Island and snorkeling their jetty's or excursion to De Palm Island.

Edited by Arubalisa
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Luv Cruising Land or Sea

Luv Cruising Land or Sea

Posted
Posted
There is no snorkeling within walking distance of the cruise terminal.

 

All below are accessible by public bus, with Boca Catalina, Catalina Cove and Arashi beach being the furthest from the port. Plan on a good hour. It will be less than that, it depends upon whether or not the bus has to stop at every stop.

 

Other options would include taking the public bus to Baby Beach, booking an excursion, day pass at Renaissance Island and snorkeling their jetty's or excursion to De Palm Island.

 

Thank you for all the wonderful information Arubalisa - do you know which bus line we would take to get to Boca Catalina and back? We are docked on 20 Nov for the day and would love to get in some snorkeling and then move to either Palm or Eagle to just relax ... It looks like this is all on the 10 but maybe only certain buses go up by Boca Catalina? If you know that would be a great help in planning...

 

we had snow flurries this am so really looking forward to some warm sun!

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cruisercr

cruisercr

Posted
Posted

Hi Arubalisa

Thanks so much for all the great info ...we love to walk on the beach and thought Eagle beach would be best. Do you agree? I was wondering what we could do with our beach bag...are there any lockers available along this beach?

We plan to take a taxi, can I assume there are plenty of taxi's around for our return to the cruise port?

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Arubalisa

Arubalisa

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Yes, Eagle or Palm Beaches have long stretches for walking.

 

Sorry there are no lockers. :(

 

To catch a taxi back to the ship you could "try" to flag one down. On Eagle Beach, the best bet is to go to the front lobby of La Cabana Resort or ask someone at any of the beach bars if it were possible for them to call one for you. Or walk south on Eagle Beach from say the Amsterdam Manor to Manchebo and take a taxi back from their lobby.

 

If you choose to walk Palm Beach instead there will be taxis waiting outside at just about every lobby.

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cruisercr

cruisercr

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Posted

Hi Arubalisa

Is Palm beach better than Eagle beach for walking, swimming and just enjoying the sand? We are not interested in snorkeling just enjoying a dip and walking.

Someone mentioned Baby beach..is that worth considering?

 

Thanks..you have provided us with so much great info

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Arubamoose

Arubamoose

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Posted

While there is some room for walking Baby Beach - there really isn't anything there. And it is not so long.

 

We have timeshare at the Aruba Beach Club and we walk from Manchebo Beach to the end of Eagle Beach all the time. It is dotted with a few resorts. We also walk in the other direction from Manchebo Beach past the Divi Beach - almost into town (where the new Hard Rock is supposed to go). If you want more excitement from your walk and the opportunity to stop at more places (beach bars, beach restaurants) - Palm Beach may be better.

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  • 2 months later...
Arubalisa

Arubalisa

Posted
Posted
Arubalisa you rock! Thanks for all of the helpful insight in to Aruba. You have saved me tons of time in research and worry. Can't wait to go and enjoy the beautiful island!:p

Thank you and you are very welcome! :)

 

Go and enjoy! :)

 

It is no secret why Aruba has such a high percentage of repeat visitors. :D

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homeschoolmama

homeschoolmama

Posted
Posted

De Palm is alot of fun. Snorkeling is some of the best in the caribbean. There are huge parrot fish, but also lots and lots of other varieties. It is shallow water so the viewing is great. Our last trip there we snorkeled for an hour and a half.

The beaches are nice, but it has changed over the years so there is less space and more people. There are two restaurants, one a buffet and one hotdogs, hamburgers etc. There is a bar and everything is included in your ticket. There are banana boat rides and a small waterpark too. It is a fun half day. We have done it several times and the only downside is more and more people are finding out about it so not as tranquil as it used to be. You can still find a quiet spot though.

 

Sent from my SCH-I915 using Forums mobile app

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retired067

retired067

Posted
Posted
PS there is a Palm beach which is the main beach by big hotels, and there is De Palm island. They are two different places with totally different sort of beaches and things to do

 

Sent from my SCH-I915 using Forums mobile app

 

Thanks for the info. It was DePalm Island I was looking for

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