Walking Arashi to Boca Catalina and Malmok

[No Beaches Here]

Interested in visiting 2 or 3 of these beaches and they seem very close together. If we took the bus or a taxi to Arashi Beach, would it be easy to walk to Boca Catalina, and then Malmok Beach? Is it a safe place to walk, or is it a busy highway? Once at these beaches, is it easy to get a taxi if we want to go further like Eagle Beach or back to the ship? Thanks

[Arubalisa]

Easy to walk from Arashi to Catalina Cove to Boca Catalina. Malmok Beach is a bit further down the coast.

 

The public bus will take you to Arashi. The bus driver would most likely drop you off at Malmok if you ask nicely. ;)

 

All below are accessible by public bus, with Boca Catalina, Catalina Cove and Arashi beach being the furthest from the port. 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. Bus fare is $2.30 per person each way. US dollars are accepted, exact change is appreciated. If you are at Boca Catalina the bus runs "about" every hour. It is all dependent upon how many stops the bus makes along the way. 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.

 

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

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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.

 

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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.

 

Below is Boca Catalina

 

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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.

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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.

 

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.

 

As of December 2014 there is very little beach at Malmok.

[w8ing2cruz]

This is what our plan is gonna be - bus up to Arashi and then slowly work our way south. My concern is what do we do with our stuff if we both want to get in the water to snorkel?

[Arubalisa]

A waterproof case?

[No Beaches Here]

Thanks so much for the all the info. You are a great help!

Are taxis readily available at Boca Arashi and Mamok, or only at Eagle? Taxi fares, it is for the taxi, not per person?

[macaroni]

This is exactly what we want to do also....but prefer not traveling by bus...maybe depending on taxi fares and ease of getting one back, we should consider renting a car for the day.....any thoughts?

[Arubalisa]

A taxi from the cruise terminal to Boca Catalina, Catalina Cove or Arashi will be $23 each way for a maximum of 5 people. Add an additional $3 each way on Sunday and national holidays.

 

If you wish to rent a car for the day this will be another option but you will lose time picking up and dropping off your car. Not sure you will save much money vs. taking a taxi.

 

Either way if you wish to rent a car DO make a reservation in advance. Maybe see if you can rent a car through whichever franchise works out of the Renaissance Hotel. It is an easy walk to their lobby from the cruise terminal.

 

If you wish to hire a taxi, have the driver agree to come back and pick you up at a prearranged time. There are no phones and no taxis at any of the above mentioned beaches. The other option would be to take a taxi there and then ride the bus back to the cruise terminal.

[dgreeney]

We would like to rent snorkel equipment on the beach. Where can we do that?

[Arubalisa]

Aruba Watersports Center rents snorkel gear but they are located on Palm Beach.

[mcmarya]

We were there on 1/27 with 4 other ships and the bus to Arashi was extremely late--not sure the one we had planned to take ever came. Since we had a very short stop we gave up on taking the bus. On our previous stops, the bus service had been fairly reliable so I was surprised. There is a kiosk at the entrance where you can buy a "retour" card for $4 good for a round trip--a small savings. They were open when we went by at 7:15 am.

 

We have taken the Malmok bus and walked the rest of the way to Boca Catalina/Catalina Cove--it is about 500 m. The road is not heavily traveled and it gives more options for bus service. Unfortunately, the morning we were there, neither the Malmok nor the Arashi bus came during a 50 minute period we waited and 3 buses that just went to the hotel zone left the bus station.