Officially known as the country of Aruba, the island Aruba is a Caribbean island just off the coast of Venezuela and officially part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands alongside Sint Maarten and Curacao. The small island country is only about 69 square miles, small enough to travel in a day but large enough to offer plenty of hidden gems and things to do for a weekend getaway or a longer trip.

As a stable tropical island with temperatures in the 70s-90s all year round and only changes in humidity and rainfall to indicate the seasons, Aruba is a common tourist destination. In fact, tourism is one of the four main industries of the island, the other three being aloe exports, petroleum refining, and offshore banking. So, as long as you steer clear of the refineries, you’re going to have plenty of pristine nature and brilliant sea-and-sky scenery to enjoy.

Aruba is a world-renowned destination for its beaches. Cruise ships make frequent stops at the island, and public transit has several of the best beaches on their route lists, specifically knowing that tourists will want to visit them.

Whether you’re stepping off a cruise ship, flying in for a weekend, or planning a longer stay, you probably want to know where the best beaches and hidden gems are across the island of Aruba. Fortunately, we’ve got the hookup and can give you our top list.

First: The Big Names

The title of our post says the top ten beaches in Aruba, but we’re cheating a little bit and giving you more than you bargained for. That’s because there are a few beaches that are a) very, very good and b) on every single list of beaches you’ll ever find. It feels cheap to include them in the top ten list since there’s a pretty good chance you already know all about them.

Still, in case you don’t already know about them, we wanted to mention them and acknowledge that they exist and are great options.

Eagle Beach

First up is Eagle Beach. Located just a little way north of Oranjestad and the cruise terminal – and a frequent destination for local bus lines – Eagle Beach is one of the top three beaches on the island. Whether it’s your #1, #2, or #3 depends a lot on your individual circumstances and personal preferences.

Eagle Beach is popular but not quite as crowded as another of the top beaches (Palm Beach, if you want spoilers) and doesn’t have quite as frequent a set of lifeguard patrols. It’s a little bit calmer in terms of the people, and there’s a bit more wave action to the sea leading up to the beach. It’s a well-kept beach and relatively pristine despite being a common tourist destination. Surfing enthusiasts often go to Eagle Beach to catch the waves of blustery days.

If you’ve ever seen a picture of a pristine beach, blue sea and sky, and a gnarled tree standing on the shore, there’s a pretty good chance you’re looking at Eagle Beach. That tree, the Fofoti Tree, features in thousands of Instagram posts every year.

Palm Beach

Palm Beach is the other beach constantly vying for the #1 spot on tourist lists. Palm Beach isn’t actually just the name of a stretch of beach; it’s a whole neighborhood of Aruba. Some of the island’s top resorts, casinos, and tourist destinations are all located in this area, which is also known as the Waikiki of Aruba. You can find the Bubali Bird Sanctuary, the Aruba Butterfly Farm, and a pier with plenty of tourist attractions all in the area.

Palm Beach is often viewed as one of the most family-friendly beaches in Aruba. This is because it’s very well-patrolled by the resorts that maintain their individual stretches of beach and keep it all safe and clean. It’s also a very long, shallow lead-up to the shore, so the waves are small and gentle, making it an ideal beach for children. Head a little further out, and it’s excellent for snorkeling and a favored destination for kite surfers.

Our Top Ten Beaches in Aruba

Now that those two are out of the way, what are the top ten from the rest of Aruba’s beaches? We have our list, but with so many different beaches to pick from, there’s bound to be some you’d love that aren’t on the list.

If you’ve visited Aruba and you have a favorite we didn’t mention, we’d love to hear about it! Let us know what you love the most in the comments down below.

#1: De Palm and Renaissance Islands

Off the coast of Aruba, in a long, narrow line shadowing the shore, are a pair of islands that serve as breakwaters and shelters for the shoreline itself. These islands are De Palm Island and Renaissance Island. Both of them are only accessible by boat (and there are regular ferries to reach them), and both have fantastic beaches with shores on both sides.

De Palm is home to the Palm Island Resort, and if you want one of the most unique experiences in Aruba, you should stop by. They have an underwater walk, where you walk along the shore… underwater. It’s called Sea Trek! You put on a special helmet that connects you with oxygen and weighs you down so you can walk along the bottom, where a rail allows you to “hike” under the sea. Scuba divers from the adventure company swim alongside to make sure you’re safe along the way.

Renaissance Island isn’t as populated and is located closer to the airport. It’s home to the Renaissance Island Nature Trail, as well as the top-rated Flamingo Beach, a resort and a beach where you can view the iconic pink birds in their natural environment. More or less, anyway. Note that Renaissance Island is only available if you’re staying at Renaissance Resort, so bear that in mind.

#2: Baby Beach

Baby Beach is located along the southeastern edge of Aruba, in the opposite direction of many of the more popular beaches. It’s a cove, almost a circle of enclosed water in a lagoon that is perfect for snorkeling and scuba diving. Since the water is sheltered and calm, it’s a perfect place to learn how to snorkel for the first time.

Baby Beach is also a great beach for a middle-ground experience. It’s not as secluded as certain other locations around the island, but neither is it crowded or overly commercialized. There are snack stands and food available, but you can also wander off and to a less developed portion of the beach.

When you’re done enjoying the sun, you can make your way to the nearby city of San Nicolas, a cultural and historic city full of unique artwork and plenty of shops where you can find a great souvenir.

#3: Druif Beach

Druif Beach is a relatively narrow beach, a mile-long strip of sand between umbrellas, infrastructure, and chair rentals on one side and pristine waters on the other. Before the phrase “chair rentals” puts you off, it’s actually a relatively overlooked beach, and depending on when you visit, you have a decent chance of having a long stretch almost entirely to yourself.

Druif Beach is also home to some of the smaller and more casual resorts, and it’s still close and connected to other beaches in the area, including Eagle Beach. It can be a great option if you want a slightly off-the-beaten-path resort for your stay while still having access to the big-name beaches close at hand.

#4: Mangel Halto Beach

Mangel Halto Beach is unlike just about any other beach you’ll find in Aruba. White sands? Dime a dozen. Crowded shores? Everywhere. At Mangel Halto, you’ll be able to hide away from the bustle of the busy island and enjoy some time to yourself.

The beach itself encompasses a lagoon, but rather than a sandy expanse reaching the sea, it’s more of a rocky outcropping and set of short cliffs down to the water’s surface. Along the way, you can find docks, short piers, and picnic spots tucked away, sheltered by vegetation and isolated from the rest.

Fans of fun under the water, like snorkeling, or on the surface, like kayaking, have plenty to do here. Seeing the beach from the water side and from the land side gives you a completely different experience, and you can have both along the way. It also has some of the best scuba diving in the area, with reefs over a hundred feet below the surface to explore.

#5: Dos Playa

Translating literally as “two beaches,” Dos Playa is just that: two beaches surrounded by and divided by limestone walls. These beaches are somewhat popular, especially for surfers, but they are otherwise a little more isolated from the largest groups of tourists because they are harder to access.

Why? The beaches are located in Arikok National Park, and the public transit doesn’t reach there as easily. You’ll often want to book a jeep or rent one for yourself to drive in and hang out on the beach to enjoy the pristine natural landscapes. It’s also possible to hike in if you’re willing to spend the time to do it.

Swimming isn’t all that good at this beach, but the surfing is excellent, both for the same reason: strong waves. Just be aware that amenities are quite a ways away compared to other beaches, so bring what you need for your stay.

#6: Hadicurari

More commonly known as Fisherman’s Hut, this beach sounds small and isolated, but it’s actually anything but. It’s one of the best beaches in the world for kitesurfing and windsurfing, and all manner of beachside sporting events are organized on the beach all year.

In fact, that’s both one of the best reasons to visit and one of the reasons to avoid it; depending on whether or not there are events going on, your access may be limited, it may be very crowded, and there may be a lot going on. If that’s your scene, check it out! You won’t regret it, even on the off days.

#7: Blackstone Beach

One of the hidden gems of Aruba’s beaches, Blackstone Beach is far off the beaten path, though it’s actually pretty close to Andicuri Beach. It’s a tiny little bay beach with some extremely interesting landscapes, including water-tumbled black stones, eroded limestone, and whorls of water weaving throughout.

Blackstone isn’t the kind of beach to visit to sunbathe in the sand, though, since there’s no sand to speak of. Instead, visit for the photo ops and the unique landscape and move on to a nicer place to sit in the sun.

#8: Arashi Beach

The final stretch of beach on the northwestern edge of Aruba before you get into the sea to the north, Arashi Beach, is just past the Boca Catalina beach and right before you reach the California lighthouse.

It’s actually an incredible beach with white sand, calm waters, and incredible swimming. In fact, probably the only reason it isn’t one of the top beaches in Aruba is that it’s further away from the capital and resort hubs, and it’s past Eagle Beach and Palm Beach, so most people just stop there instead.

#9: Andicuri Beach

Off on the east coast of the island, Andicuri Beach is much more off-the-path than some of the other beaches and is only accessible if you take a 4×4 vehicle, jeep, or a hike from the Ex Natural Bridge Center. We recommend the hike, especially if you’re into more natural experiences like we are, though you definitely have to be prepared for a hike in tropical weather.

Once you’re there, it’s a great place for surfing, bodyboarding, and other water sports, as well as sunbathing.

#10: Bachelor’s Beach

Known locally as Boca Tabla, this is a windy beach with a strong current. It’s incredible for windsurfing if you know what you’re doing and diving if you have a lot of experience or an instructor with you, but it’s not good for casual swimming, and some people find the constant wind to be a little chafing. It is, however, a nice way to walk past Boca Grandi and find a slightly calmer place to hang out.

With our ten picks on the table, what do you think? Are there better beaches, or do you agree with our list? Let us know what you think!