Which is the best beach in Aruba?

[KPfromCT]

Looking to do a Sonny Binns tour, but then want a couple of hours at a nice beach. In your opinion, which are the best ones? If you have any pictures, I am more than willing to look at them:D:D:D Thanks in advance!!!

[Arubalisa]

If a picture speaks a thousand words

 

 

Seriously it depends upon what you are looking for. Both Palm and Eagle Beaches are powder white sand beaches. Eagle Beach is more serene and Palm Beach offers more activity.

[5soccer9]

What is the best way to get to the beach, bus or taxi? I have read a lot of the threads regarding the beach but still had a few questions. Is it hard getting a bus/taxi back to the ship when you are ready to leave? Can you rent chairs at both locations? We have an excurstion set up for our cruise but it is only 4 hours and we will be in port for 11 hours so I would like to spend more time at the beach and maybe do something on our own. Thank you for any information you can give me.

[Arubalisa]

Bus vs. taxi is personal preference. Bus is less expensive, but taxis are plentiful and convenient.

 

Taxi one way from the cruise terminal to Eagle beach is $10

Taxi one way from the cruise terminal to Palm beach is $11

 

Fares are per trip, NOT per person and taxis by law will allow a maximum of 5 passengers.

 

There are bus stops along the coastal road running between the bus terminal in Oranjestad (a few blocks walk from the cruise terminal) and Eagle and Palm beach after that.

 

Taxis will be plentiful at the cruise terminal when you step of the ship.

You can grab a taxi back to the ship from in front of the lobby of any resort.

If you are at a bar or restaurant, 99 times out of 100 they will phone a taxi to come pick you up.

 

There are chaise and umbrella rentals at various locations along Palm Beach. Good spots are either MoomBa

or the vendors at the south end of the Radisson's property. You can have the bus or taxi drop you off at the entrance to De Palm Pier and take the walkway out towards the beach and pier. The vendors will be directly on your right side. There is an affordable restaurant/bar at the end of the pier, a short walk away for refreshments.

 

 

You can easily plan a tour in the morning when it is still a bit cooler and then head to the beach for the afternoon.

[5soccer9]

Arubalisa, thank you so much for all of the information. Which beach do you prefer and how far are they apart from each other? I did read on some of the post the one place you can't go if you are on a cruise. I would assume that all the beaches get crowded depending on how many ships are in port that day. Have never been to Aruba and I am so, so looking forward to it. We have a long stop, over 11 hours so that will be so nice. Are there shops right at the pier?

[Arubalisa]

Preference for beach really depends upon what you are looking for.

 

If you are just a couple looking for serenity, you can try Eagle Beach and the Amsterdam Manor and see if they have any chaises available that day. You are sailing in September? If so, that is still low season. Water there can sometimes be a tad wavey.

 

If you are traveling with kids or in a group, Palm Beach offers a lot more variety- watersports, casinos, lots of eateries and bars. Unless there is a storm out to sea, Palm Beach waters are always lake like. :)

[5soccer9]

Just a couple and going in March. What is it like that time of year? Thanks again for all the information you are giving me. Like I said we signed up for an excurstion but I think we may just do this on our own instead. I assume it is a safe island?

[OCruisers]

We like Palm Beach!

 

Aruba is wonderful any time of year. You choice of March is a good pick! :)

 

LuLu

~~~~

[Arubalisa]

Yes, Aruba is very Americanized and you will be perfectly safe on your own. March is still high season.

Dh loves Palm Beach the best. Me? As long as there is white sand and water without currents that will kill me (such as found on the windward side of the island), I am happy at any of the beaches ;)

[5soccer9]

Thank you everyone so much for all the help. I really do appreciate it. I am the same way, give me a nice day, a nice beach and I am happy. I can't wait to go to Aruba - I have heard so many nice things about it and can't wait to go to the beach there. Again, thanks for all the help. Have a great evening and a good 4th.

[MDSue]

I love Palm Beach- have been there 3 times already. Everything you could possibly need in close by- chairs, umbrellas, food, water sports, and shopping. The beach is lined with resorts, so it can be a little crowded, but I like all the amenities.

 

I think I paid $14 dollars for a cab, though. If you don't see a cab on the nearby roadway, just walk to the lobby of a resort to catch one.

 

We took the bus there to save money. It is $2.30 each way and the bus stop is close to the dock. All you have to do is ask and someone will point it out.

 

If you are interested in seeing pictures of the beach area, I've posted alot on my recent Freedom review linked to my signature.

[Arubalisa]

Always verify the taxi fare with the driver before stepping into the taxi.

 

"Some" drivers like to "pad" their fares with a built in gratuity. Hey, there are a few bad apples in every bunch? :(

 

Drivers are required to carry a fare sheet and present it to you upon request. If you do not think the quoted fare is correct, ask to see their sheet.

 

Taxi fare from the cruise terminal to Palm beach is "supposed" to be $11 one way. The government set fares have a $3 surcharge on Sundays and legal holidays. Here is the rest of the fine print. ;)

[5soccer9]

The excursion we were going to take included the lighthouse. Do you think it is worth looking at and if so would we be able to have the taxi take us there and then the beach afterwards? If so how would I figure out the fare for that trip? Thanks.

[negn]

Several times to Palm and so this year tried Eagle Beach at Amsterdam Manor. Loved it so much, going there for vacation in October. Less actrivity but great beach bar with good food. Chaises with Palapas vs umbrellas. Think it was $15 for that. Seemd less windy ,too, Took a taxi there btu bus stops right in front so hopped that back to port

[5soccer9]

MDSue, loved your Freedom revieew and pictures. It was great. We are crusing out of Fort Lauderdale so now I have to try the Crepe place LOL. The picture looks so good. We are flying in a few days early to enjoy Fort Lauderdale. I love it there.

[Jimmy Geegitz]

Palm Beach sounds perfect for us. Thanks for the info!

[MDSue]

MDSue, loved your Freedom revieew and pictures. It was great. We are crusing out of Fort Lauderdale so now I have to try the Crepe place LOL. The picture looks so good. We are flying in a few days early to enjoy Fort Lauderdale. I love it there.

 

I'm glad you liked it. That crepe was absolutely as good as it looked. We split another delicious crepe before that one that was equally delicious. To get to the restaurant, we took the water taxi to Las Olas Blvd. stop and found it by chance. Next to San Juan, Ft. Lauderdale is my favorite port to depart from.

[5soccer9]

We have only been out of San Juan and that was years ago. I really love Fort Lauderdale the best. I love going in a day or two early. In March we are going in three days early, I can't wait.

[1ParticularHbr]

The excursion we were going to take included the lighthouse. Do you think it is worth looking at and if so would we be able to have the taxi take us there and then the beach afterwards? If so how would I figure out the fare for that trip? Thanks.

 

The lighthouse is quite a ways from the cruise terminal all the way at the tip of the island. I'm imagining cab fare would be steep. What we did in Aruba was hop on a Banana Bus (wildly painted school bus) at the pier. They lined up there and let you pay on the spot. I think it was around $40 p/p. It took us to the rock formations, Alto Vista Chapel, and California Lighthouse, then dropped us off at Moomba Beach (at Palm Beach). We had time for a meal and beach, and the bus took us back to the ship after a couple of hours. That was about 2 years ago. I don't know if they still do that or not but we thought it was a great way to see the island.

[Arubalisa]

Taxi fare from Oranjestad and the cruise terminal to the Lighthouse is $20 one way. That fare is for the trip and up to a maximum of 5 people, not per person.

[dperki1]

The lighthouse is quite a ways from the cruise terminal all the way at the tip of the island. I'm imagining cab fare would be steep. What we did in Aruba was hop on a Banana Bus (wildly painted school bus) at the pier. They lined up there and let you pay on the spot. I think it was around $40 p/p. It took us to the rock formations, Alto Vista Chapel, and California Lighthouse, then dropped us off at Moomba Beach (at Palm Beach). We had time for a meal and beach, and the bus took us back to the ship after a couple of hours. That was about 2 years ago. I don't know if they still do that or not but we thought it was a great way to see the island.

 

 

Does anyone know if they still do a bus tour like this from the port?

[Arubalisa]

http://www.bananabusaruba.com/tours/explore-aruba/

[TwoSue]

The lighthouse is quite a ways from the cruise terminal all the way at the tip of the island. I'm imagining cab fare would be steep.

 

Another idea.... we were just there last week and had no plan. When we got off the ship, I went to see how much the taxis were to go to the beach. A driver came up and offered us a tour of the island for $90 for the four of us. We took it! He drove us all around... to the lighthouse, the chapel, the rocks. We were gone over two hours. We chose to get dropped off back at the ship in the shopping area, but he would have dropped us at the beach instead.

[TBird879]

Fantastic Info! We're looking for a beach to spend the day at in January, and based on comments, we'll take the relaxation Eagle provides. Anyone have others besides the main two discussed here? Just verifying.

[Arubalisa]

But, keep in mind that Eagle and Palm Beaches are popular due to their close proximity to the cruise terminal. :)

 

Rogers beach is swimmable. During the week there "may" be people there. On weekends there will be locals there. Last time we were there, we were the only ones, besides one local fisherman. Downside is that it is past the refinery. There are no fumes because the wind is blowing in the opposite direction and if you face more southward than northward you do not have to look at it. Imo the beauty of the beach itself far outweighs the minor inconvenience ;)

 

 

Past Baby Beach on to the eastern coast are two beaches where swimming is not recommended but you can get your toes wet. Boca Grande-

 

IF you like a challenge, and if you can find it, just south of Boca Grande is Bacholor's Beach. It is similar to BG, just smaller and not as much beach.

 

There are no facilities at any of the above beaches. Rogers beach has a few shade palapas.