Beaches
Best Beaches in Aruba to Reach by Car: Eagle Beach to Baby Beach
Guljar Hosen
Updated 25 Sep 2026 · 5 min read
Aruba has beaches for every kind of day, but they are not all equally easy to reach without a car.
This guide sorts them by how you get there, with the drive times, parking notes and a three-day plan for a rental car.
Key takeaways
- Eagle Beach, Palm Beach and Arashi are on the Arubus line, so a bus works for those three.
- Boca Catalina has no public bus, and Baby Beach is easiest by rental car, with parking at the beach.
- Palm Beach is about 15 minutes from Oranjestad, and Baby Beach is the long drive, at most 35 minutes from Palm Beach.
- Arashi is near the California Lighthouse and has a very large parking area, so the two pair well.
- Park in the parking areas, because Real Deal's Terms do not allow driving on white sand, dunes or off-road.
The short answer
Use the bus for the hotel-strip beaches and a car for the quiet ones.
Eagle Beach, Palm Beach and Arashi all sit on the Arubus line, so you can reach them without a car. A rental car adds the beaches the bus does not serve, such as Boca Catalina, and it makes Baby Beach at the far southeast tip an easy drive rather than a long trip.
Sources: aruba.com, Beaches and Coves; onehappyisland.com, Aruba Map; Arubus, Popular Destinations. Checked 25 Sep 2026.
Seven beaches, and how you get there
Each beach has its own character, and its own way in.
| Beach | Known for | Getting there |
|---|---|---|
| Eagle Beach | A long stretch of soft white sand with the famous fofoti trees | About 3 km south of the Palm Beach hotel strip. On the Arubus line, or by car |
| Palm Beach | The resort hub: busy but beautiful, with restaurants, bars and water sports | About 15 minutes from Oranjestad by car. On the Arubus line |
| Arashi Beach | Snorkeling visibility and sunsets, near the California Lighthouse | Easily reached by public transport, with a very large parking area |
| Boca Catalina | A small bay with gentle waves and reef fish just offshore | No public bus. A small parking area on the left before Arashi |
| Mangel Halto | A quiet area among mangroves, with calm water for snorkeling | Choose it for a day without crowds |
| Baby Beach | A shallow, sheltered lagoon at the southeast tip, ideal for kids | Past San Nicolas. A rental car is the easiest way, with parking at the beach |
| Boca Grandi | Windsurfing and kitesurfing on the east side | The current is strong, so it is not ideal for swimming |
Sources: aruba.com, Beaches and Coves; onehappyisland.com guides to Eagle Beach, Boca Catalina and Baby Beach; Arubus, Popular Destinations. Checked 25 Sep 2026.
Three beach days by car
Pick the day that fits the water and the crowd you want.
1: The hotel-strip day
Start at Eagle Beach, move on to Palm Beach for lunch, then finish at Arashi for the snorkeling and a sunset near the California Lighthouse. Eagle Beach comes first along the coast from Oranjestad, and Palm Beach is about 15 minutes from town.
2: The quiet-water day
Choose Mangel Halto or Boca Catalina for calm water, snorkeling and fewer people. Boca Catalina has no bus and a small parking area, so this is the day a car helps most.
3: The far-south day
Drive to Baby Beach for the shallow lagoon and bring the kids. Budget up to 35 minutes from Palm Beach, and note that Rodgers Beach next door is quieter with a local feel.
On a cruise day, work backward from your ship's all-aboard time. Our one-day cruise port plan shows how, and the cruise port car rental page explains the terminal handover.
Parking and beach-day rules for a rental
Park in the parking areas and leave the sand to your feet.
Use the parking areas.
Arashi and Baby Beach have parking, and Boca Catalina has a small area on the left before Arashi.
Do not drive onto the sand.
Real Deal's Terms do not allow driving on white sand, dunes or off-road (read 20 Sep 2026). Our guide to driving in Aruba explains the rule.
Budget the drive back.
Baby Beach is the longest drive, so leave the far-south day for a full day, and add time in cruise-ship season.
Check the fuel at the handover.
Real Deal asks you to return the car with the fuel it left with. See gas prices in Aruba.
Bus, taxi or car for the beaches
The bus covers the hotel strip, and a car covers the rest.
Arubus routes L10A, L10B and L10C run along the hotel strip to Eagle Beach, Palm Beach and Arashi Beach, and a single ride is $2.60 per person. If you want Boca Catalina or Baby Beach, or you are travelling with beach gear, a rental car is simpler. For the full comparison of the car, the bus and the taxi, read Should I rent a car in Aruba? and How to choose a car rental in Aruba.
Sources: Arubus FAQ and Popular Destinations. Checked 25 Sep 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best beach in Aruba for kids?
Baby Beach is the most child-friendly, because its lagoon is shallow and calm (aruba.com). It is at the southeast tip of the island, so it is the longest drive.
Which Aruba beaches have parking?
Arashi has a very large parking area and Baby Beach has parking at the beach. Boca Catalina has a small parking area on the left before you reach Arashi (onehappyisland.com).
Can I take the bus to Eagle Beach?
Yes. Arubus routes L10A, L10B and L10C run from the main station in Oranjestad to Eagle Beach, Palm Beach and Arashi Beach, and a single ride is $2.60 per person (arubus.com).
How far is Baby Beach from Palm Beach?
Budget up to 35 minutes by car. One local guide gives 25 to 30 minutes, so plan for the longer figure and add time in cruise-ship season.
Which beaches are best for snorkeling?
aruba.com points to Arashi for its snorkeling visibility, Mangel Halto for calm water and no crowds, and Boca Catalina for colorful reef fish just offshore.
Is Boca Grandi good for swimming?
Not really. Boca Grandi is on the east side and is good for windsurfing and kitesurfing, but the current is strong, so aruba.com says it is not ideal for swimming.
Written by
Founder and CEO of NeoDimensional LLC, the software engineer and designer behind Real Deal's website and booking system.
