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Aruba🇦🇼 | beachesDos PlayaTwin coves, limestone cliffs, park entry, no vendors | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Dos Playa
👀 For curious travelersbeach ranked #9
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 22, 2026

Park for free at the small lot and you can have Dos Playa nearly to yourself before the tour buses roll in around late morning. It sits on the wild northeast coast of Aruba, inside Arikok National Park, so you pay the park entrance fee at the gate. Two little coves, cut by a rocky divide, give it its name. The sand is clean and pale, the backdrop is limestone cliffs, and the surf is strong. I would swim only in the calm patches near shore and skip real snorkeling here. There is no food, shade or gear rental, so bring water and lunch. Go early for quiet and photos. Nature lovers and picnickers will adore it, while party seekers and anyone wanting beach bars should head elsewhere.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #9 beach in ArubaReasons people choose to visit here

Dos Playa earns its stop because it is one of the few places on the island where the Caribbean looks untamed. Waves slam the limestone and fill the two coves with a steady roar, and the cliffs behind the sand give the place a raw, scrubby look that resort strips lack. Backpackers come for the contrast. After days of busy west-coast beaches, the two coves feel like a different island, and the walk down from the lot takes only a few minutes. It also works as a pause inside Arikok National Park, where cave visits, rugged trails and other empty bays sit within easy reach of each other. Cheap fun is the other draw: once you are through the gate there is nothing to buy, so a picnic and a book make an entire afternoon. The social scene is just a handful of travelers trading directions to the next cove.

💡 HighlightsWhat this place is best known for

  1. The Twin Coves: The two crescents of pale sand split by a rocky point are the reason people come. Walk both and compare, since the second cove is usually a little quieter.
  2. Wading and Wave Play: The shallow edges near shore let you cool off and splash in the foam. Stay close to the beach, because the surf and undertow are strong beyond that.
  3. Limestone Cliff Views: The cliffs behind the sand frame the beach and make the best photographs. Climb a few steps up the slope for a wider look at both coves and the open sea.
  4. Picnic Under the Sea Breeze: There are no vendors, so packing your own food is the move. The constant breeze keeps the heat bearable, though shade is scarce, so bring a hat.
  5. Arikok Park Exploring: The beach sits inside the national park, so you can pair it with nearby trails, caves and
… read more 👉
  1. The Twin Coves: The two crescents of pale sand split by a rocky point are the reason people come. Walk both and compare, since the second cove is usually a little quieter.
  2. Wading and Wave Play: The shallow edges near shore let you cool off and splash in the foam. Stay close to the beach, because the surf and undertow are strong beyond that.
  3. Limestone Cliff Views: The cliffs behind the sand frame the beach and make the best photographs. Climb a few steps up the slope for a wider look at both coves and the open sea.
  4. Picnic Under the Sea Breeze: There are no vendors, so packing your own food is the move. The constant breeze keeps the heat bearable, though shade is scarce, so bring a hat.
  5. Arikok Park Exploring: The beach sits inside the national park, so you can pair it with nearby trails, caves and more remote bays. Turn the stop into a half-day outing rather than a quick photo.
For a first visit, the Twin Coves are the one to prioritize, since walking both takes little time and shows you why Dos Playa is special.
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Things to do near Dos Playa

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Epic Off-Road Surron Electric Bike Tour in Aruba

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Ratings based on Tripadvisor reviews. When you book through this link, you support our work at no extra cost to you.

🌤️ When to go?Best time to visit Dos Playa

  • Dry Season (Dec to Apr): Peak weeks bring steady trade winds, almost no rain, and highs of 29 to 31°C (84 to 88°F). Sunbeds fill by 10 a.m. and rooms cost the most.
  • Shoulder Months (May to Jun): Highs reach 30 to 32°C (86 to 90°F), the wind eases, and prices drop noticeably.
  • Hot Season (Jul to Sep): Expect 31 to 33°C (88 to 91°F), calmer water for swimming, and Dutch and Latin American holiday crowds in July and August.
  • Wetter Months (Oct to Nov): Short, heavy showers fall, mostly in Nov, yet sunshine still dominates. Deals are the best of the year and the beach is quiet.
  • Daylight: Days stay close to 11 to 13 hours in every month, so there is time for a full beach day.
Book Dos Playa for late April or early December to get dry weather without peak rates.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: highly recommended for travelingFEBFebruary: good for travelingMARMarch: highly recommended for travelingAPRApril: highly recommended for travelingMAYMay: highly recommended for travelingJUNJune: highly recommended for travelingJULJuly: highly recommended for travelingAUGAugust: highly recommended for travelingSEPSeptember: highly recommended for travelingOCTOctober: good for travelingNOVNovember: highly recommended for travelingDECDecember: highly recommended for traveling
aruba-beach-dos-playa
© Google | Brian Watson

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🛏️ Where to stay?Where staying makes the most sense

Stay in Noord, the area with the widest choice of budget beds, even though Dos Playa sits on the windward northeast coast inside Arikok National Park. Expect US$60 to 120 a night for a simple room or apartment, with dorm-style beds scarce on the island. Noord has supermarkets, cheap snack bars, and a bus line toward Palm Beach, so you can eat for US$8 to 15 a meal. Its guesthouses and small apartment complexes attract budget travelers and let you split costs and cook. From there Dos Playa is a drive of 40 minutes or more. Oranjestad is the alternative for social travelers, with more variety of … read more 👉
Stay in Noord, the area with the widest choice of budget beds, even though Dos Playa sits on the windward northeast coast inside Arikok National Park. Expect US$60 to 120 a night for a simple room or apartment, with dorm-style beds scarce on the island. Noord has supermarkets, cheap snack bars, and a bus line toward Palm Beach, so you can eat for US$8 to 15 a meal. Its guesthouses and small apartment complexes attract budget travelers and let you split costs and cook. From there Dos Playa is a drive of 40 minutes or more. Oranjestad is the alternative for social travelers, with more variety of food, nightlife and the main bus terminal, and rooms from about US$70. It is about a 40 minute drive away. Palm Beach is livelier but pricey, mostly US$150 and up. Renting a car or sharing a taxi matters more than the exact neighborhood, because Dos Playa has no lodging on its own shore.
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Best quality hotels in Aruba

🛡️ SafetySafety Tips and Common Scams in Dos Playa

Dos Playa is a small, wild cove on Aruba’s north coast, and swimming here needs more care than on the calm southwest beaches. Waves from the open sea break onto the rocky shore and a strong current can pull along the edges, so wade in only on flat days and stay close to shore. Locals tend to swim near the center of the cove rather than by the rocks. There are no lifeguards and no flags, and the limestone is sharp underfoot, so wear water shoes. The trade winds blow all day, so you may not feel the sun burn until evening. Bring plenty of water because there is almost no shade. Theft from parked rental cars happens at quiet lots on the island, so leave nothing visible inside.
Check Country Safety

FAQCommon questions from travelers

Rent a car or take a taxi, since Dos Playa has no direct bus. It lies on Aruba’s northeast coast inside Arikok National Park, about 40 minutes by road from Oranjestad. Taxis from Palm Beach or Noord cost roughly US$25 to 40 each way, and car rentals start near US$45 a day. The last stretch is a rough dirt track, so drive slowly.
Dos Playa suits a short swim on calm days more than serious water sports. Waves and currents from the open sea make it poor for surfing or long swims, and Aruba’s surf spots are mostly elsewhere. Snorkeling is limited because of waves and the rocky shore, so head to Mangel Halto or Baby Beach on the south coast instead. Water shoes help, and calm mornings in summer are the safest time.
Dos Playa lies inside Arikok National Park, so you need the park’s conservation day pass, about US$22 per adult. Parking is free, though you need your own transport to reach it, which means about US$45 a day for a rental or US$25 to 40 each way by taxi. There are no shops, so bring water and snacks, and budget about US$10 to 15 per person for a meal back in town.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Aruban beaches near Dos Playa

Explore more nearby:

  • Boca Prins—Steep pale dune, Arikok park, rough surf, dark rock shelf| 1 km away
  • Mangel Halto—Mangrove cove, wooden pier, shallow lagoon, weekend picnics| 7 km away
  • Boca Grandi—Windward surf, kite bay, sea glass, bare limestone| 9 km away

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We 💚 feedbackWhat to keep in mind

Dos Playa is best on a weekday morning, when the light is soft, the sand is empty and the surf looks dramatic against the cliffs. I would arrive early with a full water bottle and a hat, then leave before the midday sun and the first tour groups turn the coves busy.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on in-depth research, insights shared by experienced travelers, and feedback from the local travel community in Aruba. While every effort is made to keep the information accurate and current, conditions can change — so if you spot anything incorrect or outdated, please get in touch.



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