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Aruba🇦🇼 | beachesPalm BeachHigh-rise strip, paddleboard rentals, public palapas, evening restaurants | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Palm Beach
🏆 Top pickbeach ranked #2
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 22, 2026

Palm Beach puts a free public beach, calm turquoise water and dozens of cheap-to-pricey meal options within a few minutes of each other, so you can sort a whole day on foot. It sits on Aruba’s northwest coast, north of Oranjestad and just past Eagle Beach, and it is the island’s high-rise strip. Expect resort towers, a long pale-sand shoreline and a lot of sunbed rows. The water is shallow, clear and gentle, ideal for swimming and paddleboarding, though there’s no surf worth the name. Snorkeling is average from shore, so save your fins for the wrecks and reefs elsewhere. It’s clean, well maintained and busy, especially near the big hotels. Skip the crowded middle stretch and walk toward the quieter ends, where you’ll find space and public palapa shade. Budget beds are scarce, but supermarkets and snack counters keep costs manageable. Go early for a spot. Bring your own water and sunscreen, since beachfront prices run high and shade is limited.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #2 beach in ArubaThe unique appeal for travelers

Palm Beach earns its stop because everything a backpacker needs sits in one walkable strip. The beach itself runs for roughly 2 kilometers of soft, calm sand, and the lack of waves means you can float, swim laps or learn stand-up paddleboarding without fighting the sea. Rental huts along the shore handle kayaks and boards, so you don’t need to book ahead.

The second pull is the evening. Once the sun drops, the Palm Beach restaurant and bar strip behind the hotels fills with live music, casual grills and a casino or two, and you can wander in without a hotel wristband. It’s the most social stretch on the island for meeting other travelers, and the supermarkets nearby let you save money by self-catering lunches.

It also works as a base for the northwest coast. Buses run along the main road … read more 👉
Palm Beach earns its stop because everything a backpacker needs sits in one walkable strip. The beach itself runs for roughly 2 kilometers of soft, calm sand, and the lack of waves means you can float, swim laps or learn stand-up paddleboarding without fighting the sea. Rental huts along the shore handle kayaks and boards, so you don’t need to book ahead.

The second pull is the evening. Once the sun drops, the Palm Beach restaurant and bar strip behind the hotels fills with live music, casual grills and a casino or two, and you can wander in without a hotel wristband. It’s the most social stretch on the island for meeting other travelers, and the supermarkets nearby let you save money by self-catering lunches.

It also works as a base for the northwest coast. Buses run along the main road to the capital and the lighthouse area, and the nearby Hadicurari windsurf beach is a short hop away. Come for a couple of easy beach days between rougher island explorations.

💡 HighlightsTop highlights of Palm Beach

  1. Palm Beach shoreline: The main attraction is the long, calm stretch of white sand and clear shallow water. Swimming is easy here, and the gentle slope suits children and nervous swimmers. Public sections between the resorts have palapas and free access.
  2. Stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking: Water-sports huts rent boards and kayaks right on the sand. The flat, protected water makes this one of the island’s easiest places for beginners, and you can paddle out past the hotel docks for a view of the coast.
  3. Sunset on the sand: The beach faces west, so the sun goes down straight into the sea. Bring a drink from a nearby shop, sit near the water and watch the sky change over the moored boats and catamarans.
  4. Hadicurari Beach: A short walk or ride north, this is the island’s windsurfing and kitesurfing
… read more 👉
  1. Palm Beach shoreline: The main attraction is the long, calm stretch of white sand and clear shallow water. Swimming is easy here, and the gentle slope suits children and nervous swimmers. Public sections between the resorts have palapas and free access.
  2. Stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking: Water-sports huts rent boards and kayaks right on the sand. The flat, protected water makes this one of the island’s easiest places for beginners, and you can paddle out past the hotel docks for a view of the coast.
  3. Sunset on the sand: The beach faces west, so the sun goes down straight into the sea. Bring a drink from a nearby shop, sit near the water and watch the sky change over the moored boats and catamarans.
  4. Hadicurari Beach: A short walk or ride north, this is the island’s windsurfing and kitesurfing corner. The breeze is steady, the sand is less crowded and watching the sails is entertaining even if you never touch a board.
  5. Evening on the Palm Beach strip: Restaurants, live acoustic sets and casinos line the road behind the resorts after dark. It’s lively without being rowdy, and it’s the best place on this coast to meet other travelers over dinner.
Start with the shoreline at the quieter ends, because the water is calmest and the sand emptiest before the sunbed rows fill.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

Things to do around Palm Beach

Island Jeep Safari with Natural Pool Baby Beach and Lunch

Island Jeep Safari with Natural Pool Baby Beach and Lunch

5.0(10329) 8h
From €126
per personViator
Aruba UTV Adventure to Natural Pool Jeep Transfer

Aruba UTV Adventure to Natural Pool Jeep Transfer

5.0(7256) 6h
From €317
per personViator
Aruba UTV Off-Road Driving Experience North Coast Stops

Aruba UTV Off-Road Driving Experience North Coast Stops

5.0(6024) 4h
From €253
per personViator
Half-Day Aruba UTV Adventure Tour

Half-Day Aruba UTV Adventure Tour

5.0(1852) 4h
From €200
per personViator
Aruba Small-Group UTV Adventure|Private Off-Road Tour Max 4 UTVs

Aruba Small-Group UTV Adventure|Private Off-Road Tour Max 4 UTVs

5.0(188) 4h
From €232
per personViator
Aruba Jeep Safari with Lunch and Open Bar

Aruba Jeep Safari with Lunch and Open Bar

5.0(93) 4h
From €885
per personViator
Private Aruba Jeep Adventure|Custom Island Tour with Local Guide

Private Aruba Jeep Adventure|Custom Island Tour with Local Guide

5.0(55) 4h
From €454
per personViator
Epic Off-Road Surron Electric Bike Tour in Aruba

Epic Off-Road Surron Electric Bike Tour in Aruba

5.0(43)
From €145
per personViator
Half Day Hike at Arikok National Park & Snorkel

Half Day Hike at Arikok National Park & Snorkel

5.0(39)
From €104
per personViator
Art, Beach and Culture Island Tour

Art, Beach and Culture Island Tour

5.0(35) 4h
From €86
per personViator

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 Palm Beach

  • Dry Season (April to August): Palm Beach gets its steadiest sun and the calmest water, with highs of 30 to 32°C (86 to 90°F) and lows near 25°C (77°F). The trade winds keep the heat bearable on the sand.
  • Peak Winter Season (mid-December to early April): North American crowds fill the high-rise strip, loungers go early, and room prices run highest. Days sit around 29 to 31°C (84 to 88°F), with a little relief from the breeze.
  • Rainy Season (October to January): Short, sharp showers come through, mostly at night or in the morning, and November is the wettest month. Temperatures stay at 27 to 30°C (81 to 86°F), and prices soften outside the holiday weeks.
  • Hurricane Belt: Aruba sits south of the main storm track, so direct hits are rare. September and October can still bring humid, still days and
… read more 👉
  • Dry Season (April to August): Palm Beach gets its steadiest sun and the calmest water, with highs of 30 to 32°C (86 to 90°F) and lows near 25°C (77°F). The trade winds keep the heat bearable on the sand.
  • Peak Winter Season (mid-December to early April): North American crowds fill the high-rise strip, loungers go early, and room prices run highest. Days sit around 29 to 31°C (84 to 88°F), with a little relief from the breeze.
  • Rainy Season (October to January): Short, sharp showers come through, mostly at night or in the morning, and November is the wettest month. Temperatures stay at 27 to 30°C (81 to 86°F), and prices soften outside the holiday weeks.
  • Hurricane Belt: Aruba sits south of the main storm track, so direct hits are rare. September and October can still bring humid, still days and a few cloudy spells.
Book for May, June or early November, when the beach is quieter and bed prices drop noticeably from their winter peak.


source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: highly recommended for travelingFEBFebruary: good for travelingMARMarch: highly recommended for travelingAPRApril: highly recommended for travelingMAYMay: excellent for travelingJUNJune: excellent for travelingJULJuly: excellent for travelingAUGAugust: excellent for travelingSEPSeptember: excellent for travelingOCTOctober: good for travelingNOVNovember: fair for travelingDECDecember: good for traveling
aruba-beach-palm-beach
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🛏️ Where to stay?Where staying makes the most sense

The best base for backpackers near Palm Beach is Eagle Beach and the stretch toward Oranjestad, since the Palm Beach strip itself is almost all resorts. Rooms there rarely dip below US$200 a night in winter.
Eagle Beach sits about 10 minutes by bus from Palm Beach and has guesthouses, small apartments and a few budget-friendly options, typically US$70 to 130 a night for a private room, less in a shared setup. The beach is wide and calmer in feel, and a supermarket plus a handful of casual restaurants are a short walk away. It suits travelers who want to cook some meals and cut costs.
Central Oranjestad … read more 👉
The best base for backpackers near Palm Beach is Eagle Beach and the stretch toward Oranjestad, since the Palm Beach strip itself is almost all resorts. Rooms there rarely dip below US$200 a night in winter.
Eagle Beach sits about 10 minutes by bus from Palm Beach and has guesthouses, small apartments and a few budget-friendly options, typically US$70 to 130 a night for a private room, less in a shared setup. The beach is wide and calmer in feel, and a supermarket plus a handful of casual restaurants are a short walk away. It suits travelers who want to cook some meals and cut costs.
Central Oranjestad is the second choice, with the cheapest beds on the island, the main bus terminal, and plenty of local eateries. Expect roughly US$50 to 100 a night. You get the easiest transport to every beach and the best chance of meeting other travelers, though you will be riding the bus to reach the sand.
Noord, close to the high-rise area, has apartment rentals that work well when split between three or four people. Kitchens bring daily costs down, and the Palm Beach sand is a 5 to 15 minute walk or short ride away.
Best hostels in Aruba


Best quality hotels in Aruba

🛡️ SafetySafety Tips and Common Scams in Palm Beach

Palm Beach is one of the calmest and best-managed stretches on the island, and the water is typically gentle enough for easy swimming. Waves are small, rips are rare, and the sea is shallow and clear near the shore. Strong trade winds can stir up short chop in the afternoon, so swim in the morning if you want the glassiest water. Jet skis, parasailing boats and banana boats work in marked zones, so stay inside the swimming area near the sand.
Marine life is mild. You may brush against a sea urchin on rocky patches at the edges, so water shoes help there. The sun is the real hazard, since Aruba sits close to the equator and the UV index is high from late morning. Reef-safe sunscreen, a hat and a refill bottle go a long way.
The strip is busy and lit, and crime is low. Still, don’t leave phones … read more 👉
Palm Beach is one of the calmest and best-managed stretches on the island, and the water is typically gentle enough for easy swimming. Waves are small, rips are rare, and the sea is shallow and clear near the shore. Strong trade winds can stir up short chop in the afternoon, so swim in the morning if you want the glassiest water. Jet skis, parasailing boats and banana boats work in marked zones, so stay inside the swimming area near the sand.
Marine life is mild. You may brush against a sea urchin on rocky patches at the edges, so water shoes help there. The sun is the real hazard, since Aruba sits close to the equator and the UV index is high from late morning. Reef-safe sunscreen, a hat and a refill bottle go a long way.
The strip is busy and lit, and crime is low. Still, don’t leave phones or cash unattended on the sand while you swim, and lock rental cars with nothing visible inside.
Check Country Safety

FAQFrequently asked questions about Palm Beach

Palm Beach is in the Noord area, about 10 to 15 minutes by road from the airport and 15 minutes from Oranjestad. The Arubus public bus (route 10A from the Oranjestad terminal) runs along the hotel strip for roughly US$2.60 each way, and a taxi from the airport costs about US$25 to 30. Rental cars start around US$45 to 60 a day if you want to see other beaches too.
Palm Beach is good for swimming and easy water sports, but poor for surfing. The water is calm, clear and warm at around 27 to 29°C (81 to 84°F), with small waves, so swimming is comfortable for most levels. Snorkeling is possible near the rocks at the edges, though better reef sites such as Malmok and Boca Catalina lie a few minutes north. Kitesurfing and windsurfing take place at Fisherman’s Huts and Hadicurari on the windier side of the north coast.
Palm Beach is free to visit, since all beaches in Aruba are public and there is no entrance fee. Loungers and umbrellas from the operators on the sand typically cost around US$25 to 50 for a set for the day, but you can bring a towel and sit on the open sand. Public access paths run between the resorts, and parking is limited, so the bus is the simpler choice.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Aruban beaches near Palm Beach

Explore more nearby:

  • Eagle Beach—Fofoti trees, turtle nesting, wide sand, low-rise hotels| 3 km away
  • Malmok Beach—Reef-edge snorkeling, limestone shelves, Boca Catalina, kite sails| 3 km away
  • Manchebo Beach—Shallow swim, beachfront dinners, tree shade, no towers| 4 km away

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We 💚 feedbackIs it worth it?

Palm Beach suits two or three nights, and that is plenty. One day for the water and paddleboards, one for Hadicurari and the strip after dark. Stay longer and the resort prices start to grate. I’d base yourself one beach over and come here by bus for the sunsets, then head home with a supermarket picnic.

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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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Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

This site is built on a combination of firsthand travel experience and carefully curated insights from other backpackers. Many guides are based on places I’ve personally visited, while others bring together tips, observations, and practical advice shared by trusted travelers I’ve met along the way.

The goal is to provide realistic, experience-driven guidance — not generic itineraries — so you can explore destinations with better context, clearer expectations, and more confidence.

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