AW
Palm Beach & Eagle Beach
Divi-divi trees and the Caribbean’s calmest sand
Divi-divi trees and the Caribbean’s calmest sand
Eagle Beach’s iconic wind-bent fofoti trees, leaning over the white sand, are the symbol of Aruba and its most photographed sight.
💡 The trees frame a perfect photo — come at golden hour for the best light.
A broad, low-rise, gloriously uncrowded stretch of white sand and turquoise water, regularly voted one of the world’s finest beaches.
💡 Quieter and wider than Palm Beach — ideal for a relaxed beach day.
The lively two-mile resort strip, with calm water, watersports, beach bars and the fishing and party piers reaching out over the sea.
💡 De Palm Pier and the area’s bars are the hub of the daytime scene.
Calm, clear water makes the west coast perfect for snorkelling, paddleboarding, sailing and boat trips — including to nearby reefs and wrecks.
💡 Catamaran snorkel cruises to the Antilla wreck are hugely popular.
The west-facing beaches serve up spectacular sunsets over calm water every evening — a nightly ritual of sundowners and silhouettes.
💡 Grab a beachfront bar around sunset — the sky show is reliable and glorious.
The Palm Beach strip is Aruba’s dining and nightlife heart, packed with everything from beach shacks to fine dining. Don’t miss local Aruban flavours, a tasty blend of Dutch, Caribbean and Latin influences: fresh keshi yena (stuffed cheese), pastechi pastries, just-caught mahi-mahi and red snapper, and pan bati cornbread. The famous Zeerovers (a short drive away) serves the day’s catch dockside, while Palm Beach itself has international restaurants, rooftop bars and the buzzing casino scene. For a treat, book a beachfront dinner with your feet in the sand. Aruba’s own Balashi beer and plentiful rum cocktails round things off. Reserve popular spots ahead in high season.
Palm and Eagle Beach lie along Aruba’s calm west coast, a short drive north of Oranjestad and about 15 to 20 minutes from the airport. A cheap, reliable Arubus service runs frequently along the coast between the airport, Oranjestad and the beach hotels. Taxis are plentiful with fixed government rates (confirm the fare first). Many visitors rent a car to explore the wilder side of the island, though for a beach-focused stay you may not need one, as the strip is walkable and well served. Driving is on the right. The beaches themselves are all public and free.
Beat the heat with an early swim and the divi-divi trees before the sun gets fierce.
A catamaran trip along the coast to snorkel reefs and the Antilla shipwreck.
Sundowners on the strip, dinner with your toes in the sand, then the lively bar scene.
The trade wind masks a fierce sun — reef-safe sunscreen and shade are essential.
Aruba’s constant trade winds keep it comfortable — and make it a windsurfing hotspot.
All Aruba beaches are free and open — wander from Palm to Eagle along the sand.
Arubus links the airport, Oranjestad and the beach strip frequently and cheaply.
Quick answers to the questions travellers most often ask about Palm and Eagle Beach.
It depends on your style: Palm Beach is lively, with high-rise resorts, bars, watersports and nightlife, while Eagle Beach is broader, quieter and low-rise, famous for its divi-divi trees and often ranked among the world’s best beaches. Both have calm, clear water.
The fofoti or divi-divi trees are Aruba’s iconic wind-bent trees, permanently leaning southwest due to the constant trade winds. The pair on Eagle Beach are the island’s most photographed symbol.
Excellent — the west-coast beaches (Palm and Eagle) have calm, clear, gentle water ideal for swimming, and boat trips reach reefs and the famous Antilla shipwreck for snorkelling and diving. It is one of the Caribbean’s best spots for reliable conditions.
Almost any time — Aruba is warm, dry and sunny year-round and sits outside the main hurricane belt. December to April is peak season with perfect weather; the quieter months from May onwards are hot, breezy and often cheaper.
The calm resort beaches of Palm and Eagle, and the rugged desert wilderness of Arikok — the two very different faces of Aruba.