Arashi Beach Aruba: Snorkelling and Sunset Guide

Arashi Beach is the northernmost of Aruba's calm, swimmable west coast beaches. Drive past the last of the Malmok villas and the coastline opens into a gentle crescent of soft white sand, with the water shading from pale aquamarine near the shore to deep blue further out. Just beyond Arashi the coast turns rugged and rocky as it climbs toward the north point and the California Lighthouse, so this is quite literally where the sheltered Caribbean coast ends and the wild side begins.

That position gives Arashi a distinct character. It has the calm, clear, protected water of the famous resort beaches, but without the high-rise hotels, the vendors and the crowds. Instead you get rows of simple thatched palapas, a relaxed local crowd, and a wide-open horizon. It feels a little more like a locals' beach than a tourist strip, and many repeat visitors to Aruba name it as their favourite for exactly that reason. It is calm enough for children to swim and clear enough that you can see the bottom well out from shore.

Arashi is one of the best shore-entry snorkel beaches on the calm side of the island. The action is concentrated at the northern end, where rocks and reef sit close to the shore. Walk to that end of the beach, wade in, and within a short swim you are over rocky reef structure alive with fish. Expect sergeant majors, parrotfish, wrasse, blue tang and the occasional bigger visitor cruising through, all in water that is usually clear and gentle.

The southern, sandier stretch of the beach is better for easy swimming, floating and letting children play, since the bottom is smooth sand with no rocks. That natural split, reef at the north end and sand at the south, means Arashi works well for a mixed group where some want to snorkel and others just want to relax in calm water. Conditions are best in the morning when the sea is glassy and the visibility is at its peak. On windier afternoons the surface chops up and the snorkelling near the rocks gets less comfortable.

Arashi faces west across an open Caribbean horizon with nothing to block the view, which makes it one of the finest sunset beaches on Aruba. As the light fades the palapas throw long shadows, the water turns gold and then rose, and the crowds are thin enough that it never feels like a scrum. Bring a cool box, claim a palapa in the late afternoon, and stay for the show.

Directly above the beach on the hill sits the California Lighthouse, one of Aruba's most recognisable landmarks and a classic sunset viewpoint in its own right. A perfect end to the day is to snorkel and swim at Arashi in the afternoon, then drive the two minutes up to the lighthouse for panoramic views over the northwest point as the sun drops. Combining the two is easy with your own car and makes for one of the most memorable evenings on the island.

Getting to Arashi could not be simpler. From the Palm Beach hotel strip, head north through the Noord district and follow the coast road out past Malmok. The road is fully paved all the way to the beach car park, so there is no rough terrain and no need for a 4x4. The whole trip takes about 15 to 20 minutes from the main hotels.

Any vehicle in our fleet handles the drive, and an economy car from $46 per day is plenty. Every rental includes insurance and unlimited kilometres, free airport pickup and no hidden fees, so you are free to come and go for the morning snorkel and the evening sunset without watching the meter. See all options on our prices page. If you also plan to tackle Arikok or the Natural Pool later in your trip, a SUV or Jeep covers both the paved beach runs and the rough interior tracks.

Arashi has palapas, a car park and restrooms, but it is intentionally low-key with few shops. Bring your own snorkel gear, water, reef-safe sunscreen and any food or drinks you want for the day.