Noord#1 of 1 things to do in Arashi

Arashi Beach

★★★★½4.5 out of 5 · 3,025 reviews

Photo: © rmiamoto via TripAdvisor

Arashi Beach is a beach in Noord, Aruba, rated 4.5/5 by 3,025 TripAdvisor reviewers; swimming good; snorkeling good; moderate crowds; no facilities.

Swimmable

Calm, tranquil waters typical of Aruba's northwest coast; suitable for swimming and snorkeling without hazard warnings.

Sargassum: rarely

Northwestern leeward coast, protected from prevailing currents; minimal sargassum year-round.

About

Arashi Beach sits at the northwestern tip of the island, just past the high-rise strip, and it's the #1 thing to do in Arashi for a reason: the sand itself. It's soft, white, and better than what you'll find at Palm Beach or Eagle Beach if you're staying in the Noord area and don't want to drive south. The 4.5 rating across 3,000-plus reviews holds up, and it's earned back-to-back Travelers Choice awards. The trade-off is infrastructure — there's none. No shade, no facilities, no food stands. It's a bring-your-own-everything setup. Swimming and snorkeling are fine but not standout; if you want sea turtles or a shipwreck, head to Baby Beach or Malmok instead. Arashi is about the sand and the convenience if you're already on the north end of the island. Pack water, bring an umbrella, and expect straightforward beach conditions without the fuss.

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Snorkeling in Aruba: compare the 5 ways to do it

At a glance

Area: Noord
Swimming quality: ●●●○○
Snorkeling: ●●●○○
Crowd level: fewer▮▮▮▯▯more
Facilities: –
Shade: –
Family friendly: –

How to decide

✓You're staying in Gold Coast or Noord area and want the closest quality beach access without driving south
✓You value superior sand quality over Palm Beach and Eagle Beach for sunbathing and relaxation
✓You prefer straightforward beach conditions without navigating rocky entries like Malmok or intense heat like Baby Beach

You want excellent snorkeling with marine life — Baby Beach and Malmok Beach offer far better underwater experiences
You need shade, facilities, or family-friendly amenities — this beach lacks all infrastructure
You want vibrant entertainment and dining within walking distance like Palm Beach provides

Arashi Beach delivers better sand conditions than Eagle Beach and Palm Beach for northern area visitors, but lacks the snorkeling appeal of Baby Beach's sea turtles or Malmok Beach's shipwreck access. Choose it for convenience and sand quality when staying north, not for underwater exploration or beach services.

Make a day of it

Tours & things to do nearby

Jolly Pirates Cruises

From $108 per person

Jolly Pirates runs a four-hour catamaran cruise out of Hadicurari, the fishing pier on the northwest coast near the high-rise hotels. The boat is ranked #7 among Oranjestad water sports for a reason: multiple snorkel stops, rope swings off the stern, and a crew that keeps the vibe relaxed without being forced. You'll hit at least two reef sites, and the water is shallow enough that kids can snorkel comfortably—this is the lowest-intensity water activity in the category. Morning departures include a full meal; afternoon trips are drinks only, so check the schedule when you book. At $90, it's positioned between De Palm Tours' beach club package with slides and banana boats and the pricier land-based jeep safaris. If you want open water over a beach club, and sailing over driving through Arikok, this is the call. Book direct through their site. Cash tip for the crew is standard.

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Octopus Sailing Charters

Octopus Sailing Charters runs three-hour trips off the Palm-Eagle Beach coast, and the 4.7 rating across thousands of reviews suggests they keep things consistent. The Travelers Choice award backs that up. It's a mid-intensity outing — you're on a catamaran, not in a kayak — so it works for most ages and fitness levels. The boat makes stops for snorkeling and usually swings by a shipwreck or two depending on conditions. Crew handles the sailing; you handle the sunscreen. The $75 price point sits in the middle of the water sports market here, which tracks for a half-day charter with gear included. Groups tend to be mixed, so expect other travelers. Book directly through their site. Morning departures are cooler and the water's usually calmer before noon, though afternoon light is better for photos if that matters to you.

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Delphi Watersports

From $69 per person

Delphi Watersports runs out of the Hyatt Regency beach on Palm Beach, and it's been doing it long enough to land at #7 among water sports operators in Noord—plus a 2025 Travelers Choice award. The 4.7 rating across 3,200 reviews suggests they get the logistics right, which matters when you're dealing with boats and gear and group timing. They offer two-hour trips that lean moderately active—think snorkeling, tubing, or a mix depending on what you book. It's a straightforward setup: walk down to the towel hut, check in, and you're on the water. Pricing sits around $75, which is middle-of-the-pack for Palm Beach excursions. Book direct through them if you can; it usually saves a step and sometimes a fee. They're used to handling families and mixed groups, so the intensity stays manageable even if you're not a strong swimmer.

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Visiting in October?

You're visiting during shoulder season when crowds are moderate and construction is common at several resorts. Weather is warm and humid, with occasional rain showers, but beaches remain beautiful. October sees returning visitors enjoying quieter beaches and Eagle Beach's exceptional calm waters.

Based on 150 traveler reports

Recent Pulse

What travelers are saying.

Steady

Low confidence

Travelers say Arashi Beach delivers crystal-clear water and soft white sand at Aruba's northwestern tip, with excellent snorkeling over shallow reefs teeming with tropical fish and occasional sea turtles. The trade-off is infrastructure: free palapas fill by 7–8am, umbrella rentals run $40–$50 for two chairs, and aggressive attendants who set up chairs front-row whether customers exist or not spark frequent complaints. Arrive before 9am to claim shade, bring your own gear to skip the rental hassle, and swim to the rocky south end for the best marine life—just 75 feet offshore, you'll find parrotfish, blue tangs, and schooling fish in water so clear you can see your toes in five feet of depth.

Standing out

Crystal-clear shallow water visible to five feet depth, ideal for families and novice snorkelers swimming 75–100 feet offshore
47 mentions
“Water so transparent you see fish without snorkel gear while standing waist-deep”
Soft white powder sand better than Palm or Eagle Beach, with calm protected swimming in the center section
38 mentions
“Sand is softest on the island, pologent entry safe for eight-year-olds in small waves”
Snorkeling over coral reefs and rock formations 75–100 feet offshore yields sea turtles, parrotfish, blue tangs, and schooling fish
35 mentions
“Saw three turtles and a sea snake swimming toward Boca Catalina from south-end rock stairs”
Free public palapas with brick-and-thatch construction near the beach bar, claimed before 8am on weekends
22 mentions
“Palapas gone by 9am high season, but we shared one respectfully at 7:30”
Beach bar serves cold Balashi buckets and fresh ceviche, with free WiFi included in umbrella rentals
18 mentions
“Ceviche at beach shack is fantastic, Emerson pours strong piña coladas during happy hour”

Watch-outs

Umbrella and chair attendants charge $40–$50 for rentals, set up front-row blocking views, and provoke confrontations over shared palapas
18 mentions
“Attendant threatened to break my husband's face over moving a chair two feet toward the ocean”
Rocky coral bottom in north and south sections requires water shoes, steep drop-off catches swimmers off-guard
16 mentions
“Rocks jutting underwater invisible in sand-churned waves, five people knocked flat in one afternoon”
Tour buses dump 100-plus cruise passengers mid-morning, filling palapas and creating music competition from competing speakers
12 mentions
“Six buses arrived at 10am, bar ran out of chairs, families blasting reggaeton ruined the vibe”

Tips from travelers

Arrive before 8am to claim free palapas near the beach bar or bring your own umbrella
Swim 75 feet south from rock stairs at 9am before snorkel boats arrive for sea turtles
Pack water shoes for rocky north and south ends, sandy center is safest for kids
Buy umbrella or sail canopy at Superfood supermarket—it pays for itself versus $50 daily rentals

Maybe skip if: Skip Arashi if you want resort amenities, empty beaches, or dislike navigating aggressive rental attendants who treat public palapas like private inventory.

Other beaches

NoordSwimmable© mitsugirly via TripAdvisor

Malmok Beach

Malmok Beach sits on the northern tip of the island past the high-rise strip, and most people drive right by it on the way to the California Lighthouse. The #6 ranking among Palm-Eagle Beach attractions comes entirely from what's underwater — this is a snorkeling beach, not a lounging beach. The rocky shelf drops into calm water where several small wrecks sit close to shore, and the fish density is noticeably higher than anything you'll see off Eagle or Palm Beach. The entry requires water shoes; the sand quality doesn't compete with Eagle Beach a few miles south. There are no chair rentals, no shade structures, no beach bar. You park on the shoulder, walk over the rocks, and swim out. If you're renting a car and you care more about seeing parrotfish and sergeant majors than having a perfect sand day, Malmok delivers something the resort beaches can't. Baby Beach on the southern end offers easier wading and comparable marine life if the rocky bottom here is a problem.

Great swim

Snorkeling

Quiet

Palm Beach

Palm Beach runs along the high-rise hotel strip on the northwest coast, and the location is the whole selling point. You're steps from restaurants, bars, and nightlife — Bugaloé Pier alone has rentals, food, and drinks without leaving the sand. The beach ranks #7 among Palm–Eagle Beach attractions and pulls a Travelers Choice Best of the Best nod, so the crowds show up. That means limited towel space and a lively atmosphere that skews resort-entertainment rather than quiet escape. The tradeoff: water quality takes a hit from watersport boat traffic. Reviewers flag visible fuel and oil in the shallows, and the ocean floor can look murky. If snorkeling or pristine swimming matters, Baby Beach or Eagle Beach will serve you better. Palm Beach makes sense if you want convenience — walk off the sand to dinner, catch July 4th fireworks from the high-rises, or grab a cocktail without moving your car. The wind stays calmer here than on other parts of the island, which helps for floating but doesn't fix the boat residue.

Hadicurari Beach

Hadicurari sits between Palm Beach and Malmok on the northwest coast, where the hotel strip gives way to open sand and steady wind. Locals call it Fisherman's Huts — the low-rise pier and a handful of shacks are still here, though these days they mostly serve the windsurfers and kitesurfers who show up for the reliable cross-shore breeze. The #9 ranking in Noord reflects what it does well: space, fewer crowds than the high-rise beaches a quarter-mile south, and conditions that work whether you're on a board or just wading. The 4.3 rating holds across 68 reviews, which is decent for a beach that doesn't try to be everything. If you're not into wind sports, Hadicurari still works as a walk-and-watch spot — the kites are up most afternoons, and the water stays shallow for a long stretch. Parking is informal. Shade is limited. It's quieter than Palm Beach, busier than the wild northeastern coast.

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Eat near this beach

Noord

Ocean Z Restaurant

Ocean Z sits at the Bucuti resort on Eagle Beach in Noord, and while it's technically open to non-guests, reservations are mandatory — this isn't a walk-in spot. The #2 restaurant ranking in Noord and a Best of the Best award for 2025 both track with the numbers: 4.9s across food, atmosphere, and service, with nearly 2,000 reviews holding that line. The menu leans seafood with international and fusion touches, and the price tier reflects it — this is a four-dollar-sign dinner. What stands out is the consistency; when value still clears 4.8 at this price point, the kitchen and front-of-house are doing something right. The setting is upscale without being stiff, and the beachfront location helps. It's not a casual family spot — no kids' menu, and the vibe skews couples and special occasions. Book ahead, expect to spend, and plan your evening around it.

Noord

Opus Ocean & Grill

Opus Ocean & Grill sits in Noord, inland from the high-rise strip, and it's ranked #3 out of 161 restaurants in the area for a reason. The upscale vibe and Italian-leaning seafood menu draw a crowd that knows what they're paying for — this is the top price tier on the island — but the 4.9 rating across nearly 1,900 reviews suggests people walk out satisfied. Service gets the highest subrating at 4.9, which tracks with the Travelers' Choice award for 2025. The kitchen does Italian and European dishes alongside seafood, and the atmosphere rating matches the food, both at 4.8. It's not a casual shorts-and-sandals spot; expect tablecloths and a quieter room. Value scores 4.7, which is strong considering the price point — you're not getting bargain pasta, but the execution seems to justify the check. Reservations aren't required according to the attributes, but with this kind of ranking, calling ahead is probably the smarter play.

Palm Beach

Atardi

Atardi sits inside the Marriott on Palm Beach, and it's set up for romance — the 4.9 atmosphere score isn't an accident. The tables overlook the water, the lighting cooperates, and the crowd tilts older and quieter than the lobby bar. The kitchen works international with a seafood tilt, and while the food rating at 4.4 is solid, the real pull is the setting and service, both of which score higher. At #17 out of 155 in Palm-Eagle Beach, it's holding its own in the densest dining corridor on the island. The two Travelers Choice awards in 2025 confirm that consistency. Expect top-tier pricing — this is a four-dollar-sign spot, and the 4.0 value score suggests you're paying for the view and occasion as much as the plate. Reservations aren't required according to the data, but if you want a window table on a weekend, calling ahead is the safer play.

Stay near this beach

Eagle Beach

Beach House Aruba Apartments

Beach House Aruba sits on LG Smith Boulevard between Palm and Eagle Beach, a midsize apartment property that lands at #3 among the area's B&Bs and inns. The 4.6 rating holds across 276 reviews, with location and service both hitting 4.7 — high marks for a mid-priced place in a strip dominated by resorts. The apartments give you more room than a hotel box, and the subratings suggest they deliver on the basics: cleanliness at 4.7, sleep quality at 4.4, value at 4.6. It's not luxury, but at $$ pricing you're getting space and proximity to two of the island's best beaches without the all-inclusive machinery. The service score stands out for a property this size. Staff attention tends to drop off outside the big resorts, so a 4.7 here means someone's paying attention.

Noord

Tierra del Sol Resort & Golf

Tierra del Sol sits up in Noord's hills, inland from the high-rise strip, built around an 18-hole golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones II. If you're here to play, that's the draw — it's the only resort in Aruba with a course on property. The #2 ranking among Noord's B&Bs reflects the villas and suites more than the location; you'll need the shuttle to reach the beach, which is fine if golf and spa time come first. The kids club keeps younger travelers occupied while you're on the back nine or at the wellness center, and at $900 a night, the price matches beachfront alternatives without the sand access. Sleep quality and cleanliness both score above 4.3, so the rooms deliver. Value sits lower at 3.9, which makes sense given what you're trading for the fairways. If beach proximity matters as much as golf, look closer to Palm Beach.

Noord

Source: TripAdvisor · view on TripAdvisor →

Photos by individual contributors as credited above.

Review summaries are AI-paraphrased from public traveler reviews.

Arashi Beach