Palm Beach is Aruba’s main resort strip — 3 kilometres of white sand fronting the island’s largest and most complete resort hotels. It’s where the action is: beach bars, water sports, restaurants within walking distance, catamaran departures, and the full Caribbean resort experience. If you’re staying in Aruba for the first time, this is probably where you’ll be.
Palm Beach itself is walkable, but the rest of the island is not. Most guests staying here end up renting a car for at least a couple of days.
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What Palm Beach Offers
🏨 The hotels — Ritz-Carlton, Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt Regency, Radisson Blu, and Holiday Inn all front directly on Palm Beach. You walk out of your hotel onto the sand.
🍹 Beach bars — Moomba Beach Bar (the most popular, legendary Sunday parties), Fat Tuesday (frozen daiquiris), multiple hotel beach bars. Happy hours run 4–7 PM at most.
⛵ Catamaran departures — Most catamaran sunset cruises and snorkel tours depart from boats moored off Palm Beach. Jolly Pirates, Octopus Sailing, and Red Sail all launch from here.
🏄 Water sports — Jet ski rentals, parasailing, paddleboarding, kayaks, banana boats — all available from beach operators.
🍽️ Restaurants — Dozens within walking distance: Screaming Eagle, Azar, Lucca Trattoria, Marea, Las Ramblas, Sexy Shrimp, and more.
Palm Beach Layout
Palm Beach runs north to south along J.E. Irausquin Boulevard. The northern end (closest to Malmok) has the Ritz-Carlton and quieter beach areas. The central section in front of the Marriott and Hilton is the busiest. The southern end transitions toward Manchebo Beach and gets progressively quieter. The beach is narrower at high tide in some sections — the central areas fill up quickly on peak days.
Staying on this stretch? Compare Palm Beach hotels.
For something with more adrenaline, compare Aruba parasailing — prices and operators.
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Best Spots on Palm Beach
🌅 Moomba Beach Bar — The heart of Palm Beach social life. Sunday beach parties. Happy hour 4–7 PM. Guide
🎭 Screaming Eagle — The theatrical dinner experience. Book 2–3 weeks ahead. Guide
🍹 Fat Tuesday — Frozen daiquiris, multiple flavours. Good for groups. Guide
⛵ Catamaran launches — The Jolly Pirates pirate ship departs from the Palm Beach waterline daily.
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Palm Beach is on Aruba’s western coast, running north to south along J.E. Irausquin Boulevard — the main resort strip. It’s approximately 20 minutes from the airport and is home to most of the major hotels including Ritz-Carlton, Marriott, Hyatt, and Hilton.
Palm Beach is known for the main resort hotel strip, Moomba Beach Bar (especially the Sunday beach parties), catamaran cruise departures, a wide range of water sports, and the concentration of restaurants and nightlife that makes it the social centre of Aruba.
Palm Beach can get busy during peak season (December–April), particularly in front of the major hotels. The northern end near the Ritz-Carlton and the areas near Malmok are less crowded. Eagle Beach, 10 minutes south, is significantly quieter if you want more space.
🏖️ Eagle Beach guide | 🏨 Best hotels in Aruba | ⛵ Catamaran tours
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💡 Beach tip: Palm Beach fills up fast — reserve an Aruba beach umbrella rental delivered to your spot before you arrive.
Frequently asked questions
Are Aruba beaches free to use?
Yes. All beaches in Aruba are public up to the high-water mark, including the stretches fronting the big resorts. You can walk on and lay a towel down anywhere, though loungers and palapas belonging to a hotel are for its guests.
Which side of the island has the calm water?
The western and southern coasts. That is where Palm Beach, Eagle Beach, Manchebo and Baby Beach sit, and where the water stays flat enough for swimming and snorkelling. The north and east coasts face open Atlantic swell and are not safe for casual swimming.
Do I need to book a beach chair?
Not on the public stretches. On Palm Beach the hotel palapas fill early and are reserved for guests, so arrive before mid-morning if you want shade or bring your own.
Is the water warm year-round?
Yes, sitting around 27 to 28°C, so no wetsuit is needed at any time of year.
Most Palm Beach shade belongs to the hotels in front of it. If you are not staying on that strip, Umbrella Aruba sets up an umbrella and two chairs by the Hyatt for $100 a day, so you get shade without a hotel booking.
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