Palm Beach
For a long-haul blowout, Aruba's Palm Beach is hard to better: the island sits outside the hurricane belt, the trade winds keep the heat comfortable and the leeward water is calm, warm and clear year-round.
- Best forFamilies · Beach lovers · Couples
- In April28°C · 3 rainy days
- Ideal stayA week or more
- Approx. flying time~7h 05m from Los Angeles
- CurrencyAWGAruban florin
- LanguageDutch and Papiamento
- Local time08:085h behind the UK
- PlugsType A / BBring an adapter
- Drive on theRightOpposite to the UK
- Dialling code+297
Why go
Three kilometres of white sand with a line of high-rise resorts behind it, calm water, constant trade wind and very little rain. That is the deal on Aruba's leeward coast, and it is delivered with unusual reliability, since the island sits south of the hurricane belt and the weather barely varies through the year. The sea is flat and warm, shelving gently, and the sand stays soft enough to walk at midday.
Everything sits close together. Restaurants, watersports, supermarkets and the low-rise Eagle Beach are all within a short walk or a cheap bus ride, and the island is small enough to circle in a day. Most trips run seven to ten nights given the flight time from Europe. Anyone wanting an undeveloped or culturally immersive Caribbean should look at the windward side, or somewhere else entirely.
- Ideal stay
- A week or more
- The vibe
- Breezy, dependable, resort-comfortable
From our guides
Two miles of white sand front the resort strip, so everything from lunch to snorkel hire is steps away. Book the north-westerly stretch near the pier for the flattest water and the best sunset-watching real estate.
Featured in Ten beaches with calm, shallow water for small swimmers
Things to do
-
Eagle Beach
A wider, low-rise beach just south of the strip, with the two wind-bent divi divi trees that appear on every Aruba photograph and much more space between umbrellas.
-
Arashi and Boca Catalina
Two small bays at the island's north-western tip with rock and reef close to shore, which makes them the easiest snorkelling straight from the beach.
-
Antilla wreck
A large German freighter scuttled in 1940 lies in shallow water off the north coast, close enough to the surface for snorkellers as well as divers.
-
Arikok National Park
Cactus, dunes and a rugged windward coastline cover about a fifth of the island, reached by four-wheel drive or on an organised tour.
-
California Lighthouse
The headland north of the resort strip gives a long view back down the coast and is the standard place to watch the sun go down.
-
Oranjestad
The Dutch-Caribbean capital has pastel gabled buildings, a tram along the main street and cruise-ship shopping. Half a morning is plenty.
Getting there
-
Fly to
Oranjestad (AUA)
Nearest airport to Palm Beach, about 8km away as the crow flies.
-
Then
To Palm Beach
About twenty minutes by taxi north from Queen Beatrix airport (AUA) at Oranjestad, along the coast road past Eagle Beach.
-
On the ground
Getting around
The resort strip runs along the sand, so restaurants, watersports and shops are all a short flat walk from the hotels.
Public transport: A good coastal bus service links Oranjestad with the high-rise beaches, though a hire car makes sense for a day exploring Arikok.
Flights
Los Angeles Palm Beach, Aruba
Fly from anywhere — search 4,000+ airports worldwide.
Roughly 7h 05m in the air from Los Angeles (LAX), estimated from the distance — check for a direct route. Pick a month to see every available flight with live prices.
Check dates and prices
Pick your departure date, then your return.
Search flightsNot sure when? Compare fares across a whole month.
Flight times are estimates; prices open on Google Flights.
When to go
Daytime highs run from about 27°C in February to 30°C in September. Driest April to June; wettest in November, with rain on about 22 days.
The year at a glance — pick a month for detail
April28° · rain 3 daysWarm with the odd shower.
Monthly figures averaged from daily records for 2020–2024 at this location (ERA5 reanalysis). Highlighted months are warm and mostly dry — March to July. Live conditions from MET Norway, CC BY 4.0.
Where to stay
Large resort hotels and timeshare towers on the strip, with condos and apartments inland. Small independent guesthouses exist but are scarce, and most resorts are all-inclusive optional.
-
Best base overall
Palm Beach
The high-rise strip, with calm water, watersports desks and restaurants along the sand. It is the busiest stretch on the island and the beach in front of the hotels gets crowded by mid-morning.
Find stays in Palm Beach -
Best for couples
Eagle Beach
Low-rise hotels on a wider, quieter beach ten minutes south, with the famous divi-divi trees. Fewer restaurants within walking distance, so you take a taxi or hire a car.
Find stays in Eagle Beach -
Best value
Noord
The residential area just inland from the strip, where apartments and small hotels cost far less. It is a ten-minute walk or short bus ride to the sand, in serious heat.
Find stays in Noord -
Best with children
Oranjestad
The capital, with a calm town beach, the tram, supermarkets and larger self-catering flats. The best beaches are up the coast, so a hire car earns its keep here.
Find stays in Oranjestad
Worth knowing before you book: High season runs December to April and Aruba is one of the Caribbean's dearest islands then. Book eight months ahead for Christmas, and check whether the resort charges a daily amenity fee.
Search everything else in Palm Beach by budget. These are indicative budget bands in GBP per night for two people, not live quotes or guarantees of hotel type. Check your dates, guests, taxes and final price on Booking.com.
Good to know
- Timing
- Rainfall is low year-round and the hurricane belt sits to the north. The quieter, cheaper months run roughly May to November.
- Wind
- The trade wind blows almost constantly and masks the strength of the sun. Sunburn happens quickly even when you feel comfortably cool.
- Cash or card
- Cards are accepted everywhere and US dollars circulate alongside the florin, so there is little need to change money.
- With kids
- The leeward water is shallow and calm with lifeguards on the main stretch. The windward coast has strong currents and is not for swimming.
- Getting there
- Direct flights from Europe are limited and most routes connect through Amsterdam or a US hub. Allow a full travel day in each direction.
Similar places
Further afield
Related articles
Quick answers
When is the best time to visit Palm Beach?
For warm, mostly dry days, March to July. That means highs of 20–34°C with rain on six days a month or fewer. Daytime highs run from about 27°C in February to 30°C in September. Driest April to June; wettest in November, with rain on about 22 days.
How long should I spend in Palm Beach?
Our suggestion: a week or more.
How do I get to Palm Beach?
About twenty minutes by taxi north from Queen Beatrix airport (AUA) at Oranjestad, along the coast road past Eagle Beach.
Do I need a car in Palm Beach?
No. A good coastal bus service links Oranjestad with the high-rise beaches, though a hire car makes sense for a day exploring Arikok.
What currency and language are used in Palm Beach?
Currency: Aruban florin (AWG). Language: Dutch and Papiamento. Plugs: type A and B.
Who is Palm Beach best for?
Best for families, beach lovers and couples. In a phrase: breezy, dependable, resort-comfortable.