Top 5 in the list ! This is a spectacular beach ! Clear waters and white shine sands , the crowds here it’s very chill and younger . Similar to eagle beach in that sense . Also the bar at the entrance it’s very welcoming and the people are super friendly and the prices of the food and chair rental are much cheaper than in other parts of the island !

Beach was super close to our hotel and we all loved hanging out there. The beach is great and the water is crystal clear! Loved grabbing a bucket of beers at the bar at the entrance.

This is the Northern part of Aruba, you can see Venezuela in the far end over the ocean. It's an open space to take pictures. There's a restaurant nearby. The lighthouse was not opened.

My wife and I hopped on a public bus not far from the cruise port and headed to the beach. There are guys there that will rent you chairs and umbrellas, but there are also little huts that provide shade that are free. If someone is using it, and there is still room, ask to share. If you're a cruise person, don't feel you need to buy an excursion, a round trip bus is $5, or for a bit more you can get a day pass. Beach was nice, but watch your footing as some areas have submerged rocks. Bathrooms and showers are $1.

A beautiful small bay, it's not crowded and it's a good snorkeling spot. The water is shallow and you can stand almost till the swimming line. We saw lots of different fish and very close to the shore.

Our favorite beach in Aruba! Beautiful turquoise and calm waters, no waves. Family friendly and relaxing vibe. Not that crowded. Drive a bit north for more parking spaces. The California Lighthouse is 5 minutes away by car.The bar staff is very friendly. The chill beach vibe is like no other.

This was the first beach we visited on our recent trip to Aruba. We arrived just before lunch and it was not super crowded. Plenty of parking available and the snack bar was great. The beach and the ocean were perfect that day and we had a great time at Arashi!

Really nice area to sit comfortably by the beach, but it's very rocky if you want to swim. There are a few areas with shade, some areas are fully rocky and the water hits it and comes to your feet where you're sitting.

Another gorgeous beach in Aruba! The waves can be tiny bit strong compared to other beaches in Aruba but family-friendly. I really like the restaurant on the beach where you can buy a nice beer and watch sunset on the beach. It's not a good place for snorkeling, though. There is plenty of free parking very close to the beach.

My family loved this beach because it has everything we want: quality sand for sculpting, bigger waves, and a beautiful snorkeling site to see a lot of colorful fish 🐠 also the beach has a good packing lot. If you’re looking for a beach that you can enjoy all day for the whole family, this is it.

Family friendly beach, away from the crowded Palm and Eagle beaches. Waves might feel rough right near the water's edge. The beach shack offers umbrella + two lounge chairs rental at US$35 for the day. It includes complimentary access to the shower and washrooms. (Otherwise, those are a dollar for each use.)

A perfect beach. $1 to use bathroom, chair and umbrella rentals available or bring your own. Beach bar on site. Parking lot is a bit small. Water is shallow. Fun to see the pelicans diving. Very relaxing time.

BEST beach on the island, not too many people and hotels like Palm, not as shallow as Baby, and just the right amount of peace and birds chirping if you walk away from the parking lot. It’s also the view you have from the California Lighthouse (and vice versa) AND on the Pelican Adventures tour if you take them.

This is becoming my favorite beach on the island. Snorkel and fins can be rented for $20. Friendly staff and excellent pastechis at the snack bar. Good snorkelling spot.

Fantastic beach. Great snorkelling experience no rough waters clear water lots of colourful fish. Easy access lots of parking too.

This was one of our favourite beaches in Aruba. The water is a striking blue and it's not overly crowded. You can also watch the pirate ships in the distance. There is a bus stop here which is helpful since taxis are almost impossible to get out here.

We saw a sunset here. It's very very clean and beautiful beach. It is secluded (less busy) as compared to other beaches in area. We took our beach chairs and sat relaxed for couple of hours. It's very refreshing.

By far our favorite beach on the island. Get there by 9 and you can probably get one of the free umbrellas/huts. Enough waves to satisfy the kids without being scary for the parents. Sand was soft, rocks were minimal, pelicans were plenty and entertaining. There is a paid restroom at the far end if needed.

We saw a sunset here. It's very very clean and beautiful beach. It is secluded (less busy) as compared to other beaches in area. We took our beach chairs and sat relaxed for couple of hours. It's very refreshing. There is huge parking slots and we can easily find parking for the car. We don’t need to park roadside. There is also a way just ahead of parking slot to park the car along side beach so you don’t have to walk a lot. There are lot of shacks along side beach to get your refreshments. And just fyi if you want to use restrooms keep cash available they charge 1$ even if you buying food from there.

My fave beach on the island! The sand is silky soft and the water is perfection. Watched wind surfers dance around the sunset tonight. Delightful

Love coming to this beach- a few palapas to choose from but you must get there early. Otherwise there are a few palm trees with ample shade. Parking fills up fast, but all the times I’ve arrived closer to noon I was able to get a spot. $1 to use the bathroom or shower

Caught a sunset here after visiting the California Lighthouse and the sunset was stunning. Parking was a little confusing as the beach wasn’t well marked. Plenty of space on the beach and it didn’t seem to be as busy as some of the other beaches.

Very cool shipwreck with an interesting history. Lots of swim-thru's for every level of diver, lots of gorgeous soft coral growth, and a few resident turtles to make even the snorkelers happy. Don't miss this wreck!

My favorite thing to do in Aruba! Awesome experience. Absolutely stunning and the crystal clear water adds to the experience. It can be done with a private charter through one of the hotels or as a group outing on one of the large boats. Just depends on what you are looking for.

Nice shallow dive perfect for pretty much all experience levels, we had no current which made it an even better dive for looking at some of the macro life, this anemone had a couple of shrimps you can barely make out in the picture and the sand bed had tons of life, including some very cool Jaw-fish, seen poking his yellow head in one of the pictures.

It was a great adventure make sure you wear sunscreen. The captain & crew were beyond friendly eye candy & the drinks we had were HEAVY on the liquor.

I was able to visit this shipwreck as one of three stops on a snorkeling catamaran cruise. It's about 60 feet down, so from a snorkeling viewpoint, it's a bit hazy. We saw a few varieties of tropical fish near the site. I think for this site, scuba diving would be a better way to explore it. From what I could see as a snorkeler, it was OK.

Highly recommend a snorkel trip or a submarine trip to see. ($40-$75PP)

this is like my favorite place on the planet. best scuba diving. The wreck is so huge and if you can dive, you should do that instead of snorkeling. the water is calm and I saw like six turtles. awesome would give six stars if I could

This was probably the best part of my birthday trip. Me and my party literally took over the entire boat. lol We had a blast. The crew was so cool and down to earth. Jumping off the boat was my favorite part. I love swimming and it's just something about the water in Aruba that makes your body feel so good. This will definitely be another place I visit on my next trip to Aruba.

Never disappoints!!!! Bring your water camera and take home the beauty to remember later. We do the Jolly Pirate every year and we love it! Truly breathtaking views in the crystal clear water.

We went on a organized snorkeling adventure to the Antilla Shipwreck with "Pelican Adventures". It was a good trip out there and the crew was very fun to be around. They first brought us over the wreck so that you could snorkel in that area. The ship is big 398.3 ft (121.4 m) so you will not miss it and it is sitting at about 60 ft (18.2 m) in the water. But depending on the lighting will depend on how well you will see the boat. After about an hour we left that area and moved closer to the shore and more shallow water about 10-15 feet (3-4 m). A lot of little fish and my wife spotted a sea turtle.

What a great dive! My son and myself had the best experience with our dive and seen amazing stuff.

Took the Palm Pleasure catamaran to the Antilla Shipwreck and definitely don’t forget the waterproof phone cover to catch a few images, mine are a little foggy but an awesome sight to see.

This spot was quite impressive. From the ship I took, you could snorkel along the entire ship which is not that far from the surface. Although I was able to touch it, my ears popped so I would recommend ear plugs. Scuba diving is available at the spot as well. The water is so fantastic to swim in all over the island of Aruba.

Beautiful views and a nice little climb. Go in the morning when it isn't as hot or as busy. Where comfortable shoes if you want to pay the $5 to climb to the top. It is worth the $5 and stairs. :) Wish we could have stayed to try out the restaurant there.

Cool stop when doing the Aruba sightseeing thing. Nice views of Arashi Beach and the sand dunes. It does get crowded by late morning.

Ordinary lighthouse. You can climb the narrow and sharp stairs to the top (not recommended for children under 10 years of age). From above there is a 360-degree panorama. Unfortunately, the viewpoint at the top of the lighthouse is entirely protected by a fine-mesh net, which makes it difficult to take a good photo. The view from the top is attractive, but there isn't much to see from there...

There are so many cool places to see in Aruba and this is one of them. Just don’t go see it but also walk up it if you can. The views are amazing. Make sure to walk out to the beaches. We rode our bikes here. It was a great ride.

So 5 bucks to walk to the top, another 15 for drone shots (not bad). The steps are super narrow going up. It's not BAD, but it's just...meh. It's a 15 - 20 min excursion, if you have teens they will likely they will conplain. Good photo ops, great view and history (crashed party boat... hilarious).

Nice experience. The upstairs can be more difficult in such heat, the way up are narrow but takes a maximum of 5 minutes and the view is worth it.

A 117 step walk to the top of the lighthouse provides panoramic views of this amazing island. You can see 70% of the island from the top. While it might be steep for some my kids made it up ok There is a food bus to treat yourself to snacks after you make the trip down from the top..

I enjoyed this place. The views are beautiful. It is a great place to take pictures. You can go into the lighthouse, but there were too many steps for me, especially on a hot day. And they had a food truck there that sold coconut drinks. I got mine in a coconut 🥥.

It is an ordinary light house. Steps to the top are steep, not recommended for small kids or old people. The view is nice but you won't make any nice pictures because of the protective mesh around the top. I highly recommend spending the $20 and have your pictures taken by a drone, including 1 video.

Totally fun. Perfect number of stairs. #wonderful view. Don’t leave w/o trying the fresh coconut water (ask nicely and tip … to have coconut split so you can eat flesh after) &/or mango ice pop - remember, buying local is #awesomeness !!

Went there as part of a cruise tour. Simple yet elegant lighthouse. You pay a small fee to climb a LOT of very small and steep stairs. The top is fully covered in metallic mesh, yet the view is awesome. Breathtaking at least.

Nice to see, I like historic sights accompanied with a plaque description of the history or significance. If you came without a tour guide you would just be seeing another lighthouse that you can’t climb. But our tour guide from De Palm Tours gave a little history so that made it worth the stop.

One of the best places to watch the sunset in Aruba. Not easy to get a good video/picture through the wiring though. Only 10 people allowed at the top for sunset so get there early. Can take some beers up there too while you're waiting

With advance reservation, lighthouse offers private dinner for two depending on availability. For those arriving by special guides and group tours, you can find a food/drink trailer stand before entering.

The California Lighthouse, just a short 10-minute drive from Palm Beach, is a captivating spot to witness a morning sunrise. Perched on a hillside, it provides a panoramic view of both sides of the island. I recommend bringing a coffee or a long sleeve shirt to combat the morning breeze. This scenic location offers a tranquil and breathtaking experience, perfect for early risers seeking a serene start to the day.

Popular tour spot. Some nice views. Didn't go up in the lighthouse but you can pay to do so.

Gorgeous little light house with a scenic view of the north west side of the island. The spiraling staircase is obviously very tight and the rope one holds onto going up is the grossest thing you’ll touch. 😂 Parking is right there so there isn’t like a hike to the lighthouse. It’s not crowded either which is wonderful.

Nestled along the picturesque shores of Aruba, the California Lighthouse stands as a beacon of serenity and charm. From the moment I arrived, I was captivated by the breathtaking views of the coastline and the tranquil ambiance that enveloped the area. The lighthouse itself is a marvel to behold, steeped in history and offering a glimpse into Aruba's rich maritime heritage. Its striking white facade contrasts beautifully against the azure skies, creating a postcard-perfect scene that is simply unforgettable. But beyond its visual appeal, what truly sets the California Lighthouse apart is the sense of tranquility it imparts to visitors. Surrounded by pristine natural beauty, I found myself immersed in a moment of peaceful contemplation, far removed from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Moreover, the staff at the California Lighthouse were incredibly welcoming and accommodating, ensuring that my visit was nothing short of exceptional. Their warmth and hospitality added an extra layer of enjoyment to my experience, making me feel truly welcomed and valued as a guest. Whether you're seeking a moment of solitude to admire the sweeping vistas or simply looking to connect with nature in a serene setting, the California Lighthouse is the perfect destination. It's a testament to the beauty of Aruba and a must-visit for anyone seeking solace amidst the splendor of the island.

Just awesome! This is a must visit place in Aruba, and you have to go to the top, even if you are scared 😰! The view is breathtaking 🌄! For $20 you can get a drone video and pictures, soooo worth it! We loved ours and got all the media immediately to share with friends and family! A+++++

This place is amazingly beautiful. The lighthouse itself is a photogenic landmark worthy of the visit. There is $5 charge to go in and also photos via drone from top of the lighthouse for additional fees

We did not go up in the lighthouse, but walked all around up on the hill. This is a great place to view most of the island. Sunsets are great here.

I have to tell y'all a story. This place is cool! I was not able to go all the way up to the top because time did not permit. Story time... Some of my family members and I came to Aruba for vacation. We took an all-day tour that allowed us to stop at the California lighthouse. The lighthouse is really nice and the view from the bottom of the lighthouse is nice so I'm pretty sure that the view at the top is even better. As we were standing by the restaurant in front of the lighthouse, I put my cell phone on the tripod and began to take pics of us. The wind (which is very strong) blew so strong and fast that it knocked my tripod and phone over shattering the glass on my phone. So the pics I'm going to share is right before the incident occured. Other than that, this is another place in which I wish that we had more time to spend there.

Beautiful light house on the most gorgeous island in the Caribbean. If you are lucky enough to visit Aruba, I highly suggest you check out the California lighthouse. It has a lot of history to the island. 🇦🇼

This lighthouse is located in Noord, Aruba the north end of the island. It is a must see landmark! The panoramic views are worth it! If you’re feeling adventurous take the 117 steps up to the top of the lighthouse. The cost is 5 dollars. They have snacks, fresh coconut juice and souvenirs.

This beach is just a few kilometers away from the Eagle beach (the nicest beach in Aruba, in my opinion), that's why I was so surprised to find out that it's not as clean (I'd even call it a little dirty). There was something floating in the water, and even the bottom was muddy or dirty. You could feel it when walking on it. It's also very busy with boats and sea jets in that area. Parking is difficult to find. We visited it once and never came back.

Beach is very big but there are a lot of hotels who put their sun beds. It is quite crowded and noisy. Water is not very shallow, it has some waves and flora. Parking is not very easy. I think the beach is mostly for the guests of those hotels.

This beach was amazing for families with beautiful beaches. There is a lot of activities and the atmosphere is wonderful. The beach staff were considerate and accommodating.

Palm Beach in Aruba is a dynamic coastal gem, offering more than just sun and sand. It's a hub of activity with a variety of water sports, numerous restaurants, bars, and shopping opportunities. If you're looking for a beach that combines relaxation with excitement, Palm Beach is the perfect destination. It's a lively and bustling area that caters to a range of interests, making it a must-visit spot in Aruba.

One of the best beaches in Aruba. Zero sea weed, powder white sand. Tons of food available. Special mention of Eduardos that has the BEST fruit bowls. The only Con is that this beach will probably be very busy since it shares itself with famous resorts. Lot of water sports activities are available here as well. Overall fab place to spend your day.

Very Nice beach Less wind here and warmer water than on Eagle beach But More crowded

Having visited all the beaches of Aruba, I can say that Palm Beach is the best, especially if you are a guest of one of the hotels of this beach. All the activities you want to do are there, bars and restaurants are really good and varied options, and one important thing is that it is close to the market, so after watching the beautiful sunset, you can head straight to the market and see the beautiful place. Enjoying music everywhere, singers and people dancing and having fun. Most of the beaches I visited are filled with old people who just want to relax, so it's not very fun for young people who want to have a crazy time partying and wasting. If you don't like crowded places and crazy people who want to dance and have fun, this is not the place you want to visit. It's quiet in the morning in a few places but a bit far from bars and restaurants.

Part of Aruba’s lure. Paradise. One Happy Island!

The Bluest water I've seen in my life. It is kind of crowded, but when you travel solo, that means safety, so I didn't mind.

Enjoyed this group at their airbnb. Cooked up a storm that included six breakfast, one bbq lunch and five dinners . The house was big and all amenities needed to enjoy a great vacation. Planned the weeks itinerary from jeep tour to massages, snorkeling adventure and did all their grocery shopping.

Amazing beach to visit especially during sunset

I absolutely loved this place! Your entry fee includes a bag of food for the animals and they give you a good amount. You’re only allowed to feed the four legged animals so don’t feed the birds, monkeys, etc. Don’t worry there are A LOT of animals to feed and they are as greedy as ever. They have donkeys, goats, sheep, deer, tortoises, monkeys, birds, snakes - you name it. This is a must in Aruba so go and enjoy!

Pros: -Lots of amazing animals (recommend the screaming goats and sheep) -Entry fee includes a big bag of mixed feed for the four-legged animals -It's huge; value for your money -There's a little drink shop in the middle Cons: -No signage for entry, we missed it as we drove past -Minimal to no signage for animals (didn't tell us the species or type, no "interesting facts", I think I saw one sign that said not to feed the monkeys, no directions to the bathroom) -No hand sanitising stations and no soap in the bathrooms -Some of the animals were alone in their pens and many had no water? Pro tips: -We found SO MUCH food on the ground near the pens. We used our paid food plus the carrots and food we found missed on the ground -Bring a hat and water as minimal shade -Bring wipes and hand sanitiser (seriously...)

Great for kids, especially. It's pretty small. You need maybe 30-60 mins to see it all. The best part about this zoo is that you get a cup with carrots at the entrance, and you get to feed the animals. Our favorite ones were the cute baby goats.

I visit only those animal gardens where animals are rescued. I'm not 100% sure that this is that case, pelicans were rescued, but I'm not sure about the rest. We went there to see Kangaroo but Kangaroo passed away 2 years ago. Entrance fee is 10 usd Pp, at least animals has nice and big place.

Great sanctuary of animals with an extremely friendly staff. I wish I wouldn’t have forgotten my apples, but the staff gave my family and I carrots and pellets to feed the multitude of 4-legged animals on site! 99% of the animals are extremely friendly and approached, while there are just a few that keep their distance (you can still get great pictures though)!

This is definitely a mixed bag… on the one hand, we had a great time feeding the hoof stock (four legged) and they were almost all extremely gentle with taking the food from us so that I didn’t worry about my young daughter giving them treats from her open palm. But my impression was that this place cares more about ATVs than animals. In fact, I missed the turn into the parking area because I mistook the place for a storage yard for a fleet of ATVs. There were row upon row of them out front and more in the back of the animal enclosure area. We saw a few workers milling while we ambled about the animal yard but none of them seemed to care that we were there for the animals. Rather they were apparently busy with other needs of the place. And another downside- there is little to no interpretation of what these animals are or why they were there- no story at all to give you an idea of how they were rescued or why it’s important that they were. Not even any name placards or identification of species with only a couple exceptions! Granted, their website indicates a desire to upgrade their facilities, but my experience suggested that was secondary goal to keeping the ATV tours going (I’m sure there’s a lot of capital locked up in all those machines…). But again, I’m torn… I believe many of these animals may actually be better off in a rescue center than whatever alternatives they faced, and it was truly delightful seeing so many up close. But really, I think they could and should do better. The monkeys were thirsty. The birds looked distressed. And what really clenched it for me that the animals are secondary to whatever other business they have going was that the hand washing station at the exit was utterly neglected. It’s obvious that the animal “garden” is not foremost in their minds when even the basic needs of their guests (paying public) who came there for that experience of feeding animals are excluded from their thinking. I mean, after giving your hand to 50 slobbering goats and pigs you’ll want to clean your fingers with soap. Come on, Philip!!

What a great experience! We are visiting Aruba and wanted a different day activity instead of the beach again. We spent two hours at Philip’s Animal Garden, and my kids had a blast. It was $10 for each of the adults in our family, which included entry & a cup of food for the animals. It was enough food for us to feed all the four legged friends that we wanted to! We saw a plethora of animals: camel, monkeys, donkeys, horses, ocelot, different birds, turtles, pigs, and more. We would definitely recommend this place for families visiting Arbua!

What an incredible experience! There is a surprising amount of animals here. From donkeys, to monkeys. If you’re in Aruba, this is a must see stop. You can purchase food to feed to some of the animals which was super cool. Highly recommend

What a wonderful place! We loved visiting all the rescued animals and being able to feed and pet most of them was such a treat! They give you a bag of food with your admission. My son said this was the highlight of his trip to aruba!

I have never felt so utterly disgusted with the human race as I did at this, "sanctuary" or " rescue". In order to be considered either of these, breeding needs to STOP, they are letting them ALL breed freely. The enclosures are FILTHY, as seen in photos. Excrement everywhere, no water, little food. An emaciated baby goat was in with a pig, no mother goat in sight. The monkeys were caged alone in very very small enclosures alone and they looked stressed. There was a lone ocelot in a cage with no food or water pacing back and forth in distress. This was nothing but Tiger King in Aruba. Absolutely do not recommend supporting this business. Humans are abominable.

I really don't know what to make of this place. It describes itself as an animal rescue, but I would be very surprised if all the animals here are actually rescues. I saw plenty of infant animals, which makes me think they're breeding them. It seems more like a combination rescue zoo / traditional zoo. For the most part, the animals looked well cared for. I saw some comments that some of the cages seemed small, but that's typical of rescue zoos (even well regarded ones in the US). Most of the animals seemed in good health, but there were some that seemed injured or under stress. Again, that's not uncommon in zoos that focus on animal rescue. Otherwise, it was a good experience. They give you a bag of food when you walk in, and you can feed most of the four legged animals. I went on a Sunday morning and the place was not crowded at all.

Such a beautiful place with so many animals to see! Will definitely be visiting again. Getting to give the animals a snack was such a fun treat!

This animal rescue center is really nice for doing what they do, and their setup is great to visit not just to support the cause, but to enjoy oneself with a great variety of animals! The admission of $10 US gets you a feeding bag to give to whatever animals (mostly) that you want, and it's easy to get around the site. There's also a cafe there if you get under the heat too much!

$10 entry fee for a big bag of carrots and pellets to feed the 4 legged creatures (except for the monkeys lol). Saw a great variety of wildlife - ocelots, camel, donkeys, goats, pigs, turtles ❤️, ostriches, emus, macaws, parakeets, and more! Worth the visit for sure.

Good experience. All visitors are given a little bag of snack for the four legged animals. It's not a zoo but it has a good amount of animals. The donkeys are very friendly. I was especially fascinated with the giraffe and the large about is turtles. The peacocks are so very beautiful It's a place I'd recommend

Phillips Animal Garden will only make you sad. I wish I could be as oblivious as some of the people giving this place good reviews. I wish I could be so unaware and have a good time. These animals don't really seem well taken care of. Granted, they have a decent variety and the entry fee is reasonably low at $10. Still, the animals are clearly very hungry, there's no water in most of their bowls, and the enclosures are too small for some of the animals. I couldn't even bring myself to finish it just from how it made me feel. On top of that, the entire place is filthy. There's practically no hand wash stations and they give you one bag of feed for ALL the animals. I guess the goats can eat the same thing as the ostriches or donkeys? Your money goes towards buying new ATVs for them to rent out. It's a shame. Allocating money to more rentals instead of using SOME of it to tend to the animal's care. You'll see rotten legs, open wounds, and a bunch of sad animals. I'm not an animal activist or anything like that but it's really disheartening. I'd recommend the Donkey Sanctuary over this. You can feel the difference in the animals right away.

10$ to enter. you can donate more but they do not do anything with these poor animals. They do not even clean cages do not fix buildings and have no map made up of what the animal is. No fresh water for these poor animals. I went around 2 pm. They should be doing hourly check in with these animals in this heat. Give them more attention. They had 7 kids at the front but no one inside doing anything with the animals! SO SAD. Atleast make sure they have a nice and clean home fresh water. Water should be changed morning afternoon night. And repeat everyday.

We had a lot of fun visiting the animal sanctuary. The admission was $10 per person and you receive a mixed bag of pellet food and carrots. There are a lot of animals to see (goats, donkeys, horses, a camel, turtles, etc). There were even some stray dogs roaming around. If we were to go again I would try and bring some other fruits and veggies to give to the animals. However, I do agree with some that the sanctuary was very sad. There were some animals all alone in their cages and some looked malnourished.