While Aruba has its share of the wide, sandy beaches that the Caribbean is known for, it also offers a more rocky and rugged option: Malmok Beach. This thin strip of sand runs alongside, and sometimes around, jagged limestone and rocks, and it’s home to one of the best snorkeling spots on the island.
Catamaran sailors often stop at Malmok Beach for a few hours of snorkeling. You can also drive to the beach and wade into the water with your snorkel gear; you’ll easily find sea life a short distance offshore. Or try doing a backflip from the beach’s popular rope swing. Scuba divers will enjoy the beach’s proximity to reefs and theSS Antilla shipwreck. For landlubbers, all-terrain Segway tours of the beach are available.
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The beach boasts soft white sand, but it also has a lot of pebbles and stones.
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Beach huts are available for shade.
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Pack a snack and bring your own snorkel gear, because there aren’t many services available at Malmok Beach.
To visit Malmok Beach, take a catamaran or sailboat tour (many leave each day from Oranjestad) or travel there by car. If you aren’t renting a car while on Aruba, you can take a taxi to Malmok Beach; it’s only about 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) from resort-heavy Palm Beach. If you’re arriving by bus, it’s a 10-minute walk from the last stop on Malmok.
During early morning and late afternoon hours, the road to Malmok Beach is a popular spot for locals and tourists to bike and hike. The beach itself can become crowded during peak season (April to August), when an influx of snorkeling boat tours dock. To avoid the crowds, head to the beach early in the morning.
Baby Beach is one of the most popular spots among both locals and tourists in Aruba, thanks to its soft sand and bath water-like lagoon. In addition to stops for snorkeling and swimming, off-road guided tours typically include a stop at Baby Beach, along with other natural attractions. It’s a 45-minute drive from Palm Beach.
