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Palapa Aruba — Beach Umbrella & Two Chairs

Shade reserved in your name at Eagle Beach or the Hyatt. $100 a day.

Book Direct — from $100 What it involves

Palapa Aruba is a beach umbrella and two chairs, reserved in your name. They are set up and waiting at Eagle Beach or at the Hyatt on Palm Beach.

Why a Palapa Aruba beach umbrella is not a luxury

If you have not been to Aruba before, this sounds like one. It is not.

The free palapas on the public beaches are taken by about half past six in the morning. People walk down in the dark to put towels on them.

Meanwhile, Aruba in the middle of the day is punishing without shade. The usual alternative is hauling your own umbrella down the sand and fighting it into the wind.

How it pairs with snorkeling

Better than it looks. You want shade to come back to between swims, because the sun does not ease off.

Eagle Beach is also about twelve minutes from the Malmok and Boca Catalina entries. So you can snorkel early and be under shade by nine.

What it costs

It is $100 a day plus 16% tax, from 10 AM to 4 PM. All ages, and you keep the same spot every day you book.

More beach options sit under beach rentals, and the Aruba Tourism Authority covers the beaches themselves.

Family friendly
Bookable

Other trips worth the morning

Same island, different reason to get on a boat.

Isabella Private Catamaran — 3-Hour Charter Direct

Isabella Private Catamaran — 3-Hour Charter

The whole boat for three hours, up to 12 guests. $275 holds it.

3 hours
From $825 for the boat
Book Direct
Booked direct with the operator
Malmok Charters — 3-Hour Private Boat Charter Direct

Malmok Charters — 3-Hour Private Boat Charter

Three hours, your own boat and skipper. $180 reserves it.

3 hours
From $900 for the boat
Book Direct
Booked direct with the operator
Aruba Jeep Tour — Private Full Day, Arikok & Natural Pool Direct

Aruba Jeep Tour — Private Full Day, Arikok & Natural Pool

Private full-day jeep for up to four. $140 holds the date.

Full day
From $700 for the jeep
Book Direct
Booked direct with the operator
Sail, Snorkel, Swim, and Swing! Direct

Sail, Snorkel, Swim, and Swing!

The four-hour Jolly Pirates sail with three snorkel stops and the rope swing.

4 hour sail
From $98 per person
Book Direct
Booked direct with the operator
Aruba Parasailing — Skyview Watersports, Palm Beach Direct

Aruba Parasailing — Skyview Watersports, Palm Beach

Palm Beach parasailing, daily 10 AM – 4 PM. $20 holds your flight.

Daily 10 AM – 4 PM
From $70 per person
Book Direct
Booked direct with the operator
Neon-lit bar front on the San Nicolas nightlife strip in Aruba after dark Direct

San Nicolas Red Light District Night Tour — Round Trip Hotel Pickup

San Nicolas after dark, with round-trip hotel pickup and a driver.

Evening
From $385 for the group
Book Direct
Booked direct with the operator
Aruba Mobile Spa — Massage at Your Hotel or Villa Direct

Aruba Mobile Spa — Massage at Your Hotel or Villa

A therapist comes to you. 25% reserves the appointment.

Book Direct
Booked direct with the operator
Afternoon Snorkel Adventure Direct

Afternoon Snorkel Adventure

Three hours, afternoon departure, snorkeling without the early alarm.

3 hour adventure
From $76 per person
Book Direct
Booked direct with the operator
Plan the rest of it

Book the day around it

The tours worth paying for, somewhere to sleep nearby, and a car to reach the reefs that have no bus.

Isabella Private Catamaran — 3-Hour Charter Direct

Isabella Private Catamaran — 3-Hour Charter

The whole boat for three hours, up to 12 guests. $275 holds it.

3 hours
From $825 for the boat
Book Direct
Booked direct with the operator
Sail, Snorkel, Swim, and Swing! Direct

Sail, Snorkel, Swim, and Swing!

The four-hour Jolly Pirates sail with three snorkel stops and the rope swing.

4 hour sail
From $98 per person
Book Direct
Booked direct with the operator
Afternoon Snorkel Adventure Direct

Afternoon Snorkel Adventure

Three hours, afternoon departure, snorkeling without the early alarm.

3 hour adventure
From $76 per person
Book Direct
Booked direct with the operator

Where to stay near the water

The reefs worth an early start are spread from Malmok to San Nicolas. Staying on the right side of the island saves you an hour of driving at dawn.

Search Aruba hotels

You will need a car

Mangel Halto, Tres Trapi and Baby Beach have no practical bus route. A small automatic is enough for every site on this page.

Rent a car in Aruba

Everything else on the island

Restaurants, beaches, itineraries and the rest of the trip, from our sister site.

Aruba travel guide
Free guide

The Aruba Snorkeling Guide

Every spot on the island with the honest version: where to park, where to get in, what you will actually see, and the mornings worth setting an alarm for.

One email with the guide, then occasional Aruba snorkeling notes. Unsubscribe any time.