A Day at Boardwalk Beach on Aruba’s Iconic Palm Beach

8:00 am grab a leisurely breakfast and your favorite morning brew at The Coco Café

8:55 am collect your beach bag, apply and bring sunscreen, hat, cover-up, Boardwalk water bottles and cooler from your casita

9:00 am pick up fresh beach towels at the Front Desk in the hotel Lobby, and while there, have a booster shot filled with vitamins to help boost your immune system

9:05 am in the mood for a leisurely stroll, then walk towards the end of the parking lot and make a quick stop at the Join the Pipe water station to fill your complimentary water bottles with Aruba’s fresh water, and fill your cooler with ice, then head out and walk to the beach

Not in the mood to walk, or brought too much beach ‘gear’ with you to carry across the street? Ask Chichi’s driver to take you to Boardwalk Beach in our complimentary shuttle

9:10 am arrive on Boardwalk Beach and find your complimentary reserved palapa and lounge chairs

9:15 am take your first plunge into the soothing Caribbean Ocean

9:30 am let the sun and Aruba’s refreshing trade winds gently dry your swimwear and skin as you make a stroll on the beach, checking out what Palm Beach has to offer

10:30 am lounge and chill on your lounge chair in the comfortable shade of your palapa

12:00 noon time for some lunch – No need to move - Simply order your favorite bites or smoothies from your lounge chair, just ask the beach attendant and The Coco Café will deliver to you. Want to explore? Palm beach also offers plenty of other options, you could walk over to either Ritz Carlton, Marriott or Pelican Pier plus many more.  

1:00 pm perfect time for a little after lunch lazy snooze, just give in and relax

2:00 pm time to wake up with our complimentary cold towel service followed by a refreshing swim in the ocean, or try something more active like a paddle session on a SUP board, available for rent at Vela Aruba, with an added bonus of your Boardwalk discount. 

4:00 pm head back with Chichi to Boardwalk Boutique Hotel to join our poolside Happy Hour with Caribbean-infused cocktails, fun playlists and mingle-moments with other guests

6:00 pm back in your casita to freshen up for the evening, after a sun-kissed, rejuvenating beach day

Got inspired? Below we collected the most frequently asked questions about Boardwalk Beach, our beach service and Palm Beach, Aruba, so you will have all you need to know at your fingertips, in preparation for your beach vacation in Aruba.

How did Palm Beach Aruba get its name?

Palm Beach in Aruba found its origin in 1917 when date and coco palms were planted along the ocean in the northern part of the island. Soon the area became known for its date and coco plantations, and the abundance of palm trees inspired the local community to name this beach strip Palm Beach.

Since the late 1950’s when both aviation and tourism took flight Aruba’s Palm Beach became the most sought-after address for a beach vacation in the Caribbean. Today, Palm Beach is synonymous for Aruba’s high rise hotel area where resorts from international brands like Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt and RIU dominate the skyline.

Towards the far tip of Palm Beach’s magnificent two mile (3.2 km) stretch of powdery sand beach, the dedicated beach area with reserved seating for Boardwalk hotel guests, is as secluded and tranquil as the hidden gem Boardwalk Boutique Hotel itself.

What is Boardwalk Beach?

Boardwalk Boutique Hotel Aruba is situated just outside the high-rise hotel area and sits on a dreamy, hidden lot across the street from Palm Beach on the terrain of a former coconut palm plantation. Although Boardwalk is not located ocean-front, Boardwalk’s hotel guests are still offered a most comfortable and exclusive beach experience on Boardwalk Beach. You will find Boardwalk Beach on the quieter, most northern tip of Palm Beach, closest to Ritz Carlton’s beach area and Aruba’s surf mekka Fisherman’s Huts. Beach amenities and services are offered complimentary to Boardwalk’s hotel guests on Boardwalk Beach, such as free beach huts and lounge beds. Reservations for palapas and chairs can be made 24 hours in advance at no additional costs.

Is there public beach access in Aruba?

Yes. All beaches in Aruba are public beaches, which means every person has free access to any beach on the island, including Palm Beach. As mentioned before, almost every hotel brand under the sun has an ocean front resort on Palm Beach. And just like all other Palm Beach hotels, Boardwalk Boutique Hotel offers a dedicated beach area with reserved lounge chairs, beach huts (palapas) and guests services that are exclusively available to hotel guests. Locals or other non-hotel guests might join you on Boardwalk Beach but can’t use the Boardwalk owned and managed lounge chairs, hammocks, palapas, beach shower and other beach facilities that are exclusively offered to Boardwalk guests and included in your stay.

How do I get to Boardwalk Beach?

From Boardwalk Boutique Hotel it is a short five-minute walk, or a quick and easy two-minute shuttle ride to Boardwalk Beach in our complimentary, cute golf cart named Chichi. Boardwalk Beach is located on the northern side of Palm Beach, in between the beach areas dedicated for Marriott and Ritz Carlton guests. Boardwalk Beach is situated directly adjacent to watersport vendor and local surf shop Vela Aruba. The walk from the hotel to Palm Beach is very straight forward. You can cross the road safely by using the marked crosswalk and follow the paved street in between the Marriott and Ritz Carlton parking lots. At the end of this short street, you will see Boardwalk Beach on Aruba’s Palm Beach right in front of you.

How long does it take me to get to Palm Beach?

Although Boardwalk Boutique Hotel Aruba is not located ocean-front, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you are further removed from the ocean than let’s say a guest staying in the far corner on the 8th floor of a large resort on Palm Beach. Staying at Boardwalk means you can skip endless hallways, elevator rides, and most importantly: you don’t have to set your alarm at 4 am to secure a beach hut (palapa) on the beach or stand in hours-long lines to be appointed a lounge chair on the beach. All you need to do is either grab a free, 2-minute shuttle ride to Palm Beach, or just cross the street and reach the white sands of Palm Beach and its turquoise ocean waters in a short five-minute walk. Come to think of it: a few minutes to reach the beach, isn’t all that bad.

What is included in the beach service for Boardwalk guests?

Boardwalk offers all the extra perks, amenities and services to make your beach day in Aruba the perfect one.

• Complimentary rides to the beach with “Chichi”, our electric golf cart
• Hammocks for the extra relaxing Caribbean vibes
• Complimentary palapas and much sought-after shade on Aruba’s sun-kissed beach days
• Reservation system that lets you sleep in, no lines at 4 am in the morning to secure your beach spot (you read that right, it’s a thing…)
• Food and beverage service on the beach provided by The Coco Café
• Super comfy lounge chairs
• Complimentary cooler to bring with you to the beach; easy to fill with your favorite drinks and snacks; keep it cool with ice from our ice machine
• Vela Aruba right next door with special offers and discounts for Boardwalk guests

How do I secure a reserved palapa on Boardwalk Beach?

Boardwalk Boutique Hotel offers an indulging beach service with beach huts and sunbeds in a quiet and relaxing area on Palm Beach Aruba. These complimentary lounge beds and beach huts (palapas) can be reserved one day ahead of time at the front desk, or through our web app. Please note that reservations have to be made a day in advance in order to process your beach reservation. Reserved palapas have clear signs with the last name of the hotel guest attached to the pole of the beach hut. Beach chairs and beach huts that are not claimed and visibly occupied by 10:30 am will be released for the use of other hotel guests, that came to Boardwalk Beach without reservations.

Which activities are available at Boardwalk Beach and Palm Beach?

The water right in front of Boardwalk Beach is extremely calm and shallow, and marked as a dedicated swim zone where motorized watersports have no access. That makes this ocean zone well-suited for SUP paddle boarding, kayaking and swimming. At Vela Aruba, the watersports vendor adjacent to Boardwalk Beach, hotel guests can book all kinds of other water activities. Ask for specials and discounts for Boardwalk guests.

On a short walk from Boardwalk Beach you will find Vela’s Wind- and Kitesurf Center where you can take lessons and learn to kiteboard or windsurf. If you are an experienced surfer, simply join the locals on the water and rent your gear from Vela or any of the other watersport and surf centers located on Aruba’s number one surf beach: Fisherman’s Huts.

All along the coastline of Palm Beach you will find all kinds of other watersports vendors offering all kinds of activities and adventures in Palm Beach. Some ideas:

• deep sea fishing with a local fisherman and enjoying your own fresh catch for lunch or dinner;
• catamaran sailing, with romantic choices such as sunset sails and dinner cruises, or adventurous and fun-seeking sails such as snorkel tours, and rope-swing booze cruises.

Lastly, one of our personal favorites: make a relaxing beach walk at either sunrise or sunset to clear your mind, take in breathtaking views and stretch your legs. Especially around sunrise and early morning, you will have the 2-miles of white sands of Palm Beach almost entirely to yourself.