You won't find beaches lined with palm trees in Aruba; rather, look for the hardy but stooped Divi Divi tree, which always bow southwest in acknowledgement of the trade winds that blow across Aruba from the west. Casual beachgoers can find the calm, sandy shores they seek on the island's west side, while more adventurous souls can head east for pounding surf of Dos Playa. The Visit Aruba site can also provide more details on these and other sandy sanctuaries:
Palm Beach
© Aruba Tourism Authority
Named one of the world's best beaches, and the best family beach by The Travel Channel, Palm Beach also is home to many of Aruba's big hotels and resorts. The resorts line the sand, there's shopping, movies, and nightclubs just across the street, and most major watersports and tours operate from here, including pirate ship adventures, jet skiing, and much more.
Boca Catalina
© Arubabeaches via Flikr Creative Commons
Eagle Beach
© Sergei Melki via Flikr Creative Commons
Baby Beach
© Arubaaruba via Flikr Creative Commons
Located on the island's less-traveled east side, Baby Beach is a popular spot for families looking to get away from the crowds; it has clear, shallow waters that are perfect for wading with kids. The only drawback is visual -- an oil refinery looms in the background, spewing smoke high into the blue Caribbean sky.
Hadicurari Beach
© Steph T via Flikr Creative Commons
