Boca Catalina vs Arashi Beach: Which One to Pick

Arashi Bay on the northwest coast of Aruba

Boca Catalina and Arashi are neighbors on the same northwest road. Both have calm water. Both have good snorkeling. The real differences are size, entry, parking, and how much you can comfortably do there for a whole day.

Quick comparison

Location: Boca Catalina is between Malmok and Arashi. Arashi is just past Malmok on the road to the California Lighthouse.
Size: Boca Catalina is a small bay. Arashi is a longer open beach.
Getting to the sand: Boca Catalina has steps down from the road. Arashi has a parking area close to the beach.
Parking: Along the main road at Boca Catalina. A large lot at Arashi, per the tourism office.
Services: MyArubaGuide lists no toilets, showers, or food at Boca Catalina. The tourism office lists a beach bar at Arashi.
Bus: Arubus names Arashi Beach as a destination on its L10 service.

The water

At Boca Catalina the water stays shallow a long way out, and MyArubaGuide says the morning has the lightest wind and clearest water. Arashi is officially described as calm, shallow, and clear. On windy days Arashi can get some waves, enough for bodyboarding. If your group includes nervous swimmers, either one works on a calm morning.

Snorkeling

Boca Catalina is a regular stop for snorkel tours. The action is along the rocky edges of the cove, and water shoes help. The tourism office lists trunkfish and sergeant majors here. You can also swim north into Catalina Cove for blue tangs and bar jacks.

Arashi is the gentler introduction, with a sandy bottom and small fish close to shore. The official page points snorkelers to the left side as you face the sea. Our Arashi snorkeling post goes deeper on where to go.

Space and crowds

A small cove fills up fast. Boat tours also pull into Boca Catalina at times, so expect some company in the water. Frommer's mentions horse manure from riding tours as a hazard here, so watch where you walk. Arashi has more room, and the official page describes it as quieter and more local than the resort-front beaches. Sundays are the exception. The tourism office says locals crowd in, so arrive early that day.

Shade and comfort

This is where the two beaches split for a full day. Boca Catalina has little to work with, and if you want shade you need to carry it down the steps yourself. For a two-hour snorkel stop, that is fine. For six hours with kids, it gets old quickly.

At Arashi you can reserve your shade. Our set is one big umbrella and two beach chairs, set up and anchored before you arrive, for $120.00 per set per day, all in. It is held under your name from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Need more seats? Add up to 4 extra chairs per set at $25 per chair per day.

You can do both

These two beaches are so close that you do not have to choose. Drive up, snorkel Boca Catalina early while it is calm, then settle in at Arashi for the rest of the day. Or leave your set in the middle of the day, go snorkel the cove, and return to your chairs. Your set stays yours until 5:00 PM.