Chillin' on Boca Catalina Beach in Aruba

Starting from Aruba’s northwestern side, Boca Catalina is a very short bus ride just south of gorgeous Arashi Beach. Boca means “mouth” in Spanish, and the beach here does somewhat form a gentle yawn around the warm, shallow waters. My husband and I found Boca Catalina to have the best snorkeling on Aruba, though we didn’t spend as much time at Malmok Beach as we would have liked.

A school of colorful fish at Boca Catalina in Aruba

Boca Catalina has a lovely reef that’s popular with the island’s catamarans, sail boats and even pirate ship tours. It’s still very quiet and relaxed though, especially since there are generally very few speed boats. Closer to shore, you’ll find yourself in shallow water that’s not much more than 6-7 feet deep. There are plenty of fish here to keep you occupied (huge schools of fish will surround you!) But, when it’s particularly windy, the water can be choppy and the sand is kicked up quite a bit on the bottom, making the visibility in the more shallow areas a bit murky at times.

Swim out a good 200 feet though and you’ll be in 15-20 feet of water — this is where you should be for the best snorkeling.  The water here is very clear, the currents are not strong, and if you hover over the “dark spots” (where the reefs are), you’ll be able to admire more fish than you’ll know what to do with. If you don’t have an underwater camera, think about getting one before you go — it’s totally worth it. We saw starfish, barracudas, flounders and all sorts of tropical looking fish. Some of them can be a little mouthy at times, so watch the fingers! When you’re done with snorkeling for the day, don’t leave the beach without scouring the shoreline for shells – your efforts will be rewarded here.

IF YOU GO: Like most of Aruba’s beaches that are outside of the hotel areas, Boca Catalina doesn’t have restrooms, but the restaurants and hotels of the High Rise area and Palm Beach are a five minute bus ride away.  Hop on the Arubus for $1.30 one way or $2.60 round-trip. Take advantage of the shady palapas – have a beer and fall asleep to the sounds of gently rolling waves. Paradise.

Photos: Jenny Bengen-Albert