Aruba - Adventure Guide to Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao - page 86

tours (like scuba diving without wearing a tank) and sea trek adventures
(similar to snuba, but with a watertight helmet instead of a breathing reg-
ulator and goggles). The ferry runs every half-hour from 10 am-6 pm daily;

297-582-4400.
Mangle Halto Beach is just south of Spanish Lagoon and its close-in reef
is part of the same superb formation that extends to De Palm Island.
Locals often picnic on the beach. The water is shallow, and nice for swim-
ming, but rocks make entry into the water a little tricky.
Roger's Beach is adjacent to the oil refinery south of San Nicolas, and
this is a turnoff for many. However, if you can overlook the smoke stacks
and ignore the occasional smell of petroleum, this is a fabulous beach. Too
bad the oil companies weren't concerned with environmental aesthetics
back in 1924. Nothing seems to have leaked into the sea, and the water is
fine for swimming and snorkeling. The beach itself is narrow, but the sand
is white, and there's a snack bar that brings in local bands on the weekend.
Boats belonging to local fishermen are anchored near the shore.
Baby Beach sits in a lovely lagoon at the island's southern tip, and, as its
name implies, it is an ideal swimming beach for children. The water is
shallow and calm; local families turn out on weekends to grill burgers and
listen to music on their boom boxes. During the week, the area is fairly
quiet. Strong swimmers and experienced snorkelers may want to go
beyond the protected lagoon to the outer reef where the coral and fish are
magnificent, but the water can be quite choppy. Jads Beach Shop sells
snacks, drinks, and ice cream. The shop also rents snorkel equipment dur-
ing business hours, Sunday-Friday, 9 am-5 pm;

297-582-6070.
As you round the southern tip of Aruba to the windward side of the island,
the beaches become dramatically beautiful and wild. The water's edge is
generally rocky, and the sand may be mixed with pebbles. Bachelors
Beach and Boca Grandi are typical windward beaches. Both are often
deserted, especially on weekdays, but you may see a few windsurfers, if the
water isn't too rough. Snorkeling is excellent, and some tours stop here
because of the magnificent elk horn coral on the protective reef, but the
current and surf are frequently too robust for all but the strongest
swimmers.
Boca Prins , inside the boundaries of Arikok National Park, is a popular
spot for picnicking and sand-dune sliding, though not for swimming. Wear
long pants if you plan to slide, and sneakers with good traction if you're
going down the rocky cliffs to the surging surf at the water's edge. Since
there are no paved roads, you will need a four-wheel-drive vehicle to reach
the dunes, but the scenery is worth the trip.
Dos Playa does indeed have two beaches, as the name suggests. Turtles
nest in the sand, and therefore vehicles are not allowed in the area. You
must leave your jeep at Boca Prins and walk about 15 minutes north along
the coast. The scenery is desert-stark and spectacular along the way.