- Swimming
- Good — calm and shallow
- Snorkelling
- Poor
- Families
- Yes
- Parking
- Free
- Facilities
- Beach bars and restaurants, restrooms, chair rental
- Crowds
- Busy on cruise days
- Wind
- Moderate
- Water
- Calm; planes overhead
- Best time
- Late afternoon; any day without a ship in port
Surfside is the beach between Oranjestad and the airport: a calm, sandy strip with a couple of beach clubs, a lagoon with a small cove, and aircraft on final approach a few hundred metres away. It will never win a beauty contest against Eagle Beach, but for cruise passengers with a few hours, or anyone with a late flight, it is the most convenient swim on the island.
✈️ Close to the airport and cruise port
Pick up a car at the airport with our partner Triple D, or join a private island tour from here.
Reserve a carPrivate toursTop-rated catamaran and snorkel sails
Swimming and water conditions
The water is shallow, calm and warm, with a protected lagoon that suits children. The sand is coarser than Eagle Beach.
Facilities, shade and parking
Beach clubs rent chairs and serve food and drinks, and there are restrooms and showers. Parking is free. It is a 20-minute walk or a five-minute taxi from the cruise terminal, and the airport is next door.
For cruise passengers
If your ship is in port for the day and you want a beach without booking a tour, Surfside is the closest proper beach to the cruise terminal. Head southeast along the waterfront road (L.G. Smith Boulevard) past downtown: it is roughly 2 km, about a 25-minute walk in the heat, or a five-minute taxi ride. Taxis wait at the terminal and charge fixed fares, so agree the price before you get in.
- Go when your ship docks, not at midday: the beach fills up quickly on busy cruise days.
- Bring cash or a card for chairs, umbrellas and drinks at the beach clubs.
- Allow plenty of time to get back for all-aboard: the walk back is flat but hot.
Want a more beautiful beach in the same time? A taxi to Eagle Beach takes 10-15 minutes. Prefer something organised? See the Aruba cruise port guide for shore excursions that fit a port day.
The beach next to Aruba airport
Surfside is also the beach people mean when they search for “Aruba airport beach”. Queen Beatrix International Airport is right next door, and planes come in low over the water, which makes it a favourite with plane spotters. It is the best place to spend a few hours on departure day: check out of your hotel, swim, have lunch at a beach club and take a short taxi to the terminal. Remember that US-bound flights need about three hours for preclearance; see our Aruba airport guide.
Where to eat nearby
The beach clubs on the sand, or downtown Oranjestad five minutes away: see where to eat in Oranjestad.
Map
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Hotels near Surfside Beach
Compare live rates and availability for stays in Oranjestad. Prices match booking direct.
Check live hotel ratesTours near Surfside Beach
🚗 Need a car for this? Rent from our local partner Triple D: unlimited mileage, tax included, airport pick-up, from $50/day. See cars and prices →
