Eagle Beach or Palm Beach Aruba: 7 Tips to Help You Choose

Eagle Beach is wide and long and has beautiful white sand. It consistently rates as one of the top beaches according to TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards.

It’s known for its cool fofoti trees, which are these twisted-looking trees that grow in the sand. There is ample parking and palapas for shade.

The water can get a little “wavy” in comparison to Palm Beach.

Palm Beach is yet another gorgeous white sand beach. It is 2 miles long and is dotted with palm trees. I found out later the palm trees were imported when the high-rise hotels were built.

Expect super calm turquoise waters. Perfect for swimming and bobbing in the ocean. Not a lot of waves.

Eagle Beach has a handful of restaurants scattered around—not a massive selection, but what’s there is top-notch.

Some standout spots that people consistently rave about include Passions on the Beach, Screaming Eagle, and The Kitchen Table.

Palm Beach, on the other hand, offers just about every type of cuisine you can think of at various price points.

Whether you’re craving Mexican, Italian, Japanese, Lebanese, BBQ, or fresh seafood, you’ll find it here. Even the pickiest eaters should have no trouble finding something they love.

Eagle Beach is considered the “low-rise” area and is composed mainly of boutique hotels and condos.

Some favorites include:

• Manchebo Beach Resort & Spa
• Oceania Residences
• Azure Beach Residences
• Amsterdam Manor Beach Resort
• Adults-only Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort, which is the #1 rated hotel in Aruba.

If you stay in the northern end of Eagle Beach, there are no beachfront properties and you will have to walk across a road to get to the beach.

Palm Beach is located in the “high rise” area. This is where you will find all the big-name chain hotels like the Ritz-Carlton, Marriott, Hyatt, Holiday Inn, and Hilton.

These hotels have prime beachfront locations.  

There is an exception to the Palm Beach chain hotels, and that’s the charming Boardwalk Boutique Hotel.

It’s not right on the beach, but it is only a short walk to their dedicated section of beach next to the Ritz-Carlton.

We stayed there, and it’s truly an oasis from the bigger crowds.

There is a striking difference between the ambiance of Eagle Beach and Palm Beach.

Because Eagle Beach is wide and there are no beachfront properties on the northern end, it immediately feels less crowded. Everyone is able to spread out and find their little section in paradise.

It’s known for having a relaxed, quiet vibe.

On the other hand, Palm Beach is extremely crowded. You have high-rise hotel after hotel along the prime beachfront, and they cram all the chairs and umbrellas close together to accommodate everyone.

Palm Beach is also where all the action is in terms of water sports, shops, restaurants, and nightlife. It is hopping.

Eagle Beach does have a few restaurants within walking distance, but for most dining options, you’ll probably need to grab a cab or drive—many of the popular spots are in Oranjestad or Palm Beach.

On the other hand, if you stay in Palm Beach, you’ll have endless dining choices just steps away. The main strip is packed with restaurants offering a wide range of cuisines, making it easy to try somewhere new every night.

Overall, I’d say Eagle Beach tends to be slightly less expensive than Palm Beach.

That’s mostly because Eagle Beach has some great condo-style accommodations, making it an affordable choice—especially if you’re traveling as a family.

Quick heads-up: You won’t find amazing snorkeling directly at Eagle Beach or Palm Beach.

But don’t worry—Aruba does have fantastic snorkeling spots if you know exactly where to look.

If you decide to stay at Eagle Beach, you’ll be closer to a gem called Mangel Halto. If you choose Palm Beach, you’ll be just a short drive from the excellent snorkeling at Catalina Cove and the Tres Trapi turtles.

My husband and I absolutely love snorkeling, so we explored every top spot in Aruba. Check out my article below to see our favorites!

When my husband and I were planning our trip, I kept going back forth and forth between Eagle Beach and Palm Beach Aruba.

To compare the two, I made up a fun infographic summarizing the differences.

Tough choice, right?

There are pros and cons when you are trying to make the choice between Eagle Beach or Palm Beach Aruba.

If you are seeking a relaxed environment on a world-class beach and don’t mind driving or taking a taxi to dinner, then Eagle Beach is your place.

If you want to stay at a gorgeous beach and be where all the action (and crowds) are, then stay at Palm Beach.

Because we stayed at the Boardwalk Boutique Hotel, I felt we had the best of both worlds. We were slightly off the beaten path in the Palm Beach area but were within walking distance to all the great restaurants.

Had we not stayed at the Boardwalk, our choice for Eagle Beach would have definitely been the Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort.

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Are you Team Palm Beach or Team Eagle Beach?

Let me know in the comments below!