10 Best Beaches in Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao: Explore exclusive shores on an ABC Islands private yacht charter
Explore the best beaches in Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao you can visit by yacht, from Aruba’s white-sand coves to Bonaire’s tranquil pink shores and Curaçao’s turtle-filled bays. This curated guide reveals the region’s most secluded beaches, perfect for tender landings, and the private, artfully crafted moments only a private yacht charter with Edmiston can provide.
Discover an ABC Islands yacht charter: The Caribbean at its most refined
The islands of Aruba, Bonaire & Curaçao, in the westernmost Leeward Antilles, are among the Caribbean’s best yacht-friendly destinations thanks to their calm bays, effortless tender access and infinite beaches ideal for private beach landings.
Together they make up the ABC Islands, a trio of Dutch-linked isles that lie just 40 miles from South America and blend European culture with Caribbean warmth as well as lots of opportunities for world-class diving, snorkelling and elevated luxury experiences along its pristine shores.
With the islands lying outside the Caribbean’s main hurricane belt, chartering a yacht here is as easy as ABC at any time of year. Here is our guide to the top 10 best beaches in Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao.
1. Eagle Beach, Aruba – Best beach for families
Among the best beaches in Aruba for yacht charters is this safe beach known for its dazzling white sands and broad, quiet shoreline.
The calm conditions here make it the best beach in Aruba for families. Your yacht crew can arrange for private morning setups, ideal for young, early risers, when you can have the beach to yourselves and enjoy shade beneath the beach’s windswept fofoti trees as you look out for some of the turtles who nest nearby.
With smooth tender landings, a visit to Eagle Beach offers an effortless transition from onboard comfort to bonding beach fun, with plenty of space for sandcastle competitions and beach volleyball tournaments. The protected waters are also well suited to beginner paddleboard and kitesurfing sessions.
2. Arashi Beach, Aruba – Best beach for snorkelling
Another of the best beaches in Aruba, Arashi Beach is defined by its crystal-clear waters, ease of access and outstanding snorkelling. The abundance of sea turtles and tropical fish swimming close to the surface makes it a contender for best beach to snorkel in Aruba – though it does require some swimming to reach the snorkelling area, so not ideal for absolute beginners.
With calm anchorage zones, Arashi Beach is also a popular place for toy deployment and yacht guests often choose to try out their Scuba diving gear here due to the proximity to the Antilla shipwreck. Head to the beach bar and shaded huts early evening and soak up the relaxed ambience as you enjoy your sundowners from the west-facing viewpoint.
3. Baby Beach, Aruba – Best beach for couples
Aruba yacht charters are all about escapism in the most divine destinations and this secluded lagoon in a tranquil bay is a real hit with guests looking to inject a little romance into their yacht charter.
The half-moon shaped cove, with its translucent and turquoise waters which lap the white, sandy shore, is quite possibly the best beach in Aruba for couples. Ask your captain to arrange a private tender drop-off in the morning before the other guests arise for some one-on-one time as you walk hand-in-hand in the shallows.
4. Boca Prins Beach – Best beach for rugged beauty
In the northeast of Aruba, the Arikok National Park is home to dramatic land formations – the result of volcanic activity – that make for thrilling 4×4 adventures and guided hikes. You can also view cave paintings by the indigenous Arawak people that date back thousands of years.
There is a wild, untamed feel about the place that extends to its beaches. The unique desert-meets-the-coast landscape is best seen at Boca Prins Beach where nature’s unrelenting force can be seen in the crashing waves and carved rocks as they meet the white sand dunes but swimming is forbidden.
Take in the raw beauty of the place from the sand before asking your captain to take you to some safer secret beaches, or climb to the top of the Casibari rock formations in the centre of the island for commanding views of it all – a must on your private yacht charter in Aruba.
5. 1,000 Steps Beach, Bonaire – Best beach for diving right in
For nature experiences direct from the swim platform, the island of Bonaire is hard to beat, due to the dedication of its locals in preserving its ecosystem. One of the best beaches in Bonaire to experience its pristine reef systems is 1,000 Steps Beach, home to some of the best shore diving in the Caribbean where the reef starts just feet from the shoreline, ensuring underwater exploration is a breeze, even for those with little snorkelling experience.
For guests looking to delve a little deeper, your crew can arrange private dive sessions and don’t worry about the beach’s name – there are only around 72 steps down to it. The name perhaps refers to the fact it feels a lot more when you have to climb the steps with your dive gear, but for yacht guests arriving by tender, that won’t be a problem.
6. Sorobon Beach, Bonaire – Best beach for water sports
With its white sands and shallow turquoise waters, this lagoon beach has become a popular playground for guests looking to test out their yacht’s toys or chill out at one of the beach bars or on one of the shaded cabanas.
Offshore winds make it a great beach for kitesurfing and windsurfing, while the reef protects the beach’s water, making for favourable conditions for a leisurely beach day and family-friendly tender runs.
7. Pink Beach, Bonaire – Best beach for flamingo-spotting
A walk along the rosy-hued sand of this beautiful beach is a must for any Bonaire yacht charter. The beach gets its distinct colour from the crushed-up shells of innumerable sea creatures known as foraminifera that wash ashore, and there is a serene simplicity about the place, where swaying palms seem to set the gentle pace.
Ask your crew to set up on the beach for a late afternoon private picnic and you may catch a glimpse of some of the flocks of flamingoes that like to overnight here on their way to South America.
8. Playa Kenepa Grandi (Grote Knip), Curaçao – Best beach for a peaceful anchorage
Known for its appealing mix of colourful towns and isolated coves – many of which can only be reached by yacht – Curaçao is one of the Caribbean’s best-kept secrets.
One of the best beaches in Curaçao, Playa Kenepa Grandi (also known as Grote Knip) is famed for its vivid turquoise water and easy reef access, making it arguably the best beach in Curaçao for snorkelling. It is popular, but with a safe anchorage, you can journey overnight and be ready to hit the water the following morning before anyone else arrives.
9. Klein Curaçao – Best beach for your own private Paradise
This teeny uninhabited island, just south of Curaçao, (its name means ‘little Curacao’) is famed for its aquamarine waters and pearl-white sands, while its lack of infrastructure gives it an altogether away-from-it-all feel.
The beach is half-a-mile long, pretty much guaranteeing privacy for those who do land here, while the remains of a deserted lighthouse, plus a couple of shipwrecks that seemingly didn’t heed the warnings, add to the haunting beauty of the place.
10. Playa Lagun, Curaçao – best beach for snorkelling in Curacao
For an enjoyable tender-in snorkel session with private guides on your private yacht charter in Curaçao, try this beach, which has a healthy reef worthy of exploration.
Situated on the isle’s west coast, Playa Lagun is backed by high cliffs and has a tucked-away atmosphere that is utterly charming. The colourful fishing boats that are dragged up onto the sand are a clue to the bay’s popularity with locals, and savvy turtles can often be found in the shallows hoping to get remnants of the fishermen’s catch.
For panoramic views, walk about to Bahia Restaurant for some well-earned refreshment after some of the best snorkelling in Curaçao.
Why the ABC Islands are perfect for luxury private yacht charters
A trio of islands that lie just outside the main Caribbean hurricane belt, the ABC Islands can be visited year round and offer ideal cruising conditions with calm seas, short passages, and naturally sheltered bays.
There is also a refined culinary scene, with chic beachfront restaurants, high-end restaurants, and curated wine pairings to enjoy between beach visits, as well as many well regarded museums and art galleries – especially in the World Heritage Site of Willemstad – where you can learn more about the history and culture of the isles.
With exclusive access to secret coves and off-map anchorages, Edmiston can get our guests closer to the action in this precious eco-luxury environment while being respectful of conservation efforts.
Crafting Your ABC Islands Yacht Charter Itinerary with Edmiston
As a trusted curator of elevated Caribbean yacht charter experiences, Edmiston can arrange access to private-only beaches and coves and organise tailored snorkelling and dive days with expert marine guides.
We can take care of restaurant reservations or for some dining decadence al fresco, your yacht’s private chef can create gourmet beach lunches featuring everything from curated fresh local dishes to elegant tablescapes.
Our fully bespoke yacht charters can also be tailored to suit your desired travel style, whether you are looking for a family holiday to remember, a romantic vacation, a well-rounded yacht fitness and wellness reset or a culinary exploration of the best restaurants in the Caribbean isles.
However you imagine your ABC Islands yacht charter, speak with one of our Edmiston brokers and allow us to start designing your dream escape.
Explore our MOST POPULAR YACHTS for CHARTER.
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Grace
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Amels
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Para Bellvm
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