Why Honeymoon at Eagle Beach
Eagle Beach gives you the reliability of Aruba with a calmer mood than the high-rise strip. You wake up to the sound of waves rather than a pool DJ. Lounging takes real effort to get wrong: the sand is soft, the water gentle and the trade winds keep the afternoons comfortable.
It is also one of the few places in the Caribbean where kid-free boutique hotels sit directly on a top-rated beach. That means couples-focused service, smaller pools and restaurants without children's menus.
The setting changes through the day. Early morning brings joggers and photographers at the fofoti trees. Midday is for the water. Late afternoon the light goes golden and the beach empties, leaving long walks with your feet in the shallows. Sunset arrives over open sea. Many hotels set dinner tables on the sand.
When to Go
Mid-December through April is peak season, with the driest weather, the steadiest sun and rates to match. It is also when the best rooms at small kid-free hotels sell out, sometimes close to a year ahead for holiday weeks.
May through September is a strong choice. Rain stays rare, prices drop and the beach is quieter. Breezes are at their strongest in early summer. Sea turtle nesting season runs roughly from March into the fall, with hatchlings emerging in the later months, which adds something special to an evening walk.
October and November are the short rainy season. Showers tend to be brief, but humidity rises and the trade winds ease, so it can feel warmer. Aruba sits south of the main hurricane belt. Daytime temperatures hover in the mid to upper 80s Fahrenheit all year, so pack the same clothes whatever month you choose.
Where to Stay
The best honeymoon stays at Eagle Beach are small and close to the sand. Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort is the best known, a kid-free hotel with a strong focus on sustainability and a restaurant on the beach. Manchebo Beach Resort & Spa sits at the southern end where Eagle Beach meets Manchebo Beach, which is one of the widest sections of sand on the island. Amsterdam Manor Beach Resort, across the road, has Dutch-style architecture and a beach restaurant.
When comparing rooms, ask whether the hotel has reserved palapas or shade on the beach, since shade is the one thing in short supply here. Ask too whether your room faces the sea or the road, because the main boulevard runs between some hotels and the beach. Condo-style resorts and timeshares fill the remaining space and can be good value for couples who want a kitchen. If you prefer more nightlife, stay at Palm Beach and visit Eagle Beach by day.
Romantic Things to Do
Go out at sunrise to photograph the fofoti trees before the crowds. Their trunks lean hard to the southwest from years of steady wind. At dawn the light behind them turns pink and gold.
Book a sunset catamaran sail along the west coast. Most leave from piers near Palm Beach and include a snorkel stop and drinks. For a full day, snorkel the Antilla, a World War II freighter lying in shallow water off the northwest coast.
Plan one dinner with your table set on the sand. Several hotels at Eagle Beach offer it. You can also drive south to Savaneta, where Flying Fishbone places tables in the shallow sea. Spend another day in Arikok National Park on a guided jeep tour to the Natural Pool. Back at the beach, walk south along Manchebo and Druif beaches in the late afternoon, when the sand is nearly empty.
Getting There and Around
Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA) is about 15 minutes away by taxi. Fares are fixed by zone, so ask the dispatcher for the rate before you get in. Nonstop flights from more than a dozen US cities make Aruba one of the easiest Caribbean islands to reach. Most hotels at Eagle Beach can have a driver waiting when you land.
At Eagle Beach itself you need nothing but sandals. The Arubus line along J.E. Irausquin Boulevard connects the hotel areas with Oranjestad. Taxis are easy to find. Rent a car or jeep for a day or two to explore the north coast, the national park and San Nicolas. Driving is on the right and the roads are well maintained. On the way home, allow about three hours at the airport because US preclearance takes place before you board.
Food and Drink
Eagle Beach puts you between two good food zones. Oranjestad, ten minutes south, has the island's widest range of restaurants, from Dutch cafés to sophisticated tasting menus. Palm Beach, just north, has lively spots for drinks and seafood. Hotel restaurants on the beach handle the romantic dinners, with candlelit tables on the sand.
Try the local dishes at least once. Keshi yena is a hollowed cheese filled with spiced chicken or beef and baked. Pastechi are fried pastries stuffed with cheese or meat, sold at breakfast. Pan bati is a slightly sweet cornmeal pancake served with fish. Fresh catch such as wahoo, mahi-mahi and red snapper is excellent. For a casual lunch, Zeerovers in Savaneta fries whatever the boats bring in. Drink Balashi, the local beer, brewed with desalinated water. Tap water is safe to drink, so refill bottles rather than buying them.
Honeymoon Tips
- Book kid-free hotels early, especially for December through April.
- Ask for a hotel palapa or bring a beach umbrella. Shade is scarce on this wide beach.
- Use reef-safe sunscreen and reapply often; the breeze hides how strong the sun is.
- Stay off the dunes and away from marked turtle nests. Never use flash near nesting turtles at night.
- Mention your honeymoon when booking. Small hotels often add touches such as a bottle of bubbly or a beach dinner upgrade.
- Check restaurant bills for a service charge before adding a tip.
- Get to the airport early on departure day. Preclearance lines on Saturdays can be long.
One more: do not plan every hour. Eagle Beach rewards doing very little. The best evenings here tend to be the unscheduled ones.
