boca catalina

Team_FE

We experienced great snorkeling here and the kids had no issues with currents. Plenty of colorful fish and only a few people were there.

bobandcaroleatnj

Great little local beach. Best place to snorkel. Get there early to get a hut for shade. Can be a little bit rocky.

marnurs

Boca Catalina is a gem of a beach. We discovered it on our last trip to aruba and liked it so much, we rented a house a few feet away. I have to say that it was more crowded this time around, so the word is out! This is the snorkeling spot that all the tour boats go to and what's nice is that it's completely accessible from the shore. We saw such a nice variety of fish and everyday something different! If you don't want to swim far out to the reef, you will still see some pretty neat fish close to shore. You do have to be careful of the rocks as sometimes the waves can be forceful. If you plan on going to Boca Catalina, head there early enough to get a pallapa ; they were usually all taken by 9:30am.

brianm510

This beach is probably one of my favorite places ever. The location is great, there aren't too many people here like there was at the Marriott. Snorkeling was fantastic as well. Highly recommend!

OzTravellerJim

Although we beach snorkelled a couple of other spots in Aruba, we came back to Boca Catalina a couple of times. That is why the snorkel tour boats anchor about 100 yards from shore.. Then the coral and fish are in between that.!!! It would have been nice to snorkel at the shipwreck offshore, but how can you beat parking at the beach, finding some shade, snorkelling for hours, and grabbing a picnic lunch without the cost of a tour.. PRICELESS.!!!We even worked it out so that we arrived before the 7 or 8 boats with hundreds of people, had lunch while they were there and snorkelled after they left before the afternoon crowd came in.The coral is not spectacular, but ok, and tons of fish with a pretty good variety.

Kitkat_NY

Aruba doesn't seem to have the same reefs of other Caribbean nations. They are not colorful and scattered about here and there, rather than being an entire section of ocean. You will see fish and have a nice swim, just nothing special.

DaleB428

Not much of a beach but a good area to snorkel in. There usually isn't many people around although sometimes the party boats are anchored just offshore with their snorkelers

TXhome1225

You'll know this a good spot because all the tourist boats come here to snorkel. Easy access to the water, fish immediately apparent & plentiful. You can walk out a long way, the snorkel only gets better. The water is clear, you'll see to the bottom without difficulty. You'll realize that you don't need to pay to enjoy & can stay a lot longer if you want. Beautiful spot!

moniker111

Don't pay for a trip here. Rent a car or take a taxi. Make sure to bring all your needs. Once your there walk a few hundred yards up road, hop in ocean and float back to where you were. Make sure your GoPro battery is full. Really good day, or 3 like us, for cheap. If you need snorkel and fins you'll have to buy or rent elsewhere. Have fun, we did.

California-Yankee

The snorkeling was fun, but the beach can get a little crowded. We packed a cooler and our snorkels and made an afternoon of it. We saw a nice variety of fish and marine life. Definitely worth your time of you like to snorkel. However, if you only plan one day of snorkeling, check out my reviews on baby beach, and the hike to conchi, before you decide. Each location offers a different experience.

JulieP467

I rode a bike from Fisherman's Huts to Boca Catalina for snorkeling and a picnic. I absolutely loved it! There are a few palapas next to the water, which are free, and a few chairs you can rent for about 5$ if the vendor is there.The reef is easily accessible through the little beach and there weren't many waves when I was there. The water was very clear, so visibility was great!This was my favourite snorkeling spot on Aruba!

CharleneO911

Great place to relax on the beach and to enjoy snorkeling. the water is crystal clear!! In the afternoon the Jolly Pirate anchors close enough so you can watch everyone partying and using the rope swing. Was fun to watch everyone dancing and having a good time onboard.

Luv2Travel6

We came here for snorkeling. We took a taxi here and the bus back instead of doing a boat snorkel excursion. (All the boats comes to this spot.) The snorkeling was excellent. There was also shade available for when you wanted to take and break and just relax. There are no vendors here so bring everything you need with you. The bus comes by about once an hour. (And if you're doing this on your own - test out your gear at the hotel pool before coming all the way out here.)

jandc8491

My wife and I took a taxi to this beach, north of the hotel high-rise zone. There is a small beach and some thatched umbrellas for shade. The snorkeling is fantastic--and free! There are rocks and coral formations just off the beach area, within easy swimming distance. We saw hundreds of colorful, tropic fish. We also saw large tuna, eels, starfish, and barracuda. This has become one of our must-do trips when we visit Aruba. If you need a taxi to get back to your hotel, you either have to call for one when you're done, or walk a ways and hail a passing taxi. It's about a 30 minute walk to The Ritz-Carlton hotel. You have to walk on pavement most of the way to that hotel; the beachfront is not accessible.

Araurena

Beautiful place. The fishes come to you and you dont need a snorkel or gear to view them. The pelicans are very friendly.