Best Eco Stays in Aruba
Where to stay in Aruba
The best areas to stay in Aruba range from the Caribbean’s first and only CarbonNeutral certified adults only beachfront resort, to a female owned, Green Globe certified casita hotel run by Aruba born sisters, a Dutch family founded wellness resort built on the sand of Eagle Beach, and a small set of solar powered eco suites tucked close to nature away from the resort strip. Options are spread from Eagle Beach, Palm Beach and Noord to Santa Cruz and the interior. Every stay we recommend below is genuinely sustainable and chosen so your money stays on the island.
Where to stay in Aruba by area, at a glance
Eagle Beach is best for couples, honeymooners and grown-up travellers who want a wide, calm beach without high-rise crowds
Everyone flies into Aruba’s single airport, Queen Beatrix International (AUA), just south of the capital Oranjestad, and Eagle Beach is roughly a 15 to 20 minute taxi or hire-car transfer north along the coast. This is the island’s low-rise district: a famously wide ribbon of white sand and divi-divi trees lined with smaller boutique hotels and intimate resorts, noticeably quieter and more grown-up than the high-rise strip just up the road. It suits couples, honeymooners and anyone who would rather trade the buzz of the big chains for space, calm and the gentle rhythm of the sea.
The difference between Eagle Beach and other popular Aruba beach areas like Palm Beach and Druif Beach is that Eagle Beach keeps its low-rise, boutique character: Palm Beach is the lively high-rise strip packed with towering hotels, casinos and nightlife, while Eagle Beach stays wide, open and uncrowded, with smaller resorts set well back behind the sand and the island’s iconic fofoti trees as its skyline rather than concrete towers.
Where to stay in Eagle Beach: Top Pick
Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort is the best place to stay in Eagle Beach, Aruba
Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort is an intimate, adults only, beachfront retreat set directly on Eagle Beach, designed for romance and quiet rather than crowds and noise. The mood throughout is serene and grown up, the kind of place where days drift between the sea, the sand and the shade, with the turquoise water and the island’s famous fofoti trees framing the view.
Who owns Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort?
Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort is privately owned and locally run, an owner led property long championed by its environmentally driven management. That hands on, family minded ownership is a big part of its character. Rather than answering to a large international chain, it has built a global reputation as one of the most responsible places to stay in the region, pairing genuine warmth of service with a deep commitment to the island it calls home.
About the rooms in Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort
There are 104 rooms, suites and penthouses at Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort, split across two beachfront wings, and as an adults only retreat it takes guests aged 18 and over only, with most accommodation pitched squarely at couples. The older Bucuti Wing holds the entry level Standard and Superior Rooms, which look onto the garden or partial ocean, alongside the 11 ocean view Deluxe Rooms (around 350 square feet, one king bed opening onto an oversized balcony or terrace) and a pair of Junior Suites on the second and third floors that add a full kitchen with marble worktops, a dining table for two and a sitting area giving onto a double balcony. The wing also offers L shaped Bungalow Suites with a king bed, kitchenette and sofa.
The five storey Tara Wing is the more contemporary, oceanfront half. Its Tara Beach Suites pair a king bed with separate sleeping and living areas, sea views and a wet bar with mini fridge and microwave, while the handful of top tier Penthouse Suites (roughly 850 square feet) unfold like private homes with a king bed, a soaking bathtub, a full kitchen, a living and dining room facing Eagle Beach, a large terrace and a reserved palapa on the sand. Every room and suite is air conditioned and also fitted with a ceiling fan, plus an air purifier and dehumidifier, microwave, coffee maker, mini bar, safe and free WiFi. There are no family rooms or interconnecting units here, as the resort is deliberately small, quiet and couple focused rather than geared to children.
What food is available at Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort?
The onsite restaurant, Elements, runs its kitchen entirely on electricity with no fossil fuels at all. The menu leans on fresh, locally minded plates, with seafood and seasonal produce to the fore, served beside the gentle sound of the waves. Meals here feel indulgent yet quietly conscientious, and the beachfront setting makes both breakfast and a candlelit dinner feel like part of the escape rather than an afterthought.
Sustainability features of Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort
The resort runs on the island’s largest private solar array and a fully electric, fossil fuel free kitchen, backing some of the strongest eco credentials in the Caribbean. It is the region’s first and only CarbonNeutral certified hotel, and it holds Green Globe Platinum, LEED Gold and Travelife Gold. The owners have also sharply cut the waste sent to landfill, trimming portion sizes and rethinking how food is handled so very little goes to waste.
Who is Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort for?
Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort is perfect for couples and honeymooners seeking a tranquil, adults only beach escape that treads lightly on the island. It also suits solo travellers who want a peaceful, grown up base, and conscious travellers who want their stay to match their values. Families with young children and anyone after nightlife and casinos are better served on the Palm Beach strip. Here the draw is calm, romance and the sea.
How to get to Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort from the airport
The closest airport to Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort is Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA) in Oranjestad, which sits roughly a fifteen minute drive and around eight kilometres from the property along Aruba’s calm western coast. The island is compact and the roads are easy, so the practical last leg is short and simple whichever way you choose to travel.
Private transfer or taxi to Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort
A pre arranged private transfer is the easiest option to get to Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort, dropping you straight at reception, which is the most relaxed choice after a long flight. Taxis are just as straightforward, waiting directly outside the arrivals hall and running on fixed, government set fares rather than meters, so the cost to Eagle Beach is agreed before you set off and the journey takes only a quarter of an hour or so. If you would rather explore the rest of Aruba at your own pace, a hire car collected at the airport is a sensible choice, as the drive up to Eagle Beach is short and well signed and the resort has parking.
Public transport to Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort
Public transport to Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort is possible with multiple changes. Aruba’s public bus network is run by Arubus, whose Line 10 service links the airport and the main bus terminal in Oranjestad, where you change onto a westbound coast service such as Line 1 towards the Eagle Beach and Palm Beach hotel strip. Buses are inexpensive and reliable in the daytime but run less frequently in the evenings, and you may have a short walk from the main road to the resort with your luggage. For most visitors arriving with bags, a taxi, private transfer or hire car is the more comfortable choice, with the bus a budget friendly option once you are settled in.
Things to do while staying at Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort
Things to do around Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort range from a barefoot stroll along the powder soft sand of Eagle Beach, regularly named among the finest beaches in the Caribbean and home to the island’s famous wind sculpted fofoti trees, to snorkelling and diving the clear shallows right on your doorstep. The calm, shallow water makes it easy to spend whole days simply swimming, paddling and watching the light change over the sea.
Beyond the beach you can wander into nearby Oranjestad for Dutch colonial architecture, colourful shopping streets and local dining, explore the rugged Arikok National Park with its caves, desert trails and natural pools, or drive out to the California Lighthouse for sweeping coastal views. Boat trips, catamaran cruises and sunset sails are easy to arrange, and the island’s compact size means most of its highlights are within a short drive.
It suits nature lovers drawn to the marine life and the national park, culture seekers tempted by the town, and solo travellers who want a peaceful base, while couples and honeymooners will find the adults only calm especially welcome. Families with very young children may prefer the busier Palm Beach resorts, but anyone after romance, quiet and gentle days by the sea will feel completely at home here.
Palm Beach and Noord is best for families, first-timers and anyone who wants resorts, dining, nightlife and shops on the doorstep
Palm Beach is Aruba’s high-rise hub, home to the big-name resorts such as Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, Ritz-Carlton and Holiday Inn, plus casinos, bars and a lively dining and shopping strip set right behind a long stretch of powdery white sand. It suits families who want gentle, calm Caribbean water for swimming, first-timers who like having everything within easy reach, and anyone who would rather walk the beachfront boardwalk or hop on the Arubus L10 service into Oranjestad than feel cut off. Just inland, the village of Noord offers quieter, better-value guesthouses and apartments a short drive from the sand, so you can balance the buzz of the beach with a calmer base.
The difference between Palm Beach and Noord and other popular Aruba beach areas like Eagle Beach and Druif Beach is that Palm Beach is the island’s busiest, most built-up resort strip, with the densest cluster of high-rise hotels, casinos and nightlife, while Eagle Beach is lower-rise and more spacious and Druif is quieter and closer to Oranjestad. Choosing Palm Beach and Noord means you trade a little of that calm for unmatched convenience, with shops, restaurants and entertainment all on the doorstep.
Where to stay in Palm Beach and Noord: Top Pick
Boardwalk Boutique Hotel Aruba is the best place to stay in Palm Beach and Noord, Aruba
Tucked just back from the crowds of Palm Beach in Noord, Boardwalk Boutique Hotel Aruba trades high-rise bustle for a cluster of private casitas set among tropical gardens, hammocks and winding garden paths. Built on the grounds of a former coconut plantation, it feels intimate and palm-shaded, the kind of place where you are more a guest in someone’s home than a number on a resort ledger, yet the beach bars and restaurants of Palm Beach are only minutes away on foot.
Who owns Boardwalk Boutique Hotel Aruba?
The hotel is owned by twin sisters Kimberly and Stephanie, who transformed the grounds of a former coconut plantation into an intimate, palm-shaded retreat. That family heart still runs through every corner of the place, and the warm, hands-on hospitality comes from a small team that clearly cares about both the guests and the land the property sits on.
About the rooms in Boardwalk Boutique Hotel Aruba
There are 49 standalone casitas at Boardwalk Boutique Hotel Aruba, dotted through the gardens of the former coconut plantation just across the road from Palm Beach in Noord. The categories run from the entry-level Coco Casita, with a king bed, kitchenette and a private patio with a hammock and a barbecue, up through the Deluxe Coco Casita, which adds a four poster king and a private outdoor shower. The one bedroom casitas come with either a king or two queens plus a sofa bed and a full kitchen, sleeping up to three, while the two bedroom casitas pair a king room with a twin queen room and sleep up to five, making them the choice for groups wanting their own kitchen and living space.
At the top end sit two standout casitas. The Plunge Pool Casita gives couples a four poster king and their own private plunge pool with a sundeck, and the circular Palapa Lodge 360 is a thatched king-bed lodge with a wraparound balcony and a small prep area with a fridge and microwave rather than a full kitchen. Every casita is a private freestanding unit with its own patio, almost all have a kitchen or kitchenette, and most patios come with a hammock and a barbecue. This is an adults-only property aimed at couples and small groups rather than families, with the larger one and two bedroom casitas suited to friends travelling together or longer self-catering stays.
What food is available at Boardwalk Boutique Hotel Aruba?
A generous made-to-order breakfast is the centrepiece here, brought to your casita or enjoyed outdoors among the greenery so you can ease gently into the day. A small honesty pantry covers drinks and snacks, and with each casita having its own open-plan kitchenette you can self-cater whenever you like. For lunch and dinner, the beach bars and restaurants of Palm Beach are only a short stroll away, so you are never short of choice.
Sustainability features of Boardwalk Boutique Hotel Aruba
The newer casitas run on solar energy, built as green buildings and lit with LED throughout. The hotel holds Travelife Gold certification and is a member of Regenerative Travel, while an onsite reverse osmosis system helps supply the water the property uses. Composting feeds the very tropical gardens you wander through, creating a genuine closed loop from solar power back into the soil.
Who is Boardwalk Boutique Hotel Aruba for?
This is a place for couples, families and conscious travellers who want a calm, characterful base near Palm Beach with a genuine green conscience. Anyone who prefers personal, low-key hospitality over high-rise resort scale will feel at home here, especially those who want the convenience of the beach and dining strip nearby without staying in the thick of the crowds.
How to get to Boardwalk Boutique Hotel Aruba from the airport
The closest airport to Boardwalk Boutique Hotel Aruba is Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA), which sits on the south coast near Oranjestad, roughly a 20 to 25 minute drive of about 11 kilometres from the property depending on traffic through Noord.
Private transfer or taxi to Boardwalk Boutique Hotel Aruba
A pre arranged private transfer is the easiest option to get to Boardwalk Boutique Hotel Aruba, and the hotel can help arrange the last leg before you arrive so a driver is waiting as you land. A metered taxi from the airport rank is the simple alternative and will have you at the property in well under half an hour. Aruba is compact and easy to navigate, so many guests also hire a car at the airport, which gives you the freedom to reach the quieter beaches and the rugged north coast at your own pace.
Public transport to Boardwalk Boutique Hotel Aruba
Public transport to Boardwalk Boutique Hotel Aruba is possible with multiple changes. Aruba’s national coach service is run by Arubus from the main terminal next to the cruise port in Oranjestad, close to the airport, and the frequent Line 10 route runs up the west coast to the Palm Beach high-rise strip. From the nearest stop on the strip it is a short taxi or walk to the property in Noord. For the first leg from the airport with luggage a taxi or private transfer is the easier choice, and if you plan to explore the island independently a hire car remains the most flexible option.
Things to do while staying at Boardwalk Boutique Hotel Aruba
Things to do around Boardwalk Boutique Hotel Aruba range from a slow morning on the powdery white sand of Palm Beach, just a short stroll away, where calm Caribbean water makes for easy swimming and snorkelling, to wandering the lively dining and shopping strip that runs along the beachfront. Back at the hotel you can simply unwind in a hammock among the gardens or take a dip in the saltwater pool.
Further afield, you can take a sunset catamaran cruise along the coast, explore the wild terrain and natural pools of Arikok National Park inland, or head into the colourful Dutch streets of Oranjestad for culture and local markets. The offshore reefs reward divers and snorkellers, while the rugged north coast offers dramatic scenery for anyone hiring a car for the day.
Families love the gentle beaches and the gardens, nature lovers gravitate to the national park and the offshore reefs, solo travellers find the area safe and walkable, and culture seekers can dip into the island’s Dutch and Caribbean heritage in town. With Palm Beach so close and a calm retreat to return to, the hotel suits anyone who wants both convenience and quiet in equal measure.
Santa Cruz and the interior is best for nature lovers, self-drivers and repeat visitors wanting a local, off-strip base
Santa Cruz sits at the green heart of Aruba, around a 20 to 25 minute drive inland from Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA), and because it is set away from the coast with little beach within walking distance a hire car is effectively essential here. This is everyday, residential Aruba of local bakeries, family shops and the rural Cunucu countryside, and it doubles as the gateway to Arikok National Park, which covers almost a fifth of the island. It suits travellers who prefer space, quiet, lower prices and authentic island life over the busy resort scene, particularly nature lovers, solo and self-driving guests, and repeat visitors who already know the beaches and now want the real island.
The difference between Santa Cruz and the interior and other popular Aruba bases like Palm Beach and Eagle Beach is that those are high-rise and low-rise resort strips built right on the famous west coast sand, packed with hotels, casinos and beach bars, whereas Santa Cruz is inland, residential and calm, where you wake to birdsong and cactus rather than crowds and you drive out to whichever coast or trail you fancy each day.
Where to stay in Santa Cruz and the interior: Top Pick
Agua Clara Eco Suites is the best place to stay in Santa Cruz and the interior, Aruba
Agua Clara Eco Suites sits in the rural Cunucu countryside of Santa Cruz, away from the resort strip, where the rhythm of the day is set by birdsong, cactus and open sky rather than by crowds. The property has been conceived around a low impact ecological vision, and that philosophy runs through everything from the planting in the grounds to the way the suites are run, making it a genuine retreat for travellers who want their stay to reflect their values.
Who owns Agua Clara Eco Suites?
Agua Clara Eco Suites is privately owned and locally run, a small independent property rather than part of a chain, and that owner led approach is exactly why it feels so personal. The owners have built the place around a clear low impact ecological vision, and they are happiest talking about the features they are proudest of, such as the island’s only saltwater swimming pool. Guests tend to deal directly with the people who run the place, who will gladly help arrange transfers and point you towards the best local markets, beaches and trails.
About the rooms in Agua Clara Eco Suites
There are nine rooms at Agua Clara Eco Suites, including apartment style units split across three named types rather than a sprawling resort block. The first is a one bedroom apartment with a single double bed, sleeping up to three with a sofa for an extra guest. The second is a studio with two double beds set across an open bedroom and a mezzanine sleeping space, taking up to five. The third is a two bedroom suite with two double beds and a separate living room. Every unit is fully self contained, with air conditioning, cable TV and a proper equipped kitchen running to a stove, microwave, refrigerator and coffee maker, which makes the studios and the larger suite genuinely workable for families, while the one bedroom apartment suits couples. The interior setting is the draw here, away from the busy high rise beach strip, and the standout shared feature is Aruba’s only saltwater swimming pool, filled with natural seawater rather than chlorinated fresh water, in keeping with that low impact ecological vision. Some units carry a pool view, and the eco design ethos runs through the whole property, so expect comfortable, practical lodging rather than flashy resort styling.
What food is available at Agua Clara Eco Suites?
This is a self catering style stay rather than a resort with restaurants, and the equipped kitchen in each suite is central to the experience. Guests are encouraged to shop at local markets and bakeries in Santa Cruz and cook with island produce, keeping the food close to the land and the community around it. Oranjestad and the west coast, with their restaurants and cafes, are an easy drive away when you fancy eating out, so you get the best of both: home cooking with local ingredients and dinner in town whenever you like.
Sustainability features of Agua Clara Eco Suites
The whole place runs on a low impact ecological vision that is woven into daily life rather than bolted on. At the centre of the grounds is the island’s only saltwater swimming pool, filled with natural seawater rather than chlorinated fresh water, which spares precious fresh water on an arid island, avoids harsh chemicals draining into the soil and is gentler on skin and eyes. Add the water conscious approach, the self catering kitchens that encourage local shopping, and a natural, uncrowded setting that treads lightly on the surrounding Cunucu countryside, and the whole stay is built to lower its impact.
Who is Agua Clara Eco Suites for?
This is perfect for travellers who would rather wake to the Cunucu landscape than to a busy resort. Couples and solo guests seeking calm will love the quiet, while nature lovers get Arikok National Park almost on the doorstep. Self drivers appreciate the freedom to reach every coast and trail, and families enjoy the space and the national park adventures. Anyone drawn to culture can dip into the island’s colonial history and local heritage between excursions. If you want resort buzz, casinos and beach bars on your doorstep, this is not the place, and that is rather the point.
How to get to Agua Clara Eco Suites from the airport
The closest airport to Agua Clara Eco Suites is Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA), Aruba’s only commercial airport, on the south coast just outside Oranjestad. From the terminal it is roughly a 20 to 30 minute drive inland to Santa Cruz, the village at the green heart of the island, a distance of around 15 to 20 kilometres depending on the route you take.
Private transfer or taxi to Agua Clara Eco Suites
A pre arranged private transfer is the easiest option to get to Agua Clara Eco Suites, especially with luggage after a long flight, and most suites can organise one for you on request if you send your flight details in advance. A taxi is the simple alternative: Aruba taxis run on fixed government set fares rather than meters, so agree the price before you set off, and the airport has an official taxi rank just outside arrivals. That said, many guests collect a hire car at the airport instead, since the interior is spread out and a car gives you the freedom to reach the national park and the quieter beaches throughout your stay.
Public transport to Agua Clara Eco Suites
Public transport to Agua Clara Eco Suites is possible with multiple changes. Arubus runs the island’s national bus network, with reliable services linking the airport, Oranjestad and the resort strips at Eagle Beach and Palm Beach, so you would typically ride into Oranjestad first and change onto a route heading inland towards Santa Cruz. Services into the residential interior are far less frequent and will not drop you at the door, so you would finish the journey with a short taxi from the village. For a rural base like this, a hire car or a private transfer is much more practical, and a car is really the way to make the most of the area.
Things to do while staying at Agua Clara Eco Suites
Things to do around Agua Clara Eco Suites range from exploring Arikok National Park, the rugged protected wilderness that covers almost a fifth of the island and shelters native wildlife, cactus landscapes, lava cliffs and the natural pool known as Conchi, to simply slowing down in the quiet of the Cunucu countryside. From this central base you are perfectly placed to head out in any direction each morning.
Close by you have the Ayo and Casibari rock formations with their easy climbs and wide views, the gold mill ruins at Bushiribana, and the wild windward beaches along the north coast such as Boca Prins and Dos Playa where the Atlantic rolls in. The calmer swimming sands of the west coast at Eagle Beach and Palm Beach, along with the restaurants, museums and colourful streets of Oranjestad, are all an easy drive away, so you can mix rugged adventure with classic Aruba beach days as you please.
Nature lovers and solo travellers will relish the hiking and the quiet, families appreciate the space and the national park adventures, and self-drivers love being able to reach every coast from one base. Anyone drawn to culture can dip into the island’s colonial history and local Cunucu heritage between excursions, while couples after calm get a peaceful retreat to return to each evening, away from the crowds.
When is the best time to visit Aruba?
Aruba sits in the dry, southern Caribbean off Venezuela (one of the ABC islands with Bonaire and Curacao) and enjoys warm, sunny weather all year, with average highs around 30C cooled by steady trade winds. The official Atlantic hurricane season runs 1 June to 30 November, but Aruba lies outside the main hurricane belt, so direct hits are rare and most years pass without significant storm disruption (it is not risk-free, so travel insurance is still sensible). The driest, sunniest months run roughly January to August; any brief rain tends to fall as short showers between October and December. Peak season for Brits is mid-December to mid-April, when both weather and prices are at their highest and resorts book up well ahead; the best value comes in the autumn shoulder months (September to November), when rates drop sharply for only a slightly higher chance of a passing shower.
Is Aruba safe, and how do you get around?
Aruba is one of the safer Caribbean islands and the resort areas around Eagle Beach and Palm Beach feel very relaxed, but apply normal city sense: lock hire cars, do not leave valuables on the beach or on show, and use the hotel safe. Aruba drives on the RIGHT, the opposite of the UK, which takes a little adjustment, especially at roundabouts and junctions. A hire car is not essential if you stay on the Eagle Beach or Palm Beach strip, where you can walk and use taxis or the public bus (the Arubus L10 runs between the hotel strip and the capital Oranjestad), but it is genuinely useful for reaching Santa Cruz, Arikok National Park or the wilder north coast. The local currency is the Aruban florin (AWG), but US dollars are accepted virtually everywhere at a fixed, stable rate, so most Brits simply carry and spend US dollars; cards are widely accepted and ATMs dispense both currencies. Tipping follows the American pattern: check whether a service charge (often around 10 to 15 percent) is already added, and if not, leave roughly 15 to 20 percent in restaurants, plus a few dollars a day for housekeeping and a dollar or two per bag for porters.
Why we only list sustainable stays in Aruba
Every stay in this guide was hand picked and checked for how it actually runs, and most are locally rooted so your money stays on the island. For the full breakdown see our guide to the best sustainable hotels in Aruba, or zoom out to the best sustainable hotels across the Caribbean.
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