Baby Beach sits at the far southeastern tip of Aruba, in the Seroe Colorado area just past San Nicolas. It is the opposite end of the island from the hotel strip, which is exactly why it stays calm. Getting there is easy. Here are the honest times, fares and the small things that make the day go smoothly.
By car: times from every starting point
A car is the simplest option and the only one that lets you stop along the way. Follow the main southern road past the airport, Spanish Lagoon and Savaneta. Drive through San Nicolas, then follow the signs for Seroe Colorado and Baby Beach. The road ends almost at the lagoon.
- From Palm Beach: 35 to 45 minutes, depending on Oranjestad traffic.
- From Eagle Beach: 30 to 40 minutes. You join the same southern road a few minutes sooner.
- From Oranjestad: about 25 minutes.
- From the cruise port: about 25 minutes. The terminal is in downtown Oranjestad, so the timing matches.
- From the airport: about 20 minutes. The airport is already on the south side, so Baby Beach is closer than Palm Beach.
Rental cars at the airport run roughly $40 to $98 per day depending on the season. Even for one day, a car pays for itself against taxi fares if you are two or more.
The San Nicolas and Baby Beach Day
A narrated GPS audio tour for the whole drive south. It starts at the hotel strip, tells the story of Spanish Lagoon, Savaneta and the refinery as they appear, walks you through 9 essential mural stops plus 5 extras in San Nicolas, then guides you out to Baby Beach. No app, works offline, one price for the whole car.
By bus: three rides, about $2.60 each
Arubus reaches Baby Beach, but it takes three buses and some patience. Allow 90 minutes to two hours each way from the hotel strip.
- L10 from the Palm Beach or Eagle Beach stops to the Oranjestad bus station.
- L1 (or the L2 or L3) from Oranjestad to San Nicolas. This is the long leg, about 40 minutes.
- L900 from San Nicolas to Baby Beach, a short local hop.
Each ride costs about $2.60 per person, paid in cash on board. Each leg is paid separately. Bring small bills and coins. Most important: check the time of the last L900 and the last L1 back before you settle onto the sand. The afternoon buses thin out and the walk from Baby Beach to San Nicolas is not one you want to make.
If you are starting from Oranjestad or the cruise port, skip the L10 and start at step two. Our San Nicolas bus guide has the L1 details.
By taxi
Aruba taxis use fixed zone rates, not meters, and the price covers up to four people. Oranjestad to San Nicolas runs about $25 to $30 one way. Baby Beach is a few dollars more. From the airport, visitors report around $50 for the round trip. From Palm Beach expect noticeably more, so compare it with a one-day rental.
Two rules. Agree the price before you get in. And arrange your return in advance, because taxis do not wait at Baby Beach and there is no rank. Many drivers will happily come back at a set time.
Parking at Baby Beach
Parking is free, in an open sand lot right behind the lagoon. On weekdays it is almost empty in the morning. On weekends local families arrive with coolers and grills, and the lot fills by around noon. Tour buses pull in late morning too. Arrive before 10 and you park steps from the water. Full details are in our parking, bathrooms and safety guide.
What to bring
- Cash. The bathrooms are paid, the bus is cash only, and the snack bar prefers it.
- Water shoes. The seabed is rocky in places and the shallow water hides it.
- Shade plan. Umbrellas are free but first come, first served. Chairs rent for about $10 a day.
- Reef-safe sunscreen and water. There is little natural shade at midday.
- A charged phone. For the narrated drive, for photos, and for the ride home.
Which way is right for you?
- Couples and families with a rental: drive. Stop at Mangel Halto and Savaneta on the way. See the south coast self-drive route.
- Budget travelers with time: the bus. Cheap, safe, and a real slice of island life.
- Cruise passengers: a taxi for the group, with a fixed pickup time. Or do San Nicolas only by bus and save the beach for a longer visit.
- Anyone who wants the quiet version: go on to Rodgers Beach and Seroe Colorado, two minutes further.