Andicuri Beach
Aruba's wild Atlantic coast — dramatic crashing waves, volcanic rock formations and the island's best surfing
Explore Andicuri Beach
Click any marker to find out more about each spot.
Things To Do in Andicuri Beach
The best experiences on Aruba's wild Atlantic coast.
Surfing
Andicuri Beach has the best surfing conditions in Aruba. The consistent Atlantic swells, combined with the offshore trade winds, create excellent waves for intermediate and advanced surfers. The beach is rocky in places, so water shoes are recommended. Several operators in Palm Beach offer surf lessons and board hire.
Photography & Scenery
Andicuri is one of the most dramatic and photogenic landscapes in Aruba. The contrast between the turquoise water, the black volcanic rock and the white spray of the crashing waves is extraordinary. Sunrise here is particularly spectacular — the light on the rock formations is unlike anything else on the island.
Ayo Rock Formations
A short drive inland from Andicuri, the Ayo Rock Formations are a collection of massive volcanic boulders that rise dramatically from the flat desert landscape. The rocks contain ancient cave paintings made by the Caquetios Indians, and the surrounding area is home to several endemic species of lizard and bird.
Casibari Rock Formations
The Casibari Rock Formations, just a few kilometres from Ayo, are equally dramatic — a collection of diorite boulders that have been sculpted by millions of years of wind and rain into extraordinary shapes. Steps have been cut into the rocks, making them climbable, with spectacular views from the top.
North Coast Exploration
The entire north-east coast of Aruba, from Andicuri to the California Lighthouse, is a dramatic and largely undeveloped landscape of volcanic rock, crashing waves and desert scrub. Renting a 4WD and exploring the coast road is one of the best ways to see the real Aruba — wild, beautiful and completely different from the resort strips.
Andicuri Beach Travel Guide
Andicuri Beach is the Aruba that surprises people. After days on the calm, turquoise beaches of the west coast, the wild Atlantic north-east coast feels like a different island entirely. The waves here crash against volcanic rock with real force, the wind is constant and strong, and the landscape has a raw, elemental beauty that the resort beaches simply can't match.
The beach itself is not suitable for swimming — the Atlantic swells and strong currents make it dangerous for all but the most experienced swimmers. But for surfing, it's the best spot on the island. The consistent Atlantic swells, combined with the offshore trade winds, create excellent conditions for intermediate and advanced surfers. The beach is rocky in places, so water shoes are recommended.
The real draw of Andicuri, beyond the surfing, is the landscape. The contrast between the turquoise water, the black volcanic rock and the white spray of the crashing waves is extraordinary. At sunrise, when the light is at its most dramatic, the scene is one of the most beautiful in the Caribbean. Bring a camera and allow more time than you think you'll need.
A short drive inland from Andicuri, the Ayo and Casibari Rock Formations are two of Aruba's most remarkable natural attractions. The Ayo Rocks are a collection of massive volcanic boulders that rise dramatically from the flat desert landscape, containing ancient cave paintings made by the Caquetios Indians. The Casibari Rocks are equally dramatic — diorite boulders sculpted by millions of years of wind and rain into extraordinary shapes, with steps cut into them for climbing.
The entire north-east coast of Aruba, from Andicuri to the California Lighthouse, is worth exploring by 4WD. The coast road passes through a dramatic landscape of volcanic rock, crashing waves and desert scrub that feels completely different from the resort strips of the west coast. Stop at the Natural Bridge — a natural limestone arch over the sea — and the ruins of the Bushiribana Gold Mill, built in 1872 during Aruba's brief gold rush.
Andicuri is about 20 minutes by car from Palm Beach. The road is paved but narrow in places, and a 4WD is recommended for exploring the more remote sections of the north coast.
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