#6 of 19 things to do in Palm - Eagle Beach

Malmok Beach

★★★★½4.5 out of 5 · 825 reviews

Photo: © mitsugirly via TripAdvisor

About

Malmok Beach sits on the northern tip of the island past the high-rise strip, and most people drive right by it on the way to the California Lighthouse. The #6 ranking among Palm-Eagle Beach attractions comes entirely from what's underwater — this is a snorkeling beach, not a lounging beach. The rocky shelf drops into calm water where several small wrecks sit close to shore, and the fish density is noticeably higher than anything you'll see off Eagle or Palm Beach. The entry requires water shoes; the sand quality doesn't compete with Eagle Beach a few miles south. There are no chair rentals, no shade structures, no beach bar. You park on the shoulder, walk over the rocks, and swim out. If you're renting a car and you care more about seeing parrotfish and sergeant majors than having a perfect sand day, Malmok delivers something the resort beaches can't. Baby Beach on the southern end offers easier wading and comparable marine life if the rocky bottom here is a problem.

At a glance

Area: —
Swimming quality: —
Snorkeling: —
Crowd level: —
Facilities: —
Shade: —
Family friendly: —

How to decide

✓You want accessible shipwreck snorkeling with abundant fish and calm currents unavailable at Eagle Beach or Palm Beach
✓You're exploring by rental car and prefer underwater exploration over beach lounging amenities
✓You prioritize marine life viewing over sand quality or social atmosphere

Rocky bottom entry bothers you — Baby Beach offers easier wading for families with young children
You want better sand conditions — Arashi Beach and Eagle Beach provide superior sand quality
You need beach facilities or shade rentals — Palm Beach offers equipment and service options

Malmok Beach delivers a unique shipwreck snorkeling experience with abundant marine life that Eagle Beach and Palm Beach cannot match, though you'll need water shoes for the rocky entry. Baby Beach offers comparable snorkeling with sea turtles in easier wading conditions, while Arashi Beach provides better sand quality if you're driving north.

Photos

Individual Rentals E BIKE ARUBA Hours are from 9 Am to 5 Pm.

Los divi divi, árboles reclinados por acción del viento

Visiting in June?

June offers warm weather and calm seas ideal for snorkeling and water activities. The island feels moderately busy with activity but not overwhelming crowds. Tours and restaurants are active, and many visitors report excellent experiences exploring both the beaches and rugged interior during this month.

Based on 150 traveler reports

Recent Pulse

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Other beaches

Palm Beach© 751morganb via TripAdvisor

Palm Beach

Palm Beach runs along the high-rise hotel strip on the northwest coast, and the location is the whole selling point. You're steps from restaurants, bars, and nightlife — Bugaloé Pier alone has rentals, food, and drinks without leaving the sand. The beach ranks #7 among Palm–Eagle Beach attractions and pulls a Travelers Choice Best of the Best nod, so the crowds show up. That means limited towel space and a lively atmosphere that skews resort-entertainment rather than quiet escape. The tradeoff: water quality takes a hit from watersport boat traffic. Reviewers flag visible fuel and oil in the shallows, and the ocean floor can look murky. If snorkeling or pristine swimming matters, Baby Beach or Eagle Beach will serve you better. Palm Beach makes sense if you want convenience — walk off the sand to dinner, catch July 4th fireworks from the high-rises, or grab a cocktail without moving your car. The wind stays calmer here than on other parts of the island, which helps for floating but doesn't fix the boat residue.

Noord© rmiamoto via TripAdvisor

Arashi Beach

Arashi Beach sits at the northwestern tip of the island, just past the high-rise strip, and it's the #1 thing to do in Arashi for a reason: the sand itself. It's soft, white, and better than what you'll find at Palm Beach or Eagle Beach if you're staying in the Noord area and don't want to drive south. The 4.5 rating across 3,000-plus reviews holds up, and it's earned back-to-back Travelers Choice awards. The trade-off is infrastructure — there's none. No shade, no facilities, no food stands. It's a bring-your-own-everything setup. Swimming and snorkeling are fine but not standout; if you want sea turtles or a shipwreck, head to Baby Beach or Malmok instead. Arashi is about the sand and the convenience if you're already on the north end of the island. Pack water, bring an umbrella, and expect straightforward beach conditions without the fuss.

Eagle Beach© ollieo637 via TripAdvisor

Eagle Beach

Eagle Beach runs along the southwestern coast between the high-rise strip and the airport, and it's consistently ranked among the Caribbean's best beaches. The sand is white and wide, the water is calm and swimmable, and the iconic divi divi trees lean sideways from decades of trade winds — those same winds that earned it four Travelers Choice awards also mean you'll deal with blowing sand most afternoons. The #5 ranking among Palm-Eagle Beach attractions reflects what it does well: fewer crowds than Palm Beach, better sand than most hotel beaches, and enough space that you can claim a spot without stepping over tourists. It's popular with couples and wedding parties for a reason — the divi divis photograph beautifully and the vibe is quieter than the action up north. Snorkeling is unremarkable here; the marine life and visibility don't compete with Baby Beach or Malmok. If you're bringing small kids, the wind can turn a beach day into a sand-in-everything situation. Visit early if you want calmer conditions.

Eat near this beach

Palm Beach

Gianni's Ristorante Italiano

Gianni's sits on the hotel strip in Palm Beach, an upscale Italian spot serving Neapolitan and Sicilian dishes. The #22 ranking among 155 Palm Beach restaurants puts it solidly mid-pack, and the ratings reflect that: 4.4 for food, 4.5 for atmosphere, 4.0 for value. It's a convenient walk from the high-rise hotels, takes reservations, and handles families without fuss. The upside is accessibility — if you're staying on Palm Beach and want Italian without getting in a car, it's there. The trade-off is that you're paying upper-mid pricing for food that doesn't always land as authentic. The atmosphere scores higher than the cooking, which tells you something about the experience. If you're traveling with kids who eat pasta and you need outdoor seating near your hotel, it works. If you're chasing the best Italian on the island or want your money to stretch further, you'll find stronger options in Savaneta or Eagle Beach.

Palm Beach

Dushi Bagels and Burgers

Dushi Bagels and Burgers sits just off the beach at the Playa Linda Resort in Palm Beach, and the 4.6 rating across more than four thousand reviews isn't a fluke. This is the place that figured out how to do American breakfast and lunch basics right—bagels, burgers, grill staples—without overcomplicating things or overcharging. The atmosphere score is the highest of the bunch, which makes sense when you're eating pancakes ten feet from the sand. The #10 ranking among 155 restaurants in the Palm-Eagle Beach strip says it holds its own against a lot of fancier rooms. Service and value ratings match the food score straight across, so what you see is what you get. It's casual, it's kid-friendly, and it moves. If you're staying nearby and need a solid breakfast that isn't a buffet or a burger that isn't from a chain, this works.

Palm Beach

Azia Restaurant & Lounge

Azia sits on J.E. Irausquin Boulevard in Palm Beach, across from the Hilton, and it's been holding the #12 spot among 155 restaurants in the area with nearly 3,000 reviews. The menu runs Asian fusion and sushi, executed at an upscale level without tipping into formal—atmosphere scores a 4.8, which tracks with the lounge setup. Food and service both land at 4.7, so the kitchen and floor staff are moving in step. The price tier falls at mid-to-upper range, and the value subrating of 4.5 suggests people think it's fair for what you get. It's also kid-friendly, which isn't always a given at this caliber in Palm Beach. Reservations aren't required, but with numbers like these, calling ahead on a high-season weekend would be the smarter play.

Stay near this beach

Palm Beach

Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino

The Aruba Marriott sits on L.G. Smith Boulevard in Palm Beach, right where the high-rise strip meets the sand. It's a full-scale resort with a casino attached, so expect crowds, especially around the pool and lobby bars. The 4.7 cleanliness rating and 4.6 service score suggest the operation runs tight despite the size, and sleep quality holds at 4.5, which matters when you're paying top-tier rates. It ranks #20 out of 26 hotels in the Palm-Eagle Beach zone, so it's middle-of-the-pack for the area — the location and service scores pull it up, the value rating at 4.2 reflects what you're spending. If you want the Marriott reliability and don't mind resort-scale energy, it works. The beach access is the real asset here; Palm Beach is wide and swimmable, and you're walking distance to most of the strip's restaurants and bars.

Palm Beach

Barcelo Aruba - All Inclusive

Barceló Aruba sits on Palm Beach, the high-rise hotel strip on the northwest coast, and it's fully all-inclusive — drinks, meals, non-motorized watersports, the works. The 4.7 location score tells you what you're paying for: direct beach access and walking distance to the casinos, shops, and other resorts that make Palm Beach the busiest stretch of sand on the island. It ranks #5 among Noord hotels with over 12,000 reviews, so you're looking at volume and consistency more than boutique charm. Service and cleanliness both land above 4.3, which matters when you're dealing with buffet lines and pool crowds. Sleep quality and rooms sit at 4.2 and 4.1 — solid but not exceptional. The value subrating is the lowest at 3.9, which tracks for a top-tier all-inclusive on prime real estate. If you want to park yourself on Palm Beach and not think about meal planning or bar tabs, this does the job. Just know you're trading some refinement for convenience and location.

Source: TripAdvisor · view on TripAdvisor →

Photos by individual contributors as credited above.

Review summaries are AI-paraphrased from public traveler reviews.