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Noord is the northernmost district of Aruba. It’s the tourist zone and where you’ll find the biggest resorts and some of the best restaurants. There are also lots of attractions in the area. I’ll list them here starting from the north and working my way south.
Westpunt
First is Westpunt. It’s the rugged northernmost point of the island. There’s a trail that wraps around the west to north coast. You can hike or drive it. We drove in a basic rental car and had no problems, so a 4×4 isn’t necessary. There are a few potholes along the road but nothing serious. The turn to the Westpunt Trail is on the way to the California Lighthouse.
Conch Shell Beach
The first point of interest is Conch Shell Beach, which is right after you turn off onto the trail. As the name indicates, there are several conch shells strewn about the beach. A sign indicates that the area is of significant cultural and historic importance to Aruba. Please don’t remove any shells!
Westpunt Boca
A bit further up the road is Westpunt Boca. This is one of my favorite natural places not just in Noord but on the entire island. It’s a spot where heavy winds push seawater into a cave, which shoots it back out in dramatic fashion. We spent a good amount of time admiring the shear force of nature. Try not to get too close to the edge!
I couldn’t decide which video to add so I put my two best ones below:
Westpunt Beach
A few minutes further down at the end of the Westpunt Trail is Westpunt Beach. It’s a beautiful collection of large boulders made smooth by the crashing waves. You can walk down the beach from the end of the road to check out the natural scenery.
As you’re exploring the beach, you’ll notice one small stretch with pink sand. That’s what stuck out the most to me, besides the boulders. The unfortunate thing is the amount of plastic that has washed up on the beach. I tried not to include any in my photos, but it’s a clear reminder we need to do better to protect our environment.
Westpunt Beach is not safe for swimming. The currents are very strong and the rocky coast makes it even more dangerous. There are plenty of other places in Noord to cool off in the water.
Sasarawichi Dunes
Inland from the coast of Westpunt Beach are the Sasarawichi Dunes. These rolling sand dunes can be accessed via the end of the Westpunt Trail and the road to California Lighthouse. It’s not permitted to drive on the dunes, but you can walk on them and enjoy the desert landscape.
We visited the Sasarawichi Dunes from the parking area on the road to the lighthouse. They’re a great place to spot lizards and see desert plants. Our toddler loved climbing on the rocks and playing in the soft powdery sand.
The dunes also make a scenic place to photograph the California Lighthouse, which towers above Noord and is visible from far away.
Dunes Beach
Walking east from the Sasarawichi Dunes towards the coast, you’ll come to Dunes Beach. You can also drive there down an unpaved road. It’s another rugged rocky beach where you can see the waves crashing onto the shore. Like Westpunt Beach just to the north, it’s not safe for swimming.
California Lighthouse
The California Lighthouse is one of the most popular attractions in Noord. It sits on a hill called Hudishibana just south of the Sasarawichi Dunes and is known locally as “Faro”.
The California Lighthouse was built between 1914 and 1916. It was designed by French architect Leon Jean-Marie Bourgeois. It takes its name from the wreck of the SS California, a British steamship that sank just offshore on September 23, 1891. The lighthouse the tallest structure on the island at 30 meters (98 feet), and is a monument protected by the governments of Aruba and the Netherlands. It was restored from 2015 to 2016.
It’s possible to climb up the 123 steps of the lighthouse for spectacular views of Noord and the northern side of Aruba. It costs US$5 per person (as of February 2024) to go up. Once up the narrow stairway, you’ll reach the caged top from where you can enjoy the views.
Lighthouse Keeper’s Residence
The lighthouse keeper’s residence, a few steps from the lighthouse, now serves as the Faro Blanco Restaurant. The first lighthouse keeper was Jacob Jacobs from Curaçao, while the last lighthouse keeper was Federico Fingal from Aruba in 1962.
An observation point next to the restaurant contains historic markers with more information on the lighthouse. There are also great views down the west coast of Aruba.
Beaches in Noord
There’s a stretch of good beaches heading down the west coast of Noord from the California Lighthouse.
Arashi Beach
The first is Arashi Beach, which is one of the best beaches on the island. The water is typically calm and the sand is soft and powdery.
There’s a small parking lot as well as bus service to Arashi Beach, and there are plenty of facilities. The Arashi Beach Shack serves good food and drinks and there are umbrellas and chairs for rent.
North Boca Catalina Beach
A little further south is North Boca Catalina Beach. It’s not a swimming beach but there were a few sunbathers there when we stopped by. This beach is more for snorkeling, and there were a few boats offshore with snorkelers in the water.
Boca Catalina Beach
Boca Catalina Beach is another nice beach with crystal clear water. It’s a tiny inlet with rocky cliffs on either side. It’s better for snorkeling rather than swimming.
Tres Trapi
A few steps south is Tres Trapi. It’s named for the three steps carved into the rock allowing easy access to the water. If you’re not snorkeling and just want to get into the water, it’s best to go during low tide when there’s a little beach to walk on.
Malmok Beach
From Boca Catalina, you can access Malmok Beach. It’s not really a beach, but rather a rocky limestone terrace. The reefs and wrecks offshore as well as the calm clear water make it good for snorkeling.
Hadicurari Beach
Finally, before reaching the crowded tourist area of Palm Beach, is Hadicurari Beach. It’s best for windsurfing and kitesurfing. The water is calm and shallow and is good for families with small children. The only negative was the high amount of seaweed when we were on the beach. Hadicurari Beach is also has a handful of local fishermen’s huts.
Palm Beach
Palm Beach is where you’ll find all the high-rise resorts and lots of shops and restaurants. It’s the most crowded area of Noord where we found everything to be overpriced, so we didn’t spend more than an hour there. We stayed just a few minutes away by car but only went to the heart of Palm Beach for lunch. If you’re looking for advice on what to see or do in Palm Beach, this definitely isn’t the right website for you. Sorry!
Butterfly Farm
The Butterfly Farm, just south of Palm Beach, is a great attraction for both adults and kids. It was founded in 1994 on the French side of Saint Martin/Sint Maarten with a branch opening in Aruba in 1999. It’s open daily until 4:30pm and admission is US$19 for adults and US$10 for children ages 4-17 (as of February 2024).
The actual space is quite small but there are plenty of butterflies fluttering around. There are feeders and boxes to protect the chrysalises as well as plenty of flowers and plants where the butterflies like to rest.
Guided tours run about every 15 minutes and last about 20 minutes. The enthusiastic guides explain the life cycle of these creatures, from egg to caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly. It was fascinating to learn about some of the species at the farm and the tour was entertaining overall.
Visitors can stay as long as they want. The best time to go is in the morning when the butterflies are most active. In addition to the butterflies, there’s a café and gift shop at the entrance.
Philip’s Animal Garden
Heading to the southeast side of Noord you’ll find Philip’s Animal Garden. It was established in 2009 by Philip Conrad Merryweather, an animal lover dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of exotic animals in Aruba.
Admission to Philip’s Animal Garden is US$10 for adults and US$5 for children ages 2 to 13 (as of February 2024) and includes a bag of food for the four-legged animals. It’s open daily and guided tours are also available. In addition to the animals on display, there’s a small snack bar in the center of the property.
My Thoughts on Philip’s Animal Garden
We spent about an hour at Philip’s Animal Garden and walked through the entire property. While it was nice to see many different types of animals and birds, we felt it was a bit disorganized. There was no clear path marked to guide visitors to all the pens and cages and almost no information or labels any of the animals. One large tour group we saw during our visit walked up the main path for about 15 minutes and left, missing several of the more interesting species.
Furthermore, there weren’t many workers on hand to answer questions and they didn’t seem very approachable to begin with. Only one was kind enough to point us in the right direction and tell us not to miss the monkeys. Also, some of the smaller animals didn’t look like they were kept in the best conditions.
Overall, while our toddler had a great time feeding the animals and seeing some exotic species, we weren’t too impressed. Here are several more photos of animals and scenery we saw at the garden:
Alto Vista Chapel
Finally, a short drive north of Philip’s Animal Garden is the Alto Vista Chapel. This small Catholic chapel dates back to 1750, when it was built by Domingo Silvestre, a missionary from Venezuela. It’s believed to be the first church established on Aruba. Silvestre is buried nearby.
The Alto Vista Chapel was abandoned in 1816 and fell into ruin. The present structure was built in 1952 at the same location and orientation of the original chapel. It measures 50 × 15 feet (15.2 × 4.6 meters) and contains stone pews outside to accommodate additional worshippers.
Outside the chapel are vendors selling religious items as well as snacks and drinks. There’s also the start of a cycling trail through the desert opposite the chapel.
