A Beloved Aruba Beach: A Tranquil, Tourist-Free Gem with Lush Mangrove Scenery

As far as tropical destinations go, Aruba is one of the most popular and gorgeous options in the entire Caribbean. Although Aruba is a relatively small island (roughly 20 miles long and 6 miles wide), it’s jam-packed with white-sand beaches, lovely small towns, and plenty of modern infrastructure. Because it’s such a popular tourist destination, you’d assume all of its beaches would be crowded. But thankfully, that’s not the case with Mangel Halto Beach on the island’s western side.

Tucked at the base of the town of Pos Chiquito, Mangel Halto looks pretty small on the map. It’s also encircled by a dense mangrove forest, so it’s not as open and inviting as something like Eagle Beach, which is consistently ranked as one of the world’s best. However, the trees and the surrounding waters are what make Mangel Halto such a (literal) hidden gem. In fact, it’s one of the few beaches on Aruba that draws more locals than visitors.

But what really makes Mangel Halto such an inviting beach is its snorkeling and diving opportunities. In fact, a local diving company uses the beach for training and exploration. So, let’s suit up and see why Mangel Halto is a must-visit when planning the perfect trip to Aruba.

Once you reach Mangel Halto, you’ll see how small it is. The sand is not quite as pristine or soft as other Aruba beaches, thanks to the mixture of sand, dirt, and grass on the ground. Mangroves are on either side, but you can walk through the forest on the left (facing the water). In fact, if you want a unique way to get into the water, hiking through the mangroves is an excellent option that adds some exotic adventure to the occasion. Otherwise, there are stairs leading to the water, or you can wade in from the sand.

There is a scattering of wooden huts throughout the beach, offering shelter and shade to escape the sun. These are free for visitors, so when the beach is crowded, they’ll be in short supply. They also don’t have any chairs available, so if you plan to stay a while, you should bring your own.

The water here is much rockier than other beaches, so water shoes are highly recommended. The water stays shallow for a while, then drops off as you go farther into the ocean. It’s at this point you want to use your snorkeling gear. There’s a gorgeous reef full of local fish directly in front of the beach (according to Google Maps). However, to the right, there’s a sunken ship. This ship was placed in the water in 2010 by the JADS Dive Center (located in Oranjestad) to act as a second reef for fish and other sea life.