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You must certainly have already seen this beach on Instagram, with turquoise water where pink flamingos walk among sunbeds… welcome to Flamingo Beach, the most photographed beach in Aruba! Snorkeling there is not really worth the trip, but take your mask and fins if you spend the day on the island. In the small artificial lagoon build in front of the beach, you can actually see a decent diversity of Caribbean fish.

Flamingo Beach, Renaissance Island
Large breakwaters encloses Flamingo Beach’s “lagoon”.

How to get to Flamingo Beach snorkeling spot

Flamingo Beach is located on Renaissance Island, privately owned by Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino, Oranjestad main resort. There are only two options to get there.

The first is to stay at Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino: as a guest, you will be guaranteed unlimited access to the island. The second option is to buy a pass ($125/pers., meal and drinks included) which will allow you to spend the day on the island.

This option can be uncertain: the passes can only be bought the day before and their number is limited (when the hotel occupancy exceeds 80%, no more passes are sold). Please note that Flamingo Beach is an adults-only beach.

Exceptions are from 9 a.m to 10 a.m., when the children may come and see the pink flamingos. Iguana Beach, a few minutes away, is the family-friendly beach for the rest of the day.

Flamingo Beach - Renaissance Island snorkeling map

The resort’s taxi boats are available to and from Renaissance Island all day long. The departure point is below the hotel. It takes about 10 minutes by boat to reach the island, which is a little towards the south, in front of the airport runways.

Once you’re on Renaissance Island, the signs indicate Flamingo Beach to the right.

Water entrance for snorkeling Flamingo Beach

You can get into the water from any area of the beach.

Flamingo Beach lagoon snorkeling exploration

Flamingo Beach spot is a little artificial lagoon, bordered by a barrier of rocks. This lagoon has been created in order to protect the beaches (also artificial) from the waves and to allow visitors to swim safely.

Orangespotted filefish at Flamingo Beach
Juvenile orangespotted filefish live in the lagoon’s rocky parts.

In the “lagoon”, the maximum depth is 5-7ft/1.50-2m. The seabed is pretty poor. It is mainly covered in sand and seagrass and you must get close to the breakwater (located a hundred meters away from the beach) in order to find rocky areas, which offer a more attractive environment.

Many small fish find shelter in the “lagoon”; which offers calm waters and a few predators (except small barracuda and garfish that can be seen sometimes). You can also spot here a nice diversity of Caribbean fish, such as yellowtail snapper, schoolmaster snapper, orangespotted filefish, beau gregory and several species of grunts and tangs.

Schoolmaster snapper at Flamingo Beach
The schoolmaster snapper is one of the most common fish species in the lagoon.

Flamingo Beach is the perfect spot for first-time snorkelers, but the more experienced will quickly get bored here.

Restaurants and accommodation

You’ll find on Flamingo Beach burgers and snacks. Otherwise, there is a restaurant in front of Iguana Beach (the other beach of the island).

 

  • Level required Beginner
  • Maximum depth7ft/2m
  • Water entranceFrom a sandy beach
  • Visitor numbersMedium to high
  • Access costsCost of a stay at Renaissance Aruba Hotel & Casino, or day pass to the island ($125/pers.)
  • Restaurants nearbyYes

MAP Spot

These snorkeling spots are accessible to beginners and kids. You will enter the water gradually from a beach, or in a less than 3ft. deep area. The sea is generally calm, shallow, with almost no waves or currents. These spots are usually located in marked and/or monitored swimming areas. It is not necessary to swim long distances to discover the sea life.

This level only apply when the spot experiences optimal sea and/or weather conditions. It is not applicable if the sea and/or weather conditions deteriorate, in particular in the presence of rough sea, rain, strong wind, unusual current, large tides, waves and/or swell. You can find more details about the definition of our snorkeling levels on our snorkeling safety page.