The Bent Page

Many people like to get away from the main hotel area of Aruba and come to the southern end of the island. There, they find Baby Beach, so named because the water is shallow, calm, and warm. Here’s a first glance.

I took this photo on a hazy Saturday morning at about 6:30 in the morning. Still, the water comes through as clear and blue as it really is. That ridge of coral is a decent snorkeling spot. The best time to come here is early in the morning on a weekday. Weekends usually crowd with more locals than tourists. Here’s another shot.

The one above really shows the wide expanse of sand, which goes on to the left quite a distance beyond where this frame ends. Can you imagine this place back in the 1940’s when Exxon owned the refinery on the island and just a few yards away they had a full-blown nightclub? It must have been fantastic. Well, it still is, just a little different.

There are several of these thatched huts that face the water. If you arrive early with your clan you can claim one. A snack stand, beach chair rental, and toilet facilities are also available. In that last photo, you can see a tanker bound for sea, which is a reminder that the refinery still works on this island.

Again, go early, enjoy the snorkeling and sunbathing. Then, stop at Hotel Astoria or Charlie’s Bar in San Nicolaas on the way back to your vacation rental. Nothing like an ICE-COLD Coca-Cola after some hours at the beach.