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Glass Bottom Boat in Aruba: Prices, Routes and Which One to Book
If you search for a glass bottom boat in Aruba, most of what comes up is actually a kayak. That’s fine if you want to paddle, but a lot of people just want to sit down, look through the floor, and see the reef go by. That’s what a boat gives you.
Here’s a plain comparison of the options so you can pick the one that fits your group.
The clear boat
This is a fully transparent acrylic boat. Not just a window in the floor: the sides are clear too, so the whole hull is a viewing panel. The trip runs 1.5 hours and stops at three spots on the northwest coast:
- Antilla shipwreck, the biggest World War II wreck in Aruba
- Boca Catalina, a clear cove known for coral and fish
- Tres Trapi, the island’s best-known spot for swimming with sea turtles
Snorkel gear, life jackets, water and soda are included. You can jump in at each stop or stay dry and watch from the boat.
Price: $60 per person with a minimum of 5 guests, or $600 for the whole boat (up to 10 people).
Departures: 9:00 AM, 11:30 AM, 2:00 PM and 4:30 PM.
Glass-sided tour boats
De Palm Tours runs the Seaworld Explorer, a larger boat with an underwater viewing deck. At the time of writing their site lists it at $55 for adults and $42 for kids, 1.5 hours, with fewer daily departures. It’s a solid option for big groups who don’t want to get in the water at all. The difference is the experience: you watch through side windows from a lower cabin rather than sitting in a see-through boat out in the open air, and there’s less of a snorkel focus.
Clear kayaks
Clear kayak tours in Aruba usually run around two hours, often in the mangroves on the south coast or at night with LED lights. They’re great if you want exercise and a quiet paddle. They’re less great for small kids, older travelers, or anyone who doesn’t want to paddle for two hours.
Which one should you book?
- Want the turtles and the wreck in one trip: the clear boat.
- Big group, nobody swims: a glass-sided tour boat or the clear boat as a private charter.
- Want to paddle and be active: a clear kayak.
- Group of 8 to 10: the private clear boat charter at $600 usually works out cheaper per person than paying separately.
Whatever you choose, book the morning slot if calm water matters most to you. The trade winds usually pick up as the day goes on.
What a glass bottom boat trip in Aruba is actually like
People picture a big ferry with a window in the floor. The clear boat is the opposite: small, low to the water, and see-through all around. You’re sitting maybe a foot above the surface, so the reef looks close, not like something far below a pane of glass. Kids lie flat on the floor. Adults lean over the sides. Everybody ends up taking the same photo of their feet floating over a school of fish.
Because it carries a maximum of 10 guests, it never feels crowded. There’s room to move around, and the captain can actually talk to you, point things out and answer questions instead of reading a script over a speaker.
Why the northwest coast
Aruba’s trade winds blow from the east most of the year. That makes the east and north coasts rough, and the west side calm. The three stops on the clear boat route are on that sheltered northwest stretch, which is why the water is usually flat and clear enough to see through a floor in the first place.
Common questions
Do I have to snorkel? No. Snorkel gear and life jackets are on board if you want to get in at each stop. Plenty of people stay on the boat the whole time and still see everything.
Can I bring kids? Yes, from age 1. There are no infant seats and infants can’t ride on a lap, so every child needs their own place.
What if it’s windy? The captain decides on the day. If conditions aren’t safe, the trip is called off and you’ll be helped to move to another date.
How far ahead should I book? You can book up to 2 hours before a departure, but with only 10 seats per trip, mornings and cruise days fill first.
The short version
If you want one water activity in Aruba that works for everyone in your group, sees a shipwreck and gives you a real chance at turtles, all in 1.5 hours, the clear boat is hard to beat for the price.