Home / Guides / Aruba Boat Tour Guides
Clear Boat Tour Aruba: What You’ll Actually See in 90 Minutes
Ninety minutes doesn’t sound like long, but on the clear boat it’s paced well. Three stops, enough time in the water at each one, and none of the dead time you get on bigger tours. Here’s how it usually goes.
Boarding
You’ll get a meeting point and arrival time in your confirmation email. Show up about 15 minutes early, leave your shoes on the sand, and climb aboard. The first thing everyone does is look down. The floor is clear, so you’re standing on top of the water from the very first minute.
Stop 1: the Antilla shipwreck
The Antilla is a German cargo ship that was scuttled off Aruba’s northwest coast in 1940. It’s the biggest World War II wreck in Aruba and one of the most photographed dive sites on the island. Parts of it sit close enough to the surface that you can make out the shape from above. Snorkelers float over the top and look straight down into the hull.
Stop 2: Boca Catalina
Boca Catalina is a small cove with very clear water and a lot of fish. It’s a good stop for first-time snorkelers because it’s usually calm. Even if you don’t get in, you’ll see plenty through the floor.
Stop 3: Tres Trapi
The name means “three steps” in Papiamento, after the steps carved into the rock on shore. This is the turtle stop. Sea turtles feed along this stretch of coast, and it’s known as the best place on the island to swim with them. Nobody can promise wildlife on a given day, but this is where your chances are highest.
What’s included
- An experienced local captain
- Snorkel gear and life jackets
- Bottled water and soda
Bring a towel, swimwear and reef-safe sunscreen. A phone in a waterproof pouch is worth it: the floor shots are the photos people end up posting.
Who it’s for
Families, couples, groups of friends, and anyone who wants to see the reef without a long swim. The minimum age is 1. It’s not recommended for pregnant travelers or anyone with back problems or a heart condition, and the boat isn’t wheelchair or stroller accessible.