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Dos Playa Aruba & Boca Prins: Arikok Beach Guide 2026
Dos Playa Aruba is two small coves cut into the limestone on the island’s rugged north coast, inside Arikok National Park. Boca Prins, with its big white dunes, is the next bay along. Both are wild, windy and beautiful, and neither is a swimming beach. Come here for the scenery, the walk and the feeling of a completely different Aruba from the calm west coast.
Read this first: no swimming
The north coast faces the open Atlantic swell and the trade winds. Every source we checked says the same thing about these beaches:
- The tourism board describes the sea at Dos Playa as rough with a strong undertow, not for inexperienced swimmers or bodyboarders.
- Frommer’s calls swimming in the first cove too dangerous because of a strong current.
- Boardwalk Aruba, writing about the park, says swimming at Boca Prins is prohibited because of undercurrents and that swimming in the park’s bays is strongly discouraged.
You’ll sometimes see surfers at Dos Playa. That’s experienced people reading conditions they know, not an invitation. There are no lifeguards and no facilities on the sand. Enjoy it from the beach.
Getting to Dos Playa Aruba
Both beaches are in Arikok National Park, which covers almost a fifth of the island. The main entrance and visitor center is at San Fuego, on the road between the low-rise area and Santa Cruz. From the hotel zone it’s just under 40 minutes’ drive.
From the visitor center, follow the main park road toward the coast and Boca Prins. Dos Playa is a walk of about 15 to 20 minutes west along the coast from Boca Prins, according to Frommer’s. Some people reach it on the park’s Rooi Tambu trail or by 4×4.
About vehicles:
- A 4×4 or high-clearance SUV is strongly recommended. Park roads have gullies, ruts and rough sections.
- Check your rental agreement. Some companies restrict off-road driving.
- ATVs, UTVs and motorbikes are not allowed in the protected areas of the park.
- No driving on the sand or dunes, anywhere.
- Public buses don’t go into the park.
Park fees and hours
Arikok charges a conservation fee for adults at the entrance. Published amounts vary between sources and have gone up over the years, so check the current fee with the park before you go. Children have entered free according to Lonely Planet. Hours have been listed as roughly 8 a.m. to the mid-afternoon, about 3:30 to 4 p.m. Rangers aren’t on duty after hours and there are no lights inside the park, so don’t plan on watching the sunset from Dos Playa.
What you’ll find at Boca Prins
Boca Prins is a bay framed by limestone bluffs and tall white sand dunes shaped by the steady trade winds. There’s a parking area and the Boca Prins restaurant and bar nearby for a cold drink and a bite. It is effectively the only food stop in this part of the park, and one of the few places with restrooms.
A fun bit of trivia: the International Astronomical Union named the exoplanet WASP-39b “Bocaprins” after this beach.
Turtles on the north coast
Dos Playa and Boca Prins are sea turtle nesting beaches. Lonely Planet says leatherback and green turtles nest at Dos Playa, depending on the time of year. Depending on the season you may see marked nests. Stay well clear, don’t walk over nest areas, and never use lights on the beach at dusk.
What to bring
- Lots of water. There are few trash cans and shops, so carry a refillable bottle and take your rubbish out.
- Sun protection: a hat, reef-safe sunscreen and a long-sleeve layer.
- Sturdy shoes for limestone and sand.
- Snacks, unless you’re planning on the Boca Prins restaurant.
Rules worth respecting
Keep the area clean. No driving on sand and no barbecues on the beach, as the tourism board puts it. Stay on marked roads and trails. Keep an eye out for the shoco, Aruba’s burrowing owl, which lives in the park.
When to go
Early is best. You’ll beat the heat, the light is softer for photos, and the jeep tours haven’t arrived yet. The trade winds blow hard on this coast, so expect blowing sand.
Who Dos Playa suits
It suits hikers, photographers, anyone with a 4×4 and a sense of adventure, and travelers who want to see the wild side of Aruba. It doesn’t suit families looking for a swim or anyone without a suitable vehicle who doesn’t want to walk. Pair it with the park’s caves or a west-coast swim in the afternoon, and you’ve seen both faces of the island in one day.
Dos Playa FAQ
Can I swim at Dos Playa?
We wouldn’t. Every source we checked warns about rough water and strong undertow or currents, and swimming at neighboring Boca Prins is prohibited. Enjoy the view from the sand.
Do I need a 4×4?
It is strongly recommended. The park’s roads have gullies and rough patches. Walking from the Boca Prins parking area along the coast is the other way in.
Is there food nearby?
Yes. The Boca Prins restaurant and bar sits near the bay and is effectively the only food stop in this part of the park.
Are there restrooms?
Only at the visitor center and at the restaurant between Boca Prins and the Fontein cave area, according to Boardwalk Aruba. There are none on the beaches themselves.
Can I visit after the park closes?
We wouldn’t. Rangers aren’t on duty after hours and there is no lighting in the park.
Can I slide down the dunes at Boca Prins?
Frommer’s mentions sliding down the dunes as one of the things people do here. Stay off any marked nest areas, keep vehicles off the sand, and leave the dunes as you found them.