Anchorage· Aruba· Other Caribbean
Surfside Anchorage (Aruba)
12° 30.5′ N · 70° 1.9′ W · approximate
The 'Airport Anchorage': Aruba's main cruiser anchorage, inside the reef off Surfside Beach between the Renaissance Marina and the airport runway, a walk from downtown Oranjestad.
Practical
Anchor in 7-9 ft over sand and grass; good holding if you dig into sand - some dredged areas are table rock where anchors will not set (Virgintino 2015). Subject to strong gusts; some sea enters with the wind and ferry wakes make it rolly. Approach either outside the reef to Oranjestad's south entrance (about 2.5 nm from Barcadera) or up the inside channel keeping one-third of its width off the outer reef, minimum about 10 ft by Renaissance Island; after the second marker go to starboard (dredged, despite charts). Buoyage around the south entrance is red-right-returning, unlike most of the ABCs. Dinghy to the Renaissance Marina dinghy dock or the restaurant pier. A December 2023 Noonsite comment reports anchored boats being hit by local boats and says there are no other anchorages near town and the marina. Anchoring is allowed only in designated space (APA). Surfside Beach has a beach bar (aruba.com). Coordinate approx: inside the reef off the OSM Surfside Beach.
Best for
Anchoring within walking distance of Oranjestad
Season
Year-round in normal trades; rolly in strong wind
Nearby
- Barefoot Restaurant (Surfside)0.2 NM away
- Fort Zoutman (Oranjestad)0.6 NM away
- Wilhelmina Restaurant (Oranjestad)0.6 NM away
- Easy Laundry (Oranjestad)0.7 NM away
- Renaissance Marina (Oranjestad)0.7 NM away
- Wind Creek (ex-Renaissance) Marina Fuel & Water (Aruba)0.7 NM away
- Aruba Carnival0.8 NM away
- Fish House Aruba (Varadero)1 NM away