Mangel Halto Beach

Mangel Halto Beach – a jewel surrounded by mangroves

If you’re looking for a beach away from the busy tourist centres, Mangel Halto is the place to be. Nestled on the southern coast of Aruba, this hidden beach will enchant you with its natural scenery, cared for by dense mangroves and trees. This beach has two parts. One is calm and shallow, the other is not actually a beach, but a ladder that takes you into the sea and you can snorkel right away.

First bay you see is not the destination

If you park by the beach (by the shop), you will reach a shallow bay. This part is nice, but the entrance to the sea goes through corals and it is very uncomfortable without water shoes. Also, the water is shallow all the time, so it’s not worth it.

While it may look like the approach is stone-free, in this case, appearances are deceiving. We fell for it too and quickly went back for flip-flops to make exploring the bay less painful.

However, we did see a few birds that make their home here, and you’ll also come across some beautiful coral and large shells in the sea.

Hidden gem

But if you head to the right, towards the thick mangroves, you will find paths between them straight into the turquoise sea. This entrance is sandy and very comfortable. A bonus is the beautiful greenery that adds to the atmosphere as you enter the sea.

We could have been here the whole time. There was no one else on the beach but us, so we felt like we were on a deserted island.

If you go into the sea through the mangroves, the water gradually gets deeper, so it is also suitable for swimmers. Mangel Halto is one of the best snorkelling spots in Aruba. Just a few metres from the shore is a coral reef where you can observe colourful fish, sea urchins or even stingrays.

Walk through the forest to the second entrance

After we had our fill of the views and the sea, we set out to explore the surrounding area. You walk around the trees on wooden bridges. Here and there they give way and you get a view of the sea in all its glory. At the end, you come out onto the main road, where you will find a second entrance to the sea via ladders. Since we prefer white sand, we didn’t even test it and returned to our best spot.

There are also wooden gazebos on Mangel Halto, which provide a pleasant place to relax in the shade. However, there are no sun loungers or a bar. Since this beach is completely unorganized, you need to bring everything you need, no matter which part you choose.

How to get to Mangel Halto?

This beach is just a 15-minute drive from Oranjestad, the capital of Aruba. The best option is to rent a car, giving you the flexibility to explore other beautiful places in the area. Alternatively, you can take a taxi or local buses that run to the nearby village of Pos Chiquito, from where it’s just a short walk to the beach, or head here from nearby Baby Beach.