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Boardwalk Boutique Hotel Aruba
- Where:
- Why:An earlymoon island escape
- When:June 2025
- Who:Me and my fiancée, Erin
"Casitas, coconuts, and Caribbean calm"
A former coconut plantation turned soulful boutique stay, Boardwalk Boutique Hotel Aruba is the kind of place where morning sound baths, floating breakfasts, and hammock afternoons come standard. With 49 art-filled casitas, homegrown hospitality, and lush, palm-shaded grounds, it’s a refreshing take on Aruba — more local charm than resort polish.
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Kicking back at the casita
The hotel lobby
The main pool
A breakfast tower from The Coco Café, enjoyed on our private patio
Aruban blue lizards are a common sighting at the hotel
The outdoor gym area
The hotel shop by the lobby
Palm Beach as seen from the Boardwalk Aruba section
Mangel Halto, a prime snorkeling location
The inside of our casita
Boca Catalina Beach. Watersport outfitters are a common sighting up and down the coast
Mornings on the patio
Our casita 301
The casita kitchen and living area
Frank "Taki" Kelly on our foraging expedition on the rugged northern coast
Highs & Lows
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The warm, friendly, and intimate vibe — this place feels worlds away from the other high-rise hotels that line Palm Beach.
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The lush landscaping. Once a coconut plantation, Boardwalk is home to hundreds of coconut trees and native plant species, along with birds, bees, butterflies, and two cute cats (Shadow and Gordo).
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The hospitality. The hotel is locally owned and family-run. The team was fun and friendly and helped us with everything from finding a cool local spot for dinner to renting a car we could off-road with.
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They make it easy to relax here, from the thoughtfully laid out casitas and the palapa-lined pool to yoga, massage, spa treatments, meditation, and sound baths.
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Foraging along the rugged north coast with Aruba native Frank “Taki” Kelly followed by an alfresco dinner he cooked at our casita.
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Casitas are not totally secluded. Landscaping does a lot, but you’ll need to lower your black-out shades for total privacy.
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The on-site, all-day restaurant is solid, but you’ll want to venture off-site to mix things up if you’re staying a while.
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The hotel isn’t oceanfront. There’s a shuttle that runs there regularly, and we preferred the pool anyway, but it’s worth noting.
Important Bits
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Type
Adults-only tropical oasis in a sea of chain hotels
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Vibe
Bright and cheery, it feels like "One Happy Island" here.
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Location
Palm Beach, between the Marriott and Ritz-Carlton
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Rooms
Each of the 49 casitas is uniquely designed, with fully equipped kitchenettes, private patios with BBQ and hammock, and king or queen beds. The one- and two-bedroom casitas sleep more than two and are better suited for a family. Some are stacked on top of one another, perfect for a pair of couples. Book the plunge pool casita for privacy and romance, and don’t miss the floating breakfast experience in your pool.
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Pre-Arrival & Arrival Experience
The website is easy to use, with clear booking and thoughtful add-ons like romance or wellness packages. Pre-check-in and local recs came via a handy guest portal. After a four-hour flight from NYC and a quick 20-minute taxi, we arrived to a curated itinerary, a framed photo of our engagement, and a chilled bottle of Champagne in our casita.
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Future Forward
Boardwalk walks the walk with compost bins in every casita, reusable water bottles made from recycled sugar cane, and locally made goods (we picked up reef-safe sunscreen from Aruba Aloe in the lobby shop). Art by Aruban creators brightens the grounds, and a donation box lets guests share unused essentials with local families. The hotel also recently launched an artist-in-residence program to spotlight creatives on site.
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Music
A steel pan drummer played renditions of popular songs during dinner (Friday is Caribbean night). And yes, he played Kokomo by the Beach Boys. Otherwise, no music (that I can remember) save the sounds of bird song and the rustling of palm trees.
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Year Opened
Originally opened in 1989. Bought by owners and twin sisters Kimberly and Stephanie in 2011. Renovated in 2018.
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Designed By
Local artists bring the casitas to life with vibrant murals, including four painted by Mexican artist Tana Gaxiola, inspired by Aruba’s flora and fauna. Designer Claudia Ruiz Vasquez selected pieces from the Arte Sano foundation—large-scale works by artisans in reintegration programs—adding depth and heart to the already soulful, Caribbean-accented design.
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Health & Wellness
An outdoor fitness area has a bench press, pull-up bar, and free weights, while an air-conditioned room next door has a treadmill, bike, cable machine, and more free weights. (It’s a nice set up.) There are yoga mats in your room, so you can practice on your private patio, or you can book a session with an instructor on the outdoor yoga deck. Massages and treatments are available in a small spa or the comfort of your casita, and there’s a tranquility pool for general relaxation or morning meditations you can book at the front desk.
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Food
Breakfast was the standout: a multi-tiered tower of eggs, croissants, yogurt, waffles, fresh juices, and coffee delivered to our patio. Lunch was best as a beach picnic, with a pink cooler stocked by the hotel. We had one dinner at Coco Café (Caribbean night, light and fresh) but the most memorable meal was cooked by chef Taki at our casita: seaweed soup, sweet-and-salty shark, and octopus with foraged island ingredients. You can DIY with a barbecue box or groceries from a local market—handy, since dining out in Aruba adds up.
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Bar, Events & Nightlife
Tuesday is Tapas Night and Friday is Caribbean Night, both feature music and special menus at Coco Cafe. Cocktails are well made here, but it’s more of a happy hour by the pool crowd than an after-dark one.
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Minibar & Retail
You can shop local at the hotel lobby shop, which sells from brands like Aruba Aloe, Sasha handbags, and Mersea Jewelry. We picked up some local hot sauce, coffee liquor, and stroopwafel as souvenirs on our way out.
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Accessibility
Technically wheelchair accessible, but wheelchair users may not have the easiest time navigating the grounds or accessing the beach. While spacious, casitas are not equipped with specific accessibility features required for full wheelchair access.
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Pet Friendly
No, though exceptions can be made for service dogs or special needs assistance dogs.
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Children
Over 18 only
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BEST TIME TO STAY
Aruba is below the hurricane belt and is consistently 85 degrees and sunny with a nice breeze, so any time is a good time. Winter is the high season, and you’ll find the best deals in the summer.
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Price
The average daily rate in 2025 is $544, a reasonable splurge for a thoughtful, locally rooted experience in Aruba.
- Tel.
- Website
Boardwalk Boutique Hotel Aruba
Bakval 20, Noord, Aruba
Zeerover
Savaneta 270, Savaneta, Aruba
Boca Catalina + Tres Trapi
Boca Catalina Beach, Aruba
Arikok National Park
Arikok National Park, San Fuego, Santa Cruz, Aruba
In the Area
Hotel Location Bakval 20, Noord, Aruba
Palm Beach is Aruba’s high-rise hub, lined with big-name resorts, shops, restaurants, and a Ritz-Carlton casino—but Boardwalk stands apart with its peaceful, local vibe. South lies Oranjestad, charming but crowded on cruise days. Head north to Noord for quiet beaches. Aruba’s small and drivable, so you can easily explore it all.