Aruba is the westernmost of the ABC Islands, 27 kilometres off the Venezuelan coast, and sits reliably outside the Caribbean hurricane belt. Its northwest-facing coast shelters Oranjestad harbour and the long beaches of Palm Beach and Eagle Beach, while the eastern and southern shores expose the rugged volcanic rock of the windward side, washed by consistent Atlantic swells. A motor yacht charter based in Aruba uses the island primarily as a base: comfortable at anchor off the west coast, and well provisioned through the capital.
The motor yacht fleet available for an Aruba charter covers a wide range of sizes and styles, from sport cruisers of 20 metres suited to day charters and beach access to 60-metre displacement vessels capable of extended passages toward Curacao and Bonaire. Most carry eight to twelve guests in four to six cabins, with covered deck areas adapted for trade-wind conditions and water toys for calm-water days.
Weekly charter rates for motor yachts based in Aruba typically range from 45,000 to 350,000 euros. The advance provisioning allowance of roughly 30 percent covers fuel, food, drink, marina fees in Oranjestad, and park entry for diving in Bonaire. Fuel and provisioning are efficient in Aruba, and the marina infrastructure is among the best in the region.
Aruba’s most distinctive dive site is the Antilla, a 120-metre German freighter scuttled in 1940 and now lying in around 18 metres of water off the northwest coast, one of the largest accessible wrecks in the Caribbean. Baby Beach, at the island’s southeastern tip, offers protected shallow water ideal for families and beginning snorkellers. The Aruba Marine Park covers the western shore and includes natural pools, natural bridges, and the Boca Catalina reef, all reachable by tender. Oranjestad’s port allows evening access to the town centre by dinghy.
