Arashi Beach Sunset: Times, Views, and Getting Home

Arashi faces west, and Aruba's tourism office calls it a popular sunset spot. You can watch the sun go down over the Caribbean with very little planning. Just know what time it happens and how you are getting home.

Sunset times by month

These are Gaisma's times for Oranjestad, around the 21st of each month. Arashi will be very close. Aruba's tourism office says sunsets typically come between 6:00 and 7:00 PM.

January: 6:37 PM
February: 6:48 PM
March: 6:51 PM
April: 6:53 PM
May: 6:59 PM
June: 7:08 PM
July: 7:09 PM
August: 6:57 PM
September: 6:36 PM
October: 6:18 PM
November: 6:11 PM
December: 6:20 PM

Where to watch from

On the sand at Arashi. Low and close to the water. You get the reflection and the sound of the waves.

Up at the California Lighthouse. The tourism office recommends sunset here and lists the tower as open until 7:00 PM. You see a wider view from the higher ground. Confirm the closing time before you climb.

The listed closing time comes before sunset in June and July, so on those dates plan to watch from outside the tower. Park only in proper spots and stay off the sand and dunes with your vehicle.

The green flash

Aruba's lighthouse page mentions that you might catch the green flash when the sun dips into the Caribbean. It is a brief flicker of green at the very last moment. You need a clear horizon, and even then it often does not happen. Enjoy it if you see it. The sunset is worth the trip anyway.

Timing with your set

Your set is held under your name from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. After that, the hold ends. Sunset comes more than an hour later in every month of the year. Here are two good ways to handle the gap:

Spend the afternoon on your chairs, go for a walk or a final swim, then lay your towels down on the sand for sunset.
Leave at 5:00 PM, drive up to the lighthouse, and watch from there.

Photo tips

Arrive early. Some of the best color can come 20 minutes before and after the sun sets.
Stand at the waterline for reflections.
Expose for the sky, and let your subject go dark for a silhouette.
Keep your phone in a closed bag until you need it, since blowing sand gets everywhere.

Getting home

This is the part people forget. Arubus L10A has a listed span that ends at 6:10 PM, so a sunset watcher who relies on the bus can get stuck. Check the current timetable for the return direction, or plan on a taxi. Taxis to and from the Arashi area use official zone fares, and a $5 surcharge applies from 11:00 PM to 7:00 AM, plus all day Sunday and on holidays. Before you go, save a taxi number and confirm your pickup, since you are unlikely to find a cab waiting up here. Check taxi.aw for your fare.

If you are driving, take the road back slowly and watch for walkers and cyclists. Aruba's code of conduct asks drivers to be respectful of cyclists.

What to bring for the evening

A light layer for the breeze
A phone flashlight, though keep it pointed down and off near any turtle activity
Water and a snack
A towel to sit on

Start the day the easy way

Make sunset the end of a full day. Our set is one big umbrella and two beach chairs, set up and anchored before you arrive, at $120.00 per set per day, all in. Our Arashi Beach guide tells you how to spend the hours before the sun goes down.

Book your set at least 24 hours ahead. Confirmation comes right away with a map.

Source: Aruba.com: Arashi Beach, Gaisma: Oranjestad Sun Times, Aruba.com: Sunset and Sunrise Time, Aruba.com: California Lighthouse, Aruba Code of Conduct, Arubus Line L10A, VisitAruba: 2026 Taxi Rules. Conditions change, so check on the day.