Explore
Everything San Nicolas has
Beaches, heritage, Carnival, makers and places to stay on Aruba’s Sunrise Side.
Sea & beaches
Only Baby Beach and Rodger’s Beach are for swimming. The east coast has strong currents.
Photo: Rick Zwart, CC BY-SA 3.0
Baby Beach
A shallow, calm lagoon at the southern tip; turtles are often seen. Stay inside the marked snorkel area. Free parking, toilets, showers, huts and snorkel rental.
How to get there
- From Main Street: 7 km, about 15 min · from Oranjestad: 26 km, about 40 min
- Bus: Arubus L900 from the San Nicolas bus station to Baby Beach
- Free parking, toilets and showers
Photo: Ginelly.Q, CC BY 4.0
Rodger’s Beach
A calm bay with fishing boats beside Baby Beach, named after Capt. Robert Rodgers of the refinery. New road and parking lot in 2025.
How to get there
- From Main Street: 7 km, about 15 min · from Oranjestad: 26 km, about 40 min
- Bus: L900 to Baby Beach, then a short walk west
- Free parking lot (new in 2025)
Photo: Ginelly.Q, CC BY 4.0
Boca Grandi
The island’s top kiteboarding spot and a sea-turtle nesting beach. Not for swimming.
How to get there
- From Main Street: 6 km, about 15 min · from Oranjestad: 24 km, about 40 min
- Free parking
- Easiest by car or taxi
The east coast · Photo: Shahayrac, CC BY 4.0
Grapefield & Bachelor’s Beach
Quiet beaches north and south of Boca Grandi. Strong currents: not for swimming.
How to get there
- Grapefield from Main Street: 7 km, about 20 min
- Bachelor’s Beach from Main Street: 5 km, about 10 min
- Easiest by car or taxi
The natural bridge in 1964 · Photo: Arthur Meiners, Coleccion Aruba, CC BY-SA 4.0
Seroe Colorado natural bridge
A small natural bridge with blowholes. A moderate hike from the end of the road; follow the white arrows.
How to get there
- Drive to the end of the Seroe Colorado road, past the Colony
- Then a moderate hike: follow the white arrows
A sea turtle off Aruba · Photo: Serge Melki, CC BY 2.0
Sea turtles
Nesting March to September, hatching May to November. Turtle hotline: +297 592 9393.
History & heritage
San Nicolas grew around the Lago refinery, which opened in 1924. Workers came from across the Caribbean.
Photo: Jesse Rasmijn, CC BY-SA 4.0
Museum of Industry
In the 40-metre water tower opened in August 1939; a museum since 2016 on phosphate, gold, oil, aloe and tourism. +297 584 7090.
How to get there
- 4 min walk from the San Nicolas bus station
- Bus: Arubus L1, L2 or L3 from Oranjestad
- From Oranjestad: 19 km, about 30 min
Photo: Caribiana, CC BY-SA 4.0
San Nicolas Community Museum
In the 1939 Nicolaas Store on Main Street: fossils, a colonial kitchen and barbershop, old newspapers. Hours vary.
How to get there
- In town, a few minutes from the bus station
- Bus: Arubus L1, L2 or L3 from Oranjestad
- From Oranjestad: 19 km, about 30 min
Photo: Caribiana, CC BY-SA 4.0
Seroe Colorado Lighthouse
First built in wood in 1880; the stone tower and electric light date from 1925. Still active.
How to get there
- From Main Street: 7 km, about 15 min · from Oranjestad: 25 km, about 40 min
- At the end of Seroe Colorado; easiest by car or taxi
Photo: JohnathanBaena, CC BY-SA 3.0
The Red Anchor
Placed on 31 March 1985, when the refinery closed, in memory of all seamen lost at sea. At the junction to Baby Beach and Boca Grandi.
How to get there
- From Main Street: 4 km, about 10 min · from Oranjestad: 23 km, about 35 min
- At the junction to Baby Beach and Boca Grandi
Lago Colony in 1956 · Photo: Arthur Meiners, Coleccion Aruba, CC BY-SA 4.0
Lago Colony
The American refinery town, 1924 to 1985: 377 homes, a school, a hospital and a bowling alley. A few houses remain.
How to get there
- From Main Street: 6 km, about 10 min · from Oranjestad: 25 km, about 40 min
- Bus: L900 runs through Seroe Colorado to Baby Beach
Photo: Holger Zscheyge, CC BY 2.0
Charlie’s Bar
Pouring since 18 September 1941; its walls are a museum of their own.
How to get there
- 4 min walk from the San Nicolas bus station
- From Oranjestad: 19 km, about 30 min
The command post · Photo: Jesse Rasmijn, CC BY-SA 4.0
Juwana Morto battery
A 1940 coastal battery with three guns that never fired in combat; the command bunker is a protected monument.
The grotto in 1963 (cropped) · Photo: Arthur Meiners, Coleccion Aruba, CC BY-SA 4.0
Lourdes Grotto
Built in 1958 at Seroe Preto, with a 700 kg statue of Mary. The 11 February procession ends here.
How to get there
- From Main Street: 2 km, about 5 min · from Oranjestad: 21 km, about 30 min
- About 30 min walk from the San Nicolas bus station
Music & Carnival
Refinery workers from Trinidad and the English-speaking islands brought steel pan, calypso and Carnival to San Nicolas.
J’ouvert Morning
The pre-dawn pyjama jump-up through downtown San Nicolas, the start of the Carnival weekend.
The Lighting Parade
A night parade of lit-up costumes through town.
San Nicolas Grand Carnival Parade
The south’s grand parade, from and back to Joe Laveist Sport Park.
Steel bands
Aruba Invaders (since the 1940s), All Stars (1951) and Caribbean Stars keep the sound of San Nicolas alive.
Shop & markets
Take home something made here. Every shop on Main Street is on the Shop page.
Plaza Lolita · Photo: Ginelly.Q, CC BY 4.0
San Nicolas Pop-Up Market
Local makers, food and music at Plaza Lolita on Main Street, the last Saturday of the month (not in December).
How to get there
- Plaza Lolita, Main Street
- Bus: Arubus L1, L2 or L3 from Oranjestad
- From Oranjestad: 19 km, about 30 min
ArtisA Gallery, Main Street
ArtisA Gallery
Original art by Aruban artists, B. v/d Veen Zeppenfeldstraat 6.
How to get there
- 4 min walk from the San Nicolas bus station
- Bus: Arubus L1, L2 or L3 from Oranjestad
- From Oranjestad: 19 km, about 30 min
Grisaleos set by Alejandra Vallejo at Space21
Space21
Work by more than 50 local artists and makers, B. v/d Veen Zeppenfeldstraat 21.
How to get there
- 3 min walk from the San Nicolas bus station
- Bus: Arubus L1, L2 or L3 from Oranjestad
- From Oranjestad: 19 km, about 30 min
Photo: Natalie Liao Jen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Nicolaas Store
The 1939 building on Main Street with Kulture Cafe and the Community Museum.
How to get there
- 3 min walk from the San Nicolas bus station
- Bus: Arubus L1, L2 or L3 from Oranjestad
Stay
Stay by the sea on the Sunrise Side: a resort on Baby Beach, holiday apartments and villas in Seroe Colorado.
Photo: Rick Zwart, CC BY-SA 3.0
Secrets Baby Beach Aruba
An adults-only, all-inclusive resort on Baby Beach (opened 2025). Sero Colorado 289.
How to get there
- From Main Street: 7 km, about 15 min · from the airport: about 35 min
- Bus: Arubus L900 from the San Nicolas bus station to Baby Beach
Photo: Ginelly.Q, CC BY 4.0
NANKI
Holiday apartments in Seroe Colorado, by Nanki bay next to Rodger’s Beach.
How to get there
- From Main Street: 7 km, about 15 min
- In Seroe Colorado, near Rodger’s Beach
Photo: JohnathanBaena, CC BY-SA 3.0
Holiday homes near Baby Beach
Villas, cottages and apartments for 2 to 16 guests, many a few minutes’ walk from Baby Beach. Browse them on Airbnb or Google Maps.
How to get there
- Most are in Seroe Colorado, a few minutes from Baby Beach
- Bus: Arubus L900 from the San Nicolas bus station to Baby Beach
Have a place to stay?
Local hosts are listed for free: get in touch.
Have a place in San Nicolas?
Kitchens, guesthouses, shops, guides, dive and kite schools, musicians: every San Nicolas business is listed for free.
Bon bini! Welcome to
Sunrise City
Visit San Nicolas
A community guide to Aruba’s Sunrise City: what’s open, what’s on and how to spend your day in San Nicolas.
© 2026 Visit San Nicolas