Windshield Boat Tour in Aruba: Worth It?

A windshield boat tour (usually a fast power catamaran with a covered front) gives you a breezy ride along Aruba’s north and east coasts, stopping at calm spots for snorkeling. Expect 3–4 hours total: 45–60 minutes of cruising each way, two snorkel stops (often around Antilla wreck or reefs with fish and turtles), and an open bar with rum punch, beer, and soft drinks. The ride can get bumpy when heading back into the wind; you’ll get wet. It’s a social trip—music plays and the boat carries 20–40 people. Not a quiet private sail.

Best time is January through April when seas are calmest and winds are steadier. Avoid August–October if you dislike rough water; summer swells can make the return leg pretty choppy. Expect to pay around $85–$130 per adult depending on inclusions and group size. Kids usually cost less.

Pick a morning departure so you snorkel when the water is clearest and you avoid the hottest afternoon sun. Skip the full-day versions unless you really want beach time—they’re mostly just longer and more tiring. Bring reef-safe sunscreen, a waterproof phone case, and a light jacket for the windy ride back. If you get seasick easily, take something beforehand.