Things to do in Aruba › Places › De Palm Island
De Palm Island
$119 per adult · Ferry includedChecked October 21, 2026 ticket prices and rules from De Palm Tours; opening and meal times from De Palm Island; terminal location from OpenStreetMap; driving distances and times from OSRM
De Palm Island is a private island off Balashi at the mouth of Spanish Lagoon. You cross from Port de Palm by ferry in about 5 minutes. Entry costs $119 per adult without hotel transport or $129 per adult with the hotel bus. Your ticket includes food and drinks. You also get snorkel gear and water park access. You must check in before 2 p.m. You can see the flamingos from a distance with standard entry when viewing is open. Viewing closes on the veterinarian's advice.
Today: Airport wind at 1 a.m.: 10 mph from the east. Meteo Aruba has sheltered water at about 1 ft today. 2 ships in port today. Come at opening time for a quieter visit.
Visiting
De Palm Island: tickets and entry rules
| Entry ticket | you pay $119 per adult and $119 per teen ages 10 to 17. The ferry is included. You arrange your own ride to Port de Palm. |
| With the bus | you pay $129 per adult and $129 per teen ages 10 to 17. The ticket includes the ferry and bus transport both ways from participating hotels. |
| Children | children ages 3 to 9 pay $95 each without hotel transport or $105 each with the bus. Children ages 0 to 2 enter free. Teen tickets for ages 10 to 17 exclude alcohol. |
| Hours | the island opens daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., including public holidays. You must check in at the ferry terminal before 2 p.m. |
| Ferry | you cross from Port de Palm in about 5 minutes. Ferries run every 15 minutes and are included in every entry ticket. |
| In the ticket | your ticket covers food and drinks. You get snorkel gear and guided snorkel tours twice daily. The water parks are included. Banana boat rides are included from age 10. |
| Paid extras | you pay separately for Sea Trek or SNUBA. Each costs $55 per person age 13 or older and $45 per child ages 8 to 12. Seating upgrades also cost extra. |
| Flamingos | you see the birds from a distance with standard entry when viewing is open. A VIP palapa or a cabana rental gets you into their area, and so does Premium Seating. Viewing stops when the veterinarian advises it. |
| Rules | you need your ticket and valid ID to enter. Children under 14 need a companion age 18 or older. Drones are prohibited. |
| Booking and refunds | you can buy direct online or at a De Palm desk. A full refund requires cancellation at least 72 hours before the scheduled start. Cancellations inside 72 hours are not refundable without Trip Protection. |
Which ticket
- Own transport, $119 per adult You arrange your ride to Port de Palm. Parking is free if you drive.
- Hotel bus, $129 per adult You get transport both ways from participating hotels. Confirm your pickup time with a De Palm desk.
- Premium Seating, $55 per person extra You must be at least 10 to use this area. It includes flamingo access; you still need an island entry ticket.
- Private cabana, from $269 per cabana The Sea Star cabana holds 2 people and takes all ages. It comes with flamingo access. You pay island entry separately.
Map
Where is the De Palm Island ferry
De Palm Island ferry terminal: 12.4721° N, 69.9786° W Directions in Google Maps Apple Maps OpenStreetMap
How to get to the De Palm Island ferry
- By car From Palm Beach it's about 16 km (10 miles) to Port de Palm, about 17 minutes without traffic. From downtown, continue past the airport and turn right at the third roundabout by the De Palm Island sign. Parking at the terminal is free.
- With the bus ticket The hotel bus ticket includes transport both ways from participating hotels. You confirm your pickup time at a De Palm desk. The ride takes about 40 minutes from the hotel area.
- By taxi Ask your driver for Port de Palm on De Palm Island Way in Balashi. De Palm Pier on Palm Beach sells tickets. You board the island ferry at Port de Palm.
- From a cruise ship You can buy island entry online or at a hotel concierge desk. You travel about 10 km (6 miles) by road from the cruise terminal to Port de Palm. Check-in closes at 2 p.m.
Step by step
How to visit De Palm Island
You can buy island entry with or without hotel transport.
- 1
Book your ticket
You can buy tickets online or at a De Palm Tours desk. Decide on the hotel bus before you book.
- 2
Add any upgrades
You pay separately for Sea Trek or SNUBA. Flamingo access comes with a VIP palapa, a cabana or Premium Seating.
- 3
Reach Port de Palm
You head to the mainland ferry terminal in Balashi. Hotel bus guests confirm their pickup time with a De Palm desk.
- 4
Check in
Bring your ticket and a valid ID to the ferry terminal. You must check in before 2 p.m.
- 5
Take the ferry
Ferries leave every 15 minutes and take about 5 minutes to cross. You choose from the available beach chairs and included palapas.
The catch: Ticket sales at the terminal depend on availability. You can't board for the island after 2 p.m., even with a ticket.
From the desk
- If you need hotel transport, I'd book the $129 per adult bus ticket. If you already have a car, I'd keep the $119 per adult ticket. Parking at Port de Palm is free.
Tours
More water tours in Aruba
You can compare other snorkeling trips. The island ticket includes gear and guided snorkel tours twice daily.
Kayak and Sea Glass Island tours 5 toursYou can browse kayak and Sea Glass Island tours for another day on the water.
Private boat charters 7 toursYou can book a private boat for your group. Nos Isla's pontoon spends the day at Mangel Halto and Reef Island, near the De Palm ferry.
By the clock
De Palm Island opening and activity hours
The water parks close at 4:45 p.m. before the island closes at 5 p.m.
| Time | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. | You can visit the island and use the open bar. | De Palm Island |
| From 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. | You can use the water parks and slides. | Water parks |
| From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. | You can eat at the lunch buffet. | Lunch buffet |
| From 11 a.m. | Banana boat rides begin for ages 10 and up. | Banana boat |
| From noon | The grill station opens. | Grill station |
| At 2 p.m. | Ticket sales and check-in close. | Port de Palm ferry terminal |
Good to know
Know before you go
Pack water shoes for the rocky beaches. The standard ticket does not include a towel. Included beach chairs and palapas are first come, first served.
Children under 14 need a companion age 18 or older to enter. The same rule applies to snorkeling and banana boat rides. Banana boat riders must be at least 10. At the kids' water park, children under 6 need an adult.
You must wear a life vest while snorkeling and stay inside the buoys. The deepest snorkeling water is about 15 feet. The banana boat can flip during the ride. You must not touch wildlife.
You can still use the water activities in moderate rain. Staff can stop them during thunder and lightning. When a named tropical storm or hurricane is forecast to approach Aruba, De Palm Tours sets the storm days. Tickets bought online or at a De Palm desk for those days get a new date or a refund.
You must be 8 or older for Sea Trek or SNUBA. Each takes about 1 hour including the briefing. SNUBA is closed on Sundays. You cannot use underwater cameras on either activity.
You can pay in US dollars or by debit card. Major credit cards are accepted except Diners. Direct bookings need 72 hours of notice for a full refund. Missed departures are not refundable.
Good to know
People also ask
- How much does De Palm Island cost?
Entry costs $119 per person age 10 or older without hotel transport. The hotel bus option costs $129 per person age 10 or older. Children ages 3 to 9 pay $95 each without transport or $105 each with the bus. Children ages 0 to 2 enter free.
- What is included in the De Palm Island ticket?
Your ticket includes the ferry and the water parks. You get the lunch buffet and the grill. Drinks are unlimited, and alcohol is for guests 18 or older. Snorkel gear and guided snorkel tours twice a day are included, and so are banana boat rides from age 10. Beach chairs and palapas are first come, first served. Sea Trek and SNUBA cost extra. You see the flamingos from a distance when viewing is open, and entering their area costs extra. Hotel transport comes only with the bus ticket.
- How do you get to De Palm Island?
You take the included ferry from Port de Palm in Balashi. Ferries run every 15 minutes and cross in about 5 minutes. The hotel bus option adds transport both ways from participating hotels. Without that option, you arrange your own ride to the terminal.
- Can you see flamingos on De Palm Island?
You can see the flamingos from a distance with standard entry when viewing is open. Viewing closes on the veterinarian's advice. Premium Seating with flamingo access costs $55 per person age 10 or older, on top of entry. VIP palapas and private cabanas include that access for all ages. Beach cabanas include it from age 10. You still need an island entry ticket with each upgrade.
- What time does De Palm Island open and close?
De Palm Island opens daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., including public holidays. You must check in at the ferry terminal before 2 p.m. The water parks and slides close at 4:45 p.m.
- Can children visit De Palm Island?
Children can visit at any age, but anyone under 14 needs a companion age 18 or older. The kids' water park accepts all ages, but children under 6 need an adult. Banana boat rides require a minimum age of 10. Private cabanas and VIP palapas accept all ages.