A Serene Retreat on Eagle Beach, Aruba

Manchebo Beach Resort and Spa is located on Eagle Beach, which is about 15–20 minutes from the Aruba Airport and Oranjestad and about 10 minutes from the amenities of Palm Beach.

The resort was instantly welcoming with an open-air lobby, which was a preview of what was waiting for us throughout the rest of the property. We spend about 90 percent of our waking hours enjoying the outdoors. Each of the 72 rooms open directly to the outside and are spread across only two stories.

We were greeted by a friendly staff, cool lavender towels and mojitos, which the staff remembered were alcohol free! We added the honeymoon package, and they even substituted our champagne with an alcohol-free option. Their attention to detail for our alcohol-free lifestyle was especially appreciated.

Manchebo maintained a peaceful and restful environment throughout the five days we were there.

Rooms: The rooms were small, but comfortable and clean. We had everything we needed, including a quiet air conditioner and a ceiling fan, which was a lovely addition after a long day in the sun. The second-floor rooms have small patios with tables and seating for two. The ground-floor rooms open directly to the gardens and the beach.

Fitness: They have multiple yoga and Pilates classes offered each day, hosted on one of their two covered outdoor pavilions. You can borrow yoga mats for the classes for no additional charge from the front desk. The additional workout studio was small, but sufficient for simple workouts.

Food: Manchebo has three restaurants, plus a beach bar with seating and beach service on-site. The sushi restaurant, Omakase was our favorite and we also thoroughly enjoyed our breakfast each morning.

Spa: Their spa was like many other things on-site, mostly outdoors. This provided a lovely beachside couple’s massage experience in a beach hut surrounded by private gardens. Before and after your services, you can take an outdoor shower.

Eagle Beach was absolutely stunning. The sand was white and clean, and the water was turquoise blue that had to be seen to be believed. The water was perfectly warm, and we spent hours swimming each day. There are beach attendants that provide towels and set up your beach chairs each day. Since the resort was smaller, we were pleasantly surprised by how much space we had on the beach between umbrellas.

Aruba itself has plenty to offer. We already have a list for next time! The locals took a lot of pride in the safety and cleanliness of their island, and this was evident everywhere we went.

Adventure: Book a trip with Project Expedition! We took a catamaran snorkel tour and saw sea turtles (my favorite), a shipwreck and a variety of colorful fish. We love snorkeling when it’s offered in different locations, and this trip held up with the best of them. Other excursion options include deep sea fishing and ATV tours. We also saw kite surfers, parasailers and jet skiers.

Explore: Rent a car and take a drive around the island. We explored Oranjestad and drove to California Lighthouse, which you can climb for just $5 per person. This is not for the faint of heart if you’re uncomfortable with small spaces or heights. Next time we would be interested in seeing other nature sights such as Natural Bridge or Baby Beach.

Eat: We had two fantastic dinners near Palm Beach. Both restaurants offered a modest, but delicious mocktail selection, which I was happy to try. First Azar, which offers a wide selection of shareable plates, entrees and flame-grilled meats. Our favorites were the Chorizo Argentino, roasted corn and Pichana (top round-beef). Second was Caya, which was offering a three-course special, which we both took advantage of. Caya offers exciting and dynamic Latin flavors and a garden ambiance that can’t be beat. I would recommend eating outside here to enjoy the environment. Santos Coffee With Soul is a cute local shop with indoor and outdoor seating, walking distance from Manchebo. We stopped here for coffee a couple of times. The market appeared new and was also less than a five-minute walk from Manchebo. It’s directly connected to Alhambra Casino and had multiple bars, eateries and convenience stores.

Play: There was a lot of nightlife in the Palm Beach area, including a Soprano Piano Bar and cocktail lounges. We didn’t take advantage of the bars on this trip. Instead, we spent a little time gambling at the Grand Hyatt and near Manchebo at the Alhambra Casino.

Getting here: Getting to the resort from the airport was an easy cab ride. However, renting a car seemed like a popular choice on the island. We chose to rent a car through one of Manchebo’s partners to explore for one day during our stay, and it was easy to get around even being unfamiliar with the island.

I would recommend Manchebo to anyone who is looking for a quieter boutique stay on one of the best beaches in the world. It’s best suited for couples or small groups who are okay with being a few minutes from the hustle and bustle of the main town. Aruba far exceeded all of our expectations and we will definitely be back!

If you are looking for a larger resort with more amenities or if you are traveling with a large group or a family, check out one of our other partners! They include: The Grand Hyatt, The Ritz Carlton and The Hilton (under construction as of November 2024).

For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our Aruba page.