Spanish Lagoon: A Natural Sanctuary in Aruba

Getting There

• Car

  From Queen Beatrix International Airport, take Route 1 (L.G. Smith Boulevard) southeast towards Oranjestad. Continue on Route 1 until the junction with Route 4. Turn onto Route 4 towards Balashi/San Nicolaas. Look for the Balashi Gold Mill Ruins parking area, park here for free. Follow the marked trail from the parking area to reach Spanish Lagoon. There are no tolls on this route, and parking is free. Expect a 5-10 minute drive from the airport to the Route 4 junction, and another 5 minutes to the parking area.

• Public Transport

  From Oranjestad, take a bus towards San Nicolaas. Alight near the Balashi Gold Mill or Frenchman's Pass. From there, it's approximately a 15-20 minute walk to the lagoon. Alternatively, take a taxi or ride-sharing service from the bus terminal to the Mill Ruins parking area, costing around $10-15. A bus ride from Oranjestad to the vicinity of Spanish Lagoon costs approximately Afl 2.50 - Afl 5.00 per person.

• Walking

  From the center of Savaneta, head east on Weg naar San Nicolaas. Continue for about 1.5 kilometers until the intersection with Weg naar Oranjestad. Turn left onto Weg naar Oranjestad and continue for 2 kilometers, passing local shops and houses. At the roundabout, take the second exit onto L.G. Smith Boulevard. After another 1.5 kilometers, the entrance to Spanish Lagoon will be on your right. There are no costs associated with walking to Spanish Lagoon.