Jeroen van den Berg has been photographing Aruba for 17 years — his work appears in National Geographic Traveler and the Aruba National Archive permanent collection. That kind of tenure on a single island (roughly 30 kilometres long) means he knows exactly when the light hits each rock face, dune curve, and chapel wall. This article pulls together the timing, gear, and logistics for six of his go-to locations, so you can plan a shoot around what actually works — not just what looks good on a map.
Van den Berg’s archive holds more than 40,000 geotagged images, each logged with barometric pressure, humidity, and UV index — shared publicly through the Aruba Open Data Portal under a CC BY-NC 4.0 licence.
The key to photographing Aruba is matching each location to a specific time window — the 36-minute golden slot at Ayo, the post-low-tide window at Boca Prins, the blue hour in San Nicolas. Pack a polarising filter, a sturdy tripod, and a willingness to arrive before dawn. The island rewards precision more than spontaneity.
Landscape photographers
Solo travellers
Couples
Six Locations, One Light Strategy
The table below stacks the six spots side by side — best time of day, the shot that defines each place, and the access reality. Use it as a quick-reference before you head out.
| Location | Best Time | Key Shot | Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ayo Rock Formations | 5:42–6:18 a.m. | Golden light on 3,000-year-old lava arches | Arikok National Park; $12 entry |
| Boca Prins Beach | 4:30 p.m. (March–May) | Long-exposure quartz sand and surf | 4WD only; no public transport |
| California Lighthouse & Dunes | 9:17–9:23 a.m. (Nov–Feb) | Wind-sculpted dune patterns | Paved road to lighthouse; dune area walkable |
| San Nicolas | Blue hour (20 min post-sunset) | Neon reflections and Pantone-painted walls | Tripod permit required on sidewalks (AWG 75) |
| Andicuri Beach | 11 a.m.–3 p.m. (minimal glare) | Split-level underwater/surface | 420-metre hike from road end; no signage |
| Alto Vista Chapel | Pre-dawn alpenglow | Equinox light circle on altar stone | Paved road; no flash allowed inside |
Note: All times are local and based on 2023–2024 Aruba Meteorological Department records. Confirm current park hours and permit fees before you go — they can shift seasonally.
Ayo Rock Formations: Geological Time in Golden Hour
The Ayo formations sit inside Arikok National Park — 3,000-year-old lava flows sculpted by wind and salt spray into arches, tunnels, and fissures. Van den Berg arrives by 4:50 a.m. to park and scout before the gate opens at 6:00 a.m. The shooting window runs from 5:42 a.m. to 6:18 a.m., when the sun clears the eastern ridge of Mount Jamanota at a 12.3-degree angle. That’s 36 minutes of direct golden light on the rock faces. Humidity averages 62 percent during December–April, which keeps atmospheric haze low and contrast high. The Caquetio people carved petroglyphs here around 1000 CE — they sit in the foreground of many of van den Berg’s compositions. Park entry costs $12 per person at the main gate on Savaneta Road.
Position yourself so the petroglyphs sit in the lower third of the frame while the sun lights the rock arches behind them. A 24mm wide-angle lens at f/11 gives you the depth of field to hold both sharp.
Boca Prins Beach: Wind, Water, and White Sand
Boca Prins sits on the northeastern coast, a 320-metre crescent of sand with 97.2 percent quartz purity — verified by a 2022 University of Aruba Geosciences Lab analysis. You need a four-wheel-drive vehicle to reach it; there’s no public transport. Van den Berg targets the 90-minute window after low tide, when water depth across the southern third of the beach stays at or below 15 centimetres. That’s when he sets up his Sony A7 IV with a Tamron 70–200mm f/2.8 and a 10-stop neutral density filter for long exposures that smooth the surf into a milky layer. March through May offers the most consistent conditions, with an optimal window from 3:45 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. From June to November, northeasterly swell pushes wave height to 1.8–2.4 metres, which makes the beach less cooperative for tripod work.
Drone use at Boca Prins requires written approval from the Aruba National Parks Board — apply at least 72 business hours in advance and pay a fee of AWG 225. Without that permit, you’re grounded here.
California Lighthouse & Dune Area: Wind-Sculpted Abstraction
What makes the dunes around the California Lighthouse worth a dedicated shoot? The wind. Average speeds hit 22.7 km/h between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and dune contours shift up to 4.3 centimetres per day during the dry season — January through April. Van den Berg positions himself 87 metres east of the lighthouse base on an erosion-resistant limestone outcrop. He shoots with a Fujifilm X-H2S and XF 16–55mm f/2.8 at f/8 and 1/500 sec. The real magic happens between 9:17 a.m. and 9:23 a.m., November through February, when the sun hits a 32-degree elevation and throws the wind-rippled sand patterns into sharp relief. The lighthouse itself was built in 1910 and automated in 1985; it’s closed to climbers, but the surrounding dune field is the draw.
San Nicolas: Urban Texture and Neon Geometry
San Nicolas is Aruba’s second-largest city, and its photography value comes from the 1940s Standard Oil worker housing that’s been repainted in bold gradients — Pantone 18-4043 (Classic Blue) on a former Shell service station at 112 L.G. Smith Boulevard, Pantone 19-4052 (Ocean Blue) on the historic Paradera School facade. Van den Berg shoots here exclusively during blue hour — the 20 minutes after sunset when ambient light drops to 12 lux — using a Nikon Z9 with a Nikkor Z 105mm f/2.8 VR S macro lens at ISO 1600, f/4, and 1/60 sec. Streetlights come on within 4.2 seconds of sunset, timed by the Ministry of Economic Affairs’ official sunset clock. One catch: tripod use on sidewalks requires a permit from the San Nicolas Municipal Council — AWG 75, valid 24 hours. The best elevated vantage point is the rooftop of the former Aruba Bank building, now Hotel Movenpick, accessible by appointment only.
Set your custom white balance to 3000K — not auto — to keep the LED streetlights (Philips Fortimo LEDtube 1500mm, 3000K CCT) looking warm and natural against the painted walls.
Heading into San Nicolas reframed the day — the neon reflections in rain puddles from the 2020 stormwater retention system add a layer of geometry you won’t find anywhere else on the island.
Andicuri Beach: Seclusion and Subsurface Clarity
Andicuri Beach sits off most digital maps with no road access — the last paved segment of Andicuri Road ends at 12.5191° N, 69.8935° W, and from there it’s a 420-metre hike carrying your gear. The payoff is underwater visibility of 28.7 metres horizontal Secchi disk depth — the highest on the leeward coast, measured by the Aruba Reef Care Program in August 2023. Van den Berg uses a Nauticam NA-R5 housing with a 14mm fisheye lens for split-level compositions that capture both the underwater clarity and the sky. He positions himself on a granite boulder at the northern headland (2.1 metres wide, 1.4 metres tall) and waits for the bi-hourly Atlantic swell pulse at 12.7-second intervals. His longest successful exposure here: 14 seconds, retaining starfish detail in the foreground while the water moved.
Alto Vista Chapel: Sacred Geometry at Sunrise
Alto Vista Chapel sits atop a 45-metre limestone plateau — built in 1750, reconstructed in 1952. The coral-pink stucco walls match Pantone 17-1552 TPX, verified against original 1952 pigment samples held by the Aruba Historical Museum. Van den Berg arrives 72 minutes before official sunrise to catch the pre-dawn alpenglow on the chapel’s eastern facade. He shoots with a Pentax K-3 Mark III and an HD PENTAX-D FA* 85mm F1.4 lens at f/5.6, ISO 200, and 1/250 sec. The chapel’s most famous photographic event happens on the equinoxes — March 20 and September 22 — when sunlight enters the eastern doorway at 6:27 a.m. AST and projects a perfect 12.8-centimetre-diameter circle of light onto the central altar stone. Van den Berg has documented this alignment annually since 2011; the 2023 equinox image was selected for the Vatican “Sacred Light” exhibition. No flash or artificial light is permitted inside.
Practical Gear, Permits, and Timing
The single most important piece of gear for Aruba is a polarising filter — it cuts glare on the water and deepens the sky, especially at midday when the sun is high. A carbon-fibre tripod under 1.2 kg (like the Gitzo GT1545T) makes the hike to Andicuri and the pre-dawn setup at Alto Vista manageable. Silica gel desiccant packs, refreshed every 48 hours, keep electronics dry in the 78 percent average annual humidity. If you’re planning to shoot from a vehicle, a Toyota RAV4 Hybrid or Nissan X-Trail with factory roof rails rated for 75 kg handles both paved roads and the 4WD sections to Boca Prins.
Drones are prohibited inside Arikok National Park. At Boca Prins, you need written approval from the Aruba National Parks Board — apply 72 business hours ahead and pay AWG 225. Elsewhere on the island, avoid protected nature areas, crowded beaches, and wildlife habitats.
For those who want structured learning, van den Berg leads an annual workshop at the Aruba Cultural Center in Oranjestad — five days in October, limited to 12 participants. Tuition is $2,450 and includes park fees, guide services, and a signed archival print. Applications close May 31 each year.
- Each of the six locations has a narrow optimal shooting window — plan your day around those windows, not the other way around.
- A polarising filter, a lightweight tripod, and desiccant packs are the three non-negotiable gear items for Aruba’s humidity and light.
- Drone use is restricted in the national park and requires a permit at Boca Prins — sort that out weeks before you travel.
Before You Go — Aruba
What’s the best time of year for photography?
December through April offers the lowest humidity and the most consistent golden-hour conditions. March to May is ideal for Boca Prins. June to November brings higher swell on the northeast coast and more cloud cover.
Do I need a car to reach these spots?
Yes. A standard SUV covers most locations, but Boca Prins and Andicuri require four-wheel drive or a guided tour. RealDeal Car Rental and Sunset Car Rental both offer Jeep Wranglers suited for the rugged tracks.
Can I fly a drone on the island?
You can, but with restrictions. Drones are banned in Arikok National Park. At Boca Prins you need written approval from the Aruba National Parks Board. Avoid crowded beaches and wildlife areas elsewhere.
What’s the one thing photographers overlook?
The tripod permit in San Nicolas. If you plan to shoot blue hour on the sidewalks, you need a 24-hour permit from the San Nicolas Municipal Council for AWG 75. Without it, you risk having your gear confiscated.
Light That Stays With You
Van den Berg’s current project, the “Aruba Chroma Atlas,” maps spectral reflectance across 112 locations using a StellarNet Black-Comet spectrometer — data he plans to publish in the Journal of Island Studies in late 2024. That level of attention to the island’s specific light is what separates a good photo from a great one. Whether you’re chasing the 36-minute window at Ayo or the equinox circle at Alto Vista, the throughline is the same: Aruba rewards the photographer who treats light not as a backdrop but as the subject itself. For more on navigating the island’s terrain, see our guide to Arikok National Park.
References
Aruba Tourism Authority. “Arashi Beach.” Aruba.com, 2024. ↗
Arikok National Park Foundation. “Experiences.” ACF.aw, 2024. ↗
Aruba Cultural Center. “Photography Workshop.” ArubaCulturalCenter.aw, 2024. ↗
If you’re planning a broader Aruba trip beyond photography, our guide to family-friendly activities covers kid-tested stops, and the off-the-beaten-path towns piece digs into San Nicolas and beyond. For a different kind of island perspective, the ATV terrain guide pairs well with the 4WD access notes in this article.
Explore Places to Stay in Aruba
Feel free to zoom in and out of the map to explore the area and find the best place to stay for your trip.