Tres Trapi (meaning “three steps”) is a tiny sandy cove nestled in the rocky northwestern shore of Aruba. The 10-meter-long beach is accessible by three rustic steps carved into the rock, after which the site has been named. Tres Trapi has white sand, grey cliff, and pristine placid waters, where hundreds of Cushion Starfish lay on the seafloor, making it one of the favorite and most photogenic snorkeling spots of the island.
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How to get to Tres Trapi snorkeling location?
Tres Trapi is located a few hundred meters north of Malmok Beach, on the northwestern tip of the island of Aruba. It is next to Ocean 105 Apartment, settled on the left side of the coastal road.
From Oranjestad and the high-rise resorts in Palm Beach, drive to the north side of the island, following the “California Lighthouse” signs. Driving time is approx. 20 minutes from the capital city, and 5 to 10 minutes from Palm Beach.
The area is also serviced by bus from Oranjestad. See Arubus website for details.
Water entrance for snorkeling Tres Trapi
The few steps going down to the tiny Tres Trapi beach provide convenient access to the water. Just go down the steps and jump in!
Tres Trapi snorkeling tips
The area to explore covers the sandy seabed that extends from the beach to approximately 100 meters offshore. The first 20-30m from the beach are sandy and poor in sea life (↕3-10ft/1-3m), although you may come across some Bar jack, Bermuda chub and Trunkfish.
Beyond this area, you will start to see dozens of Cushion sea stars (Oreaster reticulatus) lying on the sand and in the seagrass (↕10-13ft/3-4m). It is the most common sea star in the shallow waters of the Caribbean.
They are growing to about 40 centimeters in diameter, and their color is some shade of red, orange, brown or yellow. Cushion stars are inoffensive but don’t take them out of the water.
Boca Catalina, located some 300 meters north of Tres Trapi, is also a great snorkeling spot.
Did you recently snorkel Tres Trapi? You can share your pictures in the photo gallery below.
Restaurants and accommodations nearby
There are no restaurants or snacks nearby, so bring your own drinks and food with you. The high-rise resort area, only a 5-10 minutes drive from Tres Trapi, is full of restaurants, fast food and shops.
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