Playa Arapito is one of the favourite mainland beaches east of Puerto la Cruz, on the coastal road toward Mochima village. It is a long crescent of golden sand backed by coconut palms, with calm and shallow water that suits children. Simple beach restaurants serve fried fish, empanadas, and arepas; chairs and umbrellas can be hired by the day.
The beach is reachable in roughly an hour from Puerto la Cruz by car or por puesto (shared taxi); from here you can also arrange lancha trips to nearby islands. It gets busy with Venezuelan families on weekends and almost empty midweek.