Aruba is a superb vacation spot within the Caribbean. It is an island with its personal tradition and distinctive landscapes, the water is ideal, there’s nice tourism infrastructure, you possibly can drink the faucet water, AND it is outdoors of the Hurricane Belt – which means it is a terrific place to go to any time of yr!
My husband Elliot and I deliberate a visit to Aruba to have a good time our first marriage ceremony anniversary, however this various little island makes a terrific escape for a pals journey or household trip, too. (See my full 5-day Aruba itinerary, too.)
Whereas Aruba solely covers about 75 sq. miles, there’s truly lots to do! When you’re planning a visit to Aruba, listed below are all of the belongings you positively want so as to add to your to-do listing.
11 greatest issues to do in Aruba
Listed below are my prime picks for the most effective issues to do in Aruba, based mostly alone journey there.
1. Go to Arikok Nationwide Park
There’s just one nationwide park in Aruba, however Arikok Nationwide Park covers virtually 20% of the island! This park is understood for is rugged desert panorama, and is greatest explored on a 4×4 safari, ATV tour, or on horseback.
Visiting Arikok Nationwide Park is a good way to be taught extra about Aruba’s historical past and local weather (for instance, do you know that you will discover extra cacti on Aruba than palm timber??), and there are numerous cool websites to see throughout the nationwide park.
A number of stops throughout the park that you just may make embody limestone caves just like the Fontein Cave and Quadirikiri Cave, seashores like Prins Bay, and naturally the Pure Pool.
2. Swim within the Pure Pool
One of the well-liked stops in Arikok Nationwide Park is the Pure Pool, which is strictly what it appears like: a naturally-shaped pool on the fringe of the ocean that you could swim in.
The Pure Pool (or Conchi, which implies “bowl”) is surrounded by jagged volcanic rocks that waves will typically crash over, however the water throughout the pool is often pretty calm. Attending to the pool requires traversing by Arikok Nationwide Park after which strolling all the way down to the pool (so sturdy sandals or water sneakers are positively really useful!).
E book a half-day tour like this to go to Arikok Nationwide Park and the Pure Pool as a part of a jeep safari.
3. Discover the Bushiribana ruins
On Aruba’s northeast coast, you possibly can go to the Bushiribana ruins, that are the remnants of a nineteenth century gold mill. Gold was found in Aruba in 1824, inflicting a gold rush on the island that resulted in a number of gold mines.
In the present day, the Bushiribana ruins are nothing greater than stacked rocks within the obscure form of a constructing, however they’re attention-grabbing to discover, and the views from the ruins are unbelievable.
4. Go to rock formations
Aruba is a rugged, rocky island, and there are some well-known rock formations price visiting for historical past and nice views. A few of these had been doubtless utilized by the Arawak folks (the earliest settlers on the island), and you’ll find petroglyphs nonetheless current on a few of them.
The principle formations to see are:
- Casibari Rock Formations – An enormous rocky hill within the middle of the island with trails and stairs to a viewpoint with among the greatest Aruba views.
- Ayo Rock Formations – You’ll find Arawak petroglyphs right here.
5. Go beach-hopping
Aruba is an island identified for its pristine seashores, so there are clearly a lot of choices if you wish to spend time seaside hopping. A number of the most well-known seashores in Aruba embody:
- Palm Seaside – This 2-mile-long seaside is within the “lodge zone,” proper subsequent to numerous the excessive rise resorts in Aruba. You may discover seaside bars, water sports activities stands, buying, and extra at this seaside. And the water is calm and ideal for swimming right here.
- Eagle Seaside – That is the widest seaside in Aruba, and identified for its delicate white sand. Eagle Seaside is near numerous the low-rise resorts within the vacationer zone, however it’s nonetheless a really good seaside. You may discover seaside huts and water sports activities right here, together with two of Aruba’s well-known fofoti timber.
- Arashi Seaside – Situated within the north of the island, Arashi is a good seaside for snorkeling and enjoyable. There are some seaside loungers for lease, and loads of delicate white sand. Arashi Seaside can be near the California Lighthouse, which can be price a go to.
- Child Seaside – Situated within the south of Aruba close to San Nicolas, Child Seaside is a shallow half-moon seaside good for snorkleing and paddling. It is also a well-liked seaside with locals.
Aruba full island safari
And if you wish to do all the above issues (go to Arikok Nationwide Park, swim within the Pure Pool, climb some rock formations, see the mill ruins, and go to a seaside or two) in in the future, you possibly can by reserving a full island safari tour. This tour is a good introduction to the island of Aruba and full of tons of cool sights. You may get to the discover the island on an open-air safari-style car pushed by a neighborhood information.
>> E book this tour right here: Island Ultimate Jeep Safari
6. Hang around with flamingos
One other seaside you possibly can go to should you plan for it’s Flamingo Seaside – maybe essentially the most well-known seaside in Aruba. This seaside is positioned on Renaissance Non-public Island, which is the one personal island in Aruba — and it is kind of reserved for Renaissance lodge friends.
I like to recommend staying on the Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort for a minimum of a pair nights of your journey with a purpose to have free entry to the island.
The 2 seashores on the island are Iguana Seaside and Flamingo Seaside (a family-friendly and adults-only seaside, respectively), the latter of which is residence to 6 pink flamingos.
When you keep at one of many Renaissance resorts (read about them here!), you possibly can take a free shuttle boat over to the personal island within the morning, after which hang around all day. You’ll be able to take images with flamingos, swim within the man-made lagoons, seize meals on the Papagayo Bar & Grill, possibly lease a kayak or some snorkeling gear, and watch planes land on the airport.
When you’re not staying on the Renaissance resort, you CAN typically get a day move to go to Renaissance Non-public Island. You used to solely have the ability to get these in-person on the day you needed to go to, however now there’s an choice to purchase day passes online upfront.
Island day passes are restricted, nonetheless, and never accessible every single day. So if you wish to be assured a go to to Flamingo Seaside, I’d simply book a room at the Renaissance Resort for a minimum of one night time. That approach you do not have to emphasize about whether or not you may get passes or not!
7. Snorkel over a shipwreck
One other must-do when you’re in Aruba is to get out on the water. The Caribbean Sea surrounds Aruba with lovely turquoise water, and several other firms provide enjoyable crusing and snorkeling excursions. I extremely advocate a snorkeling tour – and particularly advocate this champagne brunch snorkeling trip, which incorporates each a champagne brunch and lunch on board a cushty catamaran.
The journey we did additionally included three separate snorkeling stops, together with one over the wreckage of the SS Antilla, a German service provider ship that was scuttled (deliberately sunk) by its German crew through the early days of WWII in 1940.
The Antilla is a well-liked dive website within the Caribbean, however the wreckage is in shallow sufficient water that you could additionally snorkel above it. This was our favourite snorkeling cease!
8. Take a sundown cruise
Aruba has some nice sunsets, so after all there are sundown cruise choices, too! This 2-hour sunset cruise tour is among the hottest choices, and consists of some snacks and an open bar.
If you need one thing a bit extra romantic that features dinner, this sunset dinner cruise features a buffet dinner onboard, whereas this cruise and dinner tour features a sundown sail and separate waterfront dinner.
9. Discover Oranjestad
Whereas Aruba is certainly often known as a seaside vacation spot and many individuals keep within the “lodge zone” north of the town, do not miss out on exploring Oranjestad, the island’s colourful capital.
Spend a while going for a stroll by Oranjestad and down alongside the town’s small harbor. It is a secure place to wander, and the structure is kind of fairly.
There are amble alternatives to do some buying (attempt the Royal Plaza Mall or Renaissance Market), snap a photograph with the “I Love Aruba” signal, and wander deeper into the town to get a really feel for native life.
10. Go on a meals tour
Meals excursions are certainly one of my favourite issues to do after I journey, as they offer you perception into a lot extra than simply what folks eat. Meals displays tradition and historical past, too, and meals excursions cowl all of it.
In Aruba, the place numerous the eating places cater to vacationers, it may be tough to get an genuine style of the native delicacies. Which is the place. afood tour is available in.
This Fusion of the World food tour is the proper technique to expertise the native culinary tradition in Aruba. Guided by a neighborhood professional, you may discover Oranjestad and take a look at native dishes and drinks. Meals tastings and drinks are included, and the night tour will fill you up sufficient for dinner.
11. Go to the donkey sanctuary
One distinctive expertise in Aruba that you could’t miss is visiting the island’s Donkey Sanctuary. This non-profit group has been round for over 25 years, and it is devoted to saving the island’s donkeys.
Though not native to Aruba, donkeys have had a presence on the island for over 500 years and had been the principle mode of transportation for hundreds of years. An sickness threatened extinction of Aruba’s donkeys within the Seventies, however now you possibly can see an work together with the donkeys of their sanctuary.
This half-day animal sanctuary tour combines a go to of the island’s Donkey Sanctuary with further stops on the Aruba Ostrich Farm and Philip’s Animal Backyard.
When to go to Aruba
Aruba is a year-round journey vacation spot. It has two “seasons” – moist and dry – with the dry season of January-Could being the preferred time to go to. August and September are typically the most popular months in Aruba, and November is mostly the rainiest.
It is heat year-round, although, and with Aruba being outdoors of the Hurricane Belt, you actually cannot go fallacious with a visit in any month. Go to June-December for higher costs and fewer folks.
READ NEXT: The Perfect 5-Day Aruba Itinerary: 5 Days on One Happy Island
Have you ever been to Aruba but?
