Aruba is a superb vacation spot within the Caribbean. It’s an island with its personal tradition and distinctive landscapes, the water is ideal, there’s nice tourism infrastructure, you may drink the faucet water, AND it is exterior 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 rejoice our first wedding ceremony anniversary, however this numerous little island makes a terrific escape for a pals journey or household trip, too. (See my full 5-day Aruba itinerary, too.)
While Aruba solely covers about 75 sq. miles, there’s truly quite a bit to do! If you are planning a visit to Aruba, listed here are all of the belongings you undoubtedly want so as to add to your to-do checklist.
11 finest issues to do in Aruba
Here are my prime picks for the perfect issues to do in Aruba, primarily based alone journey there.
1. Visit Arikok National Park
There’s just one nationwide park in Aruba, however Arikok National Park covers virtually 20% of the island! This park is understood for is rugged desert panorama, and is finest explored on a 4×4 safari, ATV tour, or on horseback.
Visiting Arikok National 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 plenty of cool websites to see throughout the nationwide park.
A number of stops throughout the park that you simply would possibly make embody limestone caves just like the Fontein Cave and Quadirikiri Cave, seashores like Prins Bay, and naturally the Natural Pool.
2. Swim within the Natural Pool
One of the preferred stops in Arikok National Park is the Natural Pool, which is strictly what it seems like: a naturally-shaped pool on the fringe of the ocean that you would be able to swim in.
The Natural Pool (or Conchi, which suggests “bowl”) is surrounded by jagged volcanic rocks that waves will typically crash over, however the water throughout the pool is often pretty calm. Getting to the pool requires traversing via Arikok National Park after which strolling right down to the pool (so sturdy sandals or water sneakers are undoubtedly advisable!).
Book a half-day tour like this to go to Arikok National Park and the Natural Pool as a part of a jeep safari.
3. Explore the Bushiribana ruins
On Aruba’s northeast coast, you may 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.
Today, 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. Visit rock formations
Aruba is a rugged, rocky island, and there are some well-known rock formations value visiting for historical past and nice views. Some of those have been probably utilized by the Arawak folks (the earliest settlers on the island), and you’ll find petroglyphs nonetheless present on a few of them.
The major 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 finest Aruba views.
- Ayo Rock Formations – You can discover 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. Some of probably the most well-known seashores in Aruba embody:
- Palm Beach – This 2-mile-long seaside is within the “hotel zone,” proper subsequent to plenty of the excessive rise accommodations in Aruba. You’ll discover seaside bars, water sports activities stands, purchasing, and extra at this seaside. And the water is calm and ideal for swimming right here.
- Eagle Beach – This is the widest seaside in Aruba, and identified for its delicate white sand. Eagle Beach is near plenty of the low-rise accommodations within the vacationer zone, but it surely’s nonetheless a really good seaside. You’ll discover seaside huts and water sports activities right here, together with two of Aruba’s well-known fofoti timber.
- Arashi Beach – Located within the north of the island, Arashi is a superb seaside for snorkeling and stress-free. There are some seaside loungers for hire, and loads of delicate white sand. Arashi Beach can be near the California Lighthouse, which can be value a go to.
- Baby Beach – Located within the south of Aruba close to San Nicolas, Baby Beach is a shallow half-moon seaside good for snorkleing and paddling. It’s additionally a preferred seaside with locals.
Aruba full island safari
And if you wish to do the entire above issues (go to Arikok National Park, swim within the Natural Pool, climb some rock formations, see the mill ruins, and go to a seaside or two) in at some point, you may by reserving a full island safari tour. This tour is a superb introduction to the island of Aruba and full of tons of cool sights. You’ll get to the discover the island on an open-air safari-style car pushed by a neighborhood information.
>> Book this tour right here: Island Ultimate Jeep Safari
6. Hang out with flamingos
Another seaside you may go to for those who plan for it’s Flamingo Beach – maybe probably the most well-known seaside in Aruba. This seaside is positioned on Renaissance Private Island, which is the one personal island in Aruba — and it is roughly reserved for Renaissance resort friends.
I like to recommend staying on the Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort for at the very least a pair nights of your journey as a way to have free entry to the island.
The two seashores on the island are Iguana Beach and Flamingo Beach (a family-friendly and adults-only seaside, respectively), the latter of which is house to 6 pink flamingos.
If you keep at one of many Renaissance accommodations (examine them right here!), you may take a free shuttle boat over to the personal island within the morning, after which hang around all day. You can take pictures with flamingos, swim within the man-made lagoons, seize meals on the Papagayo Bar & Grill, possibly hire a kayak or some snorkeling gear, and watch planes land on the airport.
If you are not staying on the Renaissance resort, you CAN generally get a day move to go to Renaissance Private Island. You used to solely be capable to get these in-person on the day you needed to go to, however now there may be an choice to buy day passes on-line upfront.
Island day passes are restricted, nonetheless, and never out there day by day. So if you wish to be assured a go to to Flamingo Beach, I might simply guide a room on the Renaissance Resort for at the very least one night time. That manner you do not have to emphasize about whether or not you will get passes or not!
7. Snorkel over a shipwreck
Another must-do whilst you’re in Aruba is to get out on the water. The Caribbean Sea surrounds Aruba with stunning turquoise water, and several other corporations supply enjoyable crusing and snorkeling excursions. I extremely suggest a snorkeling tour – and particularly suggest this champagne brunch snorkeling journey, which incorporates each a champagne brunch and lunch on board a snug 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 web site within the Caribbean, however the wreckage is in shallow sufficient water that you would be able to additionally snorkel above it. This was our favourite snorkeling cease!
8. Take a sundown cruise
Aruba has some nice sunsets, so in fact there are sundown cruise choices, too! This 2-hour sundown cruise tour is among the hottest choices, and contains some snacks and an open bar.
If you need one thing a bit extra romantic that features dinner, this sundown dinner cruise features a buffet dinner onboard, whereas this cruise and dinner tour features a sundown sail and separate waterfront dinner.
9. Explore Oranjestad
While Aruba is certainly often called a seaside vacation spot and many individuals keep within the “hotel zone” north of town, do not miss out on exploring Oranjestad, the island’s colourful capital.
Spend a while going for a stroll via Oranjestad and down alongside town’s small harbor. It’s a protected place to wander, and the structure is sort of fairly.
There are amble alternatives to do some purchasing (strive the Royal Plaza Mall or Renaissance Marketplace), snap a photograph with the “I Love Aruba” signal, and wander deeper into town to get a really feel for native life.
10. Go on a meals tour
Food excursions are one among my favourite issues to do after I journey, as they offer you perception into a lot extra than simply what folks eat. Food displays tradition and historical past, too, and meals excursions cowl all of it.
In Aruba, the place plenty of the eating places cater to vacationers, it may be troublesome to get an genuine style of the native delicacies. Which is the place. afood tour is available in.
This Fusion of the World meals tour is the right approach to expertise the native culinary tradition in Aruba. Guided by a neighborhood professional, you will discover Oranjestad and take a look at native dishes and drinks. Food tastings and drinks are included, and the night tour will fill you up sufficient for dinner.
11. Visit the donkey sanctuary
One distinctive expertise in Aruba that you would be able to’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.
Although not native to Aruba, donkeys have had a presence on the island for over 500 years and have been the principle mode of transportation for hundreds of years. An sickness threatened extinction of Aruba’s donkeys within the Nineteen Seventies, however now you may 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 extra stops on the Aruba Ostrich Farm and Philip’s Animal Garden.
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-May being the preferred time to go to. August and September are usually the most well liked months in Aruba, and November is usually the rainiest.
It’s heat year-round, although, and with Aruba being exterior of the Hurricane Belt, you actually cannot go improper with a visit in any month. Visit June-December for higher costs and fewer folks.
READ NEXT: The Perfect 5-Day Aruba Itinerary: 5 Days on One Happy Island
Have you been to Aruba but?