Some posts on this web site comprise affiliate hyperlinks. If you ebook or purchase one thing by these hyperlinks, I earn a small fee (at no further value to you). Take a have a look at my privateness coverage for extra data.
Add some adventurous thrills and distinctive twists to your Aruba vacation with these fab, enjoyable issues to do.
Aruba is the proper Caribbean island for individuals who, like me, get slightly bored of solely lazing on seashores!
Don’t get me incorrect: there are PLENTY of beautiful, white sandy seashores to laze on. If you need to relax within the sunshine all day, you completely can. Especially since Aruba will get much less rainfall and extra sunny days than some other Caribbean island – sitting exterior the hurricane belt and providing year-round sunshine.
But if you happen to like to combine issues up on vacation then Aruba is good. For a small island, there’s quite a bit to do right here – and fairly a couple of completely different landscapes. The desert-like, cactus-strewn inside of the island feels just like the setting for a Wild West movie (good for journey), whereas across the fringe of the island you’ll discover every little thing from white sand seashores to wild and windswept rocky shoreline.
Adventure lovers will discover no scarcity of enjoyable issues to do in Aruba. And if you happen to want a gentler tempo, there’s every little thing from yoga and meditation to luxurious seashore picnics. So if sitting nonetheless isn’t actually your factor – you’re in luck!
READ MORE: 10 Reasons to Visit Aruba
My journey to Aruba was supported by the vacationer board, however all phrases and opinions are my very own!
Unique and Fun Things to do in Aruba
Leave the seashore behind and set out on certainly one of these superior Aruban adventures…
1. Experience a Rollercoaster Jeep Safari!
Hop aboard a brilliant yellow safari jeep for a significantly enjoyable journey exploring Aruba’s unbelievable landscapes with De Palm Tours. This was certainly one of my favorite actions in Aruba – such a enjoyable and thrilling technique to uncover the island.
I took the Off-Road Natural Pool Safari: a 4.5 hour tour which takes you to among the prime sights in Aruba. The guides had been lots of enjoyable (and superb drivers), and I beloved the expertise of bouncing over bumpy dust roads with the wind in our hair. Flying up and down the hills of the National Park felt like a rollercoaster!
CLICK HERE to verify costs and availability for this tour!
2. Take a Snorkelling and Sailing Trip
Hands down, the most effective issues you are able to do in Aruba is to pop on a snorkel and expertise the marine life inside the island’s crystal-clear waters!
I hoped to take the 3-hour Boat Trip with Snorkelling and Open Bar with De Palm Tours, however sadly needed to cancel as there merely wasn’t time to do every little thing! However, I’ve expertise with De Palm Tours and know they’re a incredible firm – and I did get an opportunity to snorkel elsewhere in Aruba.
This snorkelling and crusing journey is without doubt one of the hottest excursions on the island. It consists of an open bar and appears like lots of enjoyable – however if you happen to don’t fancy a celebration environment there are different choices accessible too!
3. Go Kayaking in Crystal Clear Waters
Thankfully, I did get an opportunity to go snorkelling in Aruba’s dazzlingly clear waters – on a incredible kayaking tour with RJ from Aruba Outdoor Adventures.
These had been pedal kayaks, so there’s no paddling concerned: you do all of the work along with your legs as an alternative! It felt a lot simpler than paddle kayaking, however nonetheless properly energetic – the proper relaxed train for a vacation!
There are fairly a couple of kayaking excursions to select from. You can discover the mangrove timber across the Spanish Lagoon, paddle out to distant seashores, and go to a sunken boat. We paddled out to the Reef Barrier on the Spanish Lagoon, the most effective snorkelling spots in Aruba. It was an incredible expertise, recognizing marine life amongst the colorful coral. We even noticed a lionfish and an enormous lobster hiding amongst the rocks.
4. Enjoy a Luxurious Beach Picnic
If you need an extra-special deal with in your journey to Aruba, you HAVE to ebook a seashore picnic with Picnic Aruba. They arrange luxurious, boho-chic picnics on the sand, with fantastically embellished wood teepees coated in flowers and dreamcatchers.
This was a kind of experiences the place the truth is definitely nearly as good because it seems on social media! The setup could also be pure photoshoot heaven (you’ll wrestle to place your digicam down!) however the meals and setting are incredible too. All the considerate particulars – like a Bluetooth speaker and personalised welcome signal – make for a very superb expertise.
I extremely suggest upgrading the expertise to incorporate a bottle of bubbly or some cocktails for the final word deal with!
Click right here to look at a video of my expertise.
5. Visit Arikok National Park
Aruba’s unbelievable nature was completely different to some other Caribbean island I’ve been to earlier than. It felt extra arid and virtually desert-like in locations, particularly within the Arikok National Park, which covers round 20% of the island.
The rolling, sandy hills listed here are coated in cacti – primarily tall candelabra cactus crops, but in addition aloe, ball cactus and different succulents. Although it seems like fairly an unfriendly panorama at first look, it’s a really stunning one – and residential to a number of wildlife, together with birds, lizards and the endemic Aruba rattlesnake.
Day tickets for non-residents value simply $11 USD (which fits in the direction of the conservation of the park). There’s quite a bit to find inside right here: caves, dramatic coast and weird rock formations. I like to recommend reserving one of many organized excursions run by the park rangers for one of the best expertise!
6. Explore Aruba’s Dramatic Caves
Did most of Aruba was as soon as underneath the ocean, till a volcanic eruption compelled the island above water thousands and thousands of years in the past? Traces of this underwater previous will be witnessed within the type of coral fossils alongside the rocky shoreline and inside the limestone caves of the National Park.
The two most well-known caves listed here are Quadirikiri Cave and Fontein Cave. In Fontein Cave, you possibly can see rock drawings left behind by Aruba’s indigenous peoples. Inside Quadirikiri Cave, the rocky chambers are lit by shafts of sunshine which fall by holes within the roof, catching on the swirling mud. It’s additionally house to very large colonies of innocent fruit bats.
7. Try Meditation on a Butterfly Farm
For one thing slightly completely different, attempt a meditation session and mindfulness stroll on a butterfly farm. This is certainly some of the distinctive issues to do in Aruba!
The session is run each Wednesday morning by Shanti, a neighborhood yoga and meditation instructor, and is such a relaxing technique to begin the day. You’ll begin with a guided meditation within the backyard, surrounded by tropical crops and flitting butterflies, then take a meditation stroll alone by the gardens. An effective way to attach with nature and discover your internal zen.
If you don’t make it to the session (otherwise you really feel zen sufficient already after lazing on Aruba’s stunning seashores) the Aruba Butterfly Farm continues to be properly value a go to.
8. Discover the Colourful Street Art in San Nicolas
Aruba’s second-largest city, San Nicholas, is maybe much less well-known than the colorful capital of Oranjestad, nevertheless it’s positively value visiting. A quiet coastal city on the southern tip of the island, San Nicolas appears like a extra “authentic” facet of Aruba in comparison with the resorts round Palm Beach.
But the primary motive to go to is for the San Nicolas Art Murals. The streets of the downtown space are coated with vibrant murals and distinctive road artwork created by each native and worldwide artists – all organised by the annual Aruba Art Fair.
9. Find your Balance with SUP Yoga
The calm, heat seas round Aruba’s beautiful seashores are perfect for paddleboarding! They’re additionally the proper place to check out paddleboard yoga – particularly since you received’t thoughts falling off!
We took a SUP Yoga class with Vela Aruba, a watersports store proper on the seashore close to the Ritz Carlton resort. Practising yoga poses whereas balancing on the board provides a very distinctive twist to the session – and the ocean is the final word serene setting. I beloved trying my wobbly downward canine while being watched by a few curious pelicans, surrounded by the sounds of the ocean!
10. Go Mountain Biking in a Cactus Forest
If you’re within the temper for a land-based journey, hop on a mountain bike and discover among the island’s unbelievable trails. Cycle by cactus forests and alongside the rugged shoreline in quest of epic views!
We took a mountain biking tour with Aruba Active Vacations. I’d say that is most likely higher suited to extra skilled riders. The trails aren’t too hilly, however they’re dust tracks and will be rocky in locations. If you’re not nice at off-road biking, you could want to stay to the roads or coast paths.
However, your information ought to be capable to tailor issues to your talents, and the off-road trails provide an excellent probability to rise up near Aruba’s cactus-studded landscapes. Just be careful for the thorns – my legs seemed slightly worse for put on as soon as I’d completed!
11. Swim in a Natural Pool
Aruba has many beautiful white sandy seashores and sheltered, heat bays for swimming. But for a very distinctive swimming expertise, you should head to the Conchi Natural Pool.
Off the rugged, rocky coast of the Arikok National Park, this distant spot contains a small melancholy which is encircled by volcanic stone. These large boulders preserve out the tough sea, creating a sheltered pure pool the place you possibly can swim whereas watching large waves crash in opposition to the close by rocks!
12. Master a Watersport
The dependable commerce winds that after made Aruba so interesting to colonists now make the island a really perfect location for watersports. I’ve already talked about kayaking, paddleboarding and snorkelling – however there are much more thrilling sports activities for ocean lovers to attempt.
You may be taught windsurfing, kitesurfing, wing foiling, or crusing whereas in your vacation in Aruba. Already mastered certainly one of these? Rent gear and hit the waves! Vela Sports Aruba and Aruba Active Vacations provide each classes and leases.
13. Explore Aruba on Horseback
While we had been exploring the island on our epic jeep tour, I noticed a couple of horseriding teams. This can be such a enjoyable technique to uncover Aruba – particularly as a result of these cactus-filled landscapes appear to be one thing out of a Wild West film! Ride by the unbelievable countryside or alongside the seashores with the wind in your hair for a real style of journey.
14. Try an Off-Road UTV Adventure
These UTV excursions are some of the well-liked journey actions in Aruba. I noticed tons of them whereas I used to be on my journey and it seemed like lots of enjoyable. But I additionally noticed lots of indicators asking individuals to not drive on the dunes, and I do know that UTVs will be unhealthy for the setting, so ebook with care. The tourism board have mentioned they’re making an attempt to get the routes regulated in an effort to forestall injury to the coastal ecosystem.
15. Relax with a Spa Day
Once you’ve drained your self out with all these incredible Aruban adventures, it’s time to unwind! Book a day move for the spa and pool at Tierra del Sol Resort and Golf Club and prepare to calm down. You’re on vacation, in any case!
We visited for a therapeutic massage, a fast sauna session, and lunch on our final day in Aruba. I want we may have stayed the entire day! The spa is small however well-equipped, they usually have a couple of completely different bundle choices accessible. It’s an effective way so as to add slightly hit of luxurious to your vacation if you happen to’re not staying in one of many high-end resorts.
Where to Stay in Aruba
Boardwalk Boutique Hotel
I stayed on the Boardwalk Boutique Hotel Aruba and truthfully, it’s certainly one of my favorite inns ever.
It’s really extra of a boutique resort, with a number of “Casitas” (little homes) as an alternative of rooms. These are all dotted across the resort in a stunning tropical backyard, so it feels virtually like staying in a jungle. And with all that foliage blocking out the opposite friends, it feels extremely personal.
All the Casitas embrace a small kitchen, so you may have the choice to self-cater if you wish to. Or simply preserve some snacks within the fridge! The rooms are stunning: gentle and ethereal but in addition vibrant and enjoyable. There’s a small however beautiful pool, once more surrounded by palms and tropical crops. Boardwalk Hotel is the proper setting for a dreamy Caribbean escape: luxurious however not stuffy, relaxed however not too informal, and completely, stunningly stunning. Can’t suggest it sufficient!
High Rise Resort Hotels
Prefer someplace slightly larger, with a number of amenities and eating places? The Palm Beach and Eagle Beach areas of Aruba have a number of high-rise inns and large resorts that ought to have every little thing you want.
While I used to be exploring Aruba I additionally visited two of the most well-liked high-rise inns: the Ritz Carlton and the Aruba Mariott Resort. Both had been wonderful: nice service, a number of good amenities, and direct entry to the seashore.
AirBnb
Alternatively, there are a spread of AirBnbs throughout the island to swimsuit all tastes and budgets. These are significantly good for households preferring self-catering (and a little bit of privateness), in addition to these visiting on a finances. You can prepare dinner for your self a couple of occasions to chop eating prices. If you’ll be renting a automotive throughout your keep in Aruba, you possibly can keep exterior of the primary areas to save lots of a bit of cash.
More Fun issues to do in Aruba
Check availability and costs on among the hottest excursions and actions in Aruba…
More on the Caribbean
Unique Things to do in Puerto Rico
Discover Island Life on St Lucia
Are there some other enjoyable or distinctive issues to do in Aruba that I’ve missed from this listing? Scroll down to depart a remark!