Top 10 Things to Do in Aruba
Aruba’s slogan is ‘One Happy Island’ for a reason. There is so much to do on this tiny 74 square foot island, but you always feel relaxed and happy no matter what you’re doing. From relaxing on some of the top rated beaches in the world to exploring the Arikok National Park, here are my top 10 recommendations of what to do when visiting the beautiful island of Aruba.
1. Visit Flamingo Island
Flying into Aruba, you will land in the capital, Oranjestad. My recommendation is to stay two nights at the Renaissance Aruba Hotel and Casino, which is just a quick 10 minute taxi ride from the airport. That way you have time to explore the capital AND you can spend a full day at Flamingo Island! The Renaissance Hotel owns their own private island that guests can visit for free. The Island is technically called Renaissance Island and the Flamingo Island side is adults only and the Iguana Island side is family friendly. There are day passes for non-hotel guests, but it costs $99 per day per visitor and they only give out about 30 guest passes a day. On average, staying at the Renaissance Hotel costs $150 per night. Since I was staying with my husband, it was more cost effective and easier to stay at the hotel. Then we were guaranteed a full day at the island!
2. Explore Arikok National Park
The west side of Aruba is filled with beautiful white sandy beaches, and the East side of the island is considered the “rugged” part of the island, which includes Arikok National Park. Spending time around the whole island, it is hard to believe these vastly different environments exist on one tiny island. Arikok National Park includes a lot to explore, from caves to natural pools. Some parts of the Park require a 4×4 vehicle (the natural pool areas), so make sure you are driving one of those if you want to visit! It does get VERY hot during the middle of the day, so make sure to get an early start. Entrance fee is $11/person.
3. Yoga at Island Yoga
If you practice yoga, you probably know Yoga Girl, Rachel Brathen. Well, she lives in Aruba and started her own yoga studio called Island Yoga. If you’re lucky and she is in Aruba while you’re there, you can take a class with Rachel! They also offer stand-up-paddleboard yoga classes, have a really cute boutique and delicious cafe with all vegan options. It’s a must-stop while in Aruba.
4. Relax on the Beach
Aruba’s beaches are what tropical vacation postcards are made of. Many of the beaches rank at the top in the world, including Eagle Beach, which was in National Geographic’s Top 24 Best Spots in the Caribbean. My favorite beaches with white sand and crystal, clear blue water (my vision of paradise), were Baby Beach on the southern tip of the island, Eagle Beach and Palm Beach. In Aruba, there are plenty of beaches to choose from to sit back and relax in the sun!
5. Snorkel or Dive
The ABC (Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao) Islands are well known for their snorkeling and scuba diving thanks to the crystal clear blue waters. There are also a lot of shipwrecks, which is where a variety of fish gather. The ship in the photo to the left is a shipwreck we snorkeled and was my favorite snorkel spot. There were so many fish, it was unreal!
Unfortunately, we forgot to charge our Go-Pro and so we couldn’t capture this moment in photos.
A few other great snorkel spots is Baby Beach where we heard some people saw sea turtles, Mangrove Beach where my husband saw an octopus, and Catalina Cove where the water is crystal clear and very calm.
6. Sand Dune Sunrise
The California Sand Dunes are located on the far north corner of the island, just far enough to see a beautiful sunrise over the east side. It is a quick drive from the Palm Beach area. Like the name describes, it’s a large area of sand dunes, so driving there before the sunrise in the pitch black is a small challenge. It is worth it, though. We didn’t see anyone around for the entire sunrise and were able to explore the dunes on our own before heading back to our hotel for breakfast.
Also, an extra special treat for watching the sunrise at the California Sand Dunes is once the sun is up the California Lighthouse is visible!
7. Deep Sea Fishing
Of course this is the part of the trip where my photos decided to disappear, but if you or your partner love fishing, deep sea fishing in Aruba is a must! There are so many types of fish available for catching. This was a special gift for my husband, but we both had a great time. I even caught a Tuna that we had for dinner (proof in the disappeared photos…)! Most of the fishing charters depart from the marina in Oranjestad and there are plenty of great options to choose from!
8. Enjoy Every Sunset
On an island this beautiful, it is no surprise that every sunset is worth watching. Many restaurants in Palm Beach have great views of the sunset that you can enjoy a drink or dinner while catching the last rays of the day. Or just pick a spot on the beach to sit back and relax while the sky puts on a show.
9. Sunset Cruise
Another way to enjoy the sunset is to take a Sunset Cruise. There are multiple companies that offer this, but we decided to go with Red Sail Sports. We loved this group and you can tell the crew really enjoy their job. It’s about a 2 hour sail on a beautiful catamaran with complimentary appetizers, drinks for sale, and music. They depart right from Palm Beach where most of the hotels are located, so it’s very easy to walk to at the end of a day in the sun!
10. Hang With the Butterflies
If you need a break from all the sun and sand, head to The Butterfly Farm, which is right in-between Eagle Beach and Palm Beach. There are free guided tours throughout the day that share so much about the butterflies. You can freely roam the farm as long as you would like, and they provide you a ticket to come back for free during your stay in Aruba. Make sure to wear breathable clothes, it gets hot in there! Entrance fee is $15.
Aruba is a beautiful tropical island with so much to offer. These were just 10 of my favorite things! What do you love to do most in Aruba?
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