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 an excellent 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 wedding ceremony anniversary, however this various little island makes an excellent escape for a associates journey or household trip, too. (See my full 5-day Aruba itinerary, too.)
Whereas Aruba solely covers about 75 sq. miles, there’s really loads to do! Should you’re planning a visit to Aruba, listed below are all of the stuff you undoubtedly want so as to add to your to-do record.
11 greatest issues to do in Aruba
Listed here are my high 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 nearly 20% of the island! This park is thought for is rugged desert panorama, and is greatest explored on a 4×4 safari, ATV tour, or on horseback.
Visiting Arikok Nationwide Park is an effective way to study extra about Aruba’s historical past and local weather (for instance, do you know that you’re going to discover extra cacti on Aruba than palm timber??), and there are quite a lot of cool websites to see throughout the nationwide park.
Just a few stops throughout the park that you simply would possibly make embrace 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 vital widespread stops in Arikok Nationwide Park is the Pure Pool, which is precisely what it seems like: a naturally-shaped pool on the fringe of the ocean that you may swim in.
The Pure Pool (or Conchi, which implies “bowl”) is surrounded by jagged volcanic rocks that waves will usually crash over, however the water throughout the pool is often pretty calm. Attending to the pool requires traversing by means of Arikok Nationwide Park after which strolling right down to the pool (so sturdy sandals or water sneakers are undoubtedly 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.
At this time, the Bushiribana ruins are nothing greater than stacked rocks within the imprecise form of a constructing, however they’re fascinating to discover, and the views from the ruins are unimaginable.
4. Go to rock formations
Aruba is a rugged, rocky island, and there are some well-known rock formations value visiting for historical past and nice views. A few of these have been probably utilized by the Arawak folks (the earliest settlers on the island), and you could find petroglyphs nonetheless present 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 a few of the greatest Aruba views.
- Ayo Rock Formations – Yow will 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 seashore hopping. A number of the most well-known seashores in Aruba embrace:
- Palm Seaside – This 2-mile-long seashore is within the “resort zone,” proper subsequent to quite a lot of the excessive rise resorts in Aruba. You will discover seashore bars, water sports activities stands, purchasing, and extra at this seashore. And the water is calm and ideal for swimming right here.
- Eagle Seaside – That is the widest seashore in Aruba, and identified for its mushy white sand. Eagle Seaside is near quite a lot of the low-rise resorts within the vacationer zone, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a really good seashore. You will discover seashore huts and water sports activities right here, together with two of Aruba’s well-known fofoti timber.
- Arashi Seaside – Positioned within the north of the island, Arashi is a good seashore for snorkeling and enjoyable. There are some seashore loungers for hire, and loads of mushy white sand. Arashi Seaside can also be near the California Lighthouse, which can also be value a go to.
- Child Seaside – Positioned within the south of Aruba close to San Nicolas, Child Seaside is a shallow half-moon seashore excellent for snorkleing and paddling. It is also a well-liked seashore with locals.
Aruba full island safari
And if you wish to do the entire above issues (go to Arikok Nationwide Park, swim within the Pure Pool, climb some rock formations, see the mill ruins, and go to a seashore or two) in at some point, 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 will 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 Final Jeep Safari
6. Hang around with flamingos
One other seashore you possibly can go to if you happen to plan for it’s Flamingo Seaside – maybe essentially the most well-known seashore in Aruba. This seashore is positioned on Renaissance Personal Island, which is the one non-public 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 a minimum of a pair nights of your journey so as 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 seashore, respectively), the latter of which is residence to 6 pink flamingos.
Should you keep at one of many Renaissance resorts (examine them right here!), you possibly can take a free shuttle boat over to the non-public island within the morning, after which hang around all day. You may take photographs 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.
Should you’re not staying on the Renaissance resort, you CAN typically get a day go to go to Renaissance Personal Island. You used to solely have the ability to get these in-person on the day you wished to go to, however now there may be an choice to buy day passes on-line upfront.
Island day passes are restricted, nevertheless, and never accessible every single day. So if you wish to be assured a go to to Flamingo Seaside, I’d simply e-book a room on the Renaissance Resort for a minimum of one evening. That manner 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 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 website within the Caribbean, however the wreckage is in shallow sufficient water that you may 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 sundown cruise tour is without doubt one of 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. Discover Oranjestad
Whereas Aruba is unquestionably often called a seashore vacation spot and many individuals keep within the “resort zone” north of town, do not miss out on exploring Oranjestad, the island’s colourful capital.
Spend a while going for a stroll by means of Oranjestad and down alongside 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 purchasing (strive the Royal Plaza Mall or Renaissance Market), 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
Meals excursions are certainly one of my favourite issues to do after I journey, as they provide 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 quite a lot of 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 meals tour is the right approach 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 may’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 have been the primary mode of transportation for hundreds of years. An sickness threatened extinction of Aruba’s donkeys within the Nineteen 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 extra 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 usually the most well liked months in Aruba, and November is usually the rainiest.
It is heat year-round, although, and with Aruba being outdoors of the Hurricane Belt, you actually cannot go unsuitable with a visit in any month. Go to June-December for higher costs and fewer folks.
READ NEXT: The Excellent 5-Day Aruba Itinerary: 5 Days on One Blissful Island
Have you ever been to Aruba but?
