In the Caribbean Sea, Aruba is an island that lies southwest of the Lesser Antilles, about 50 miles northwest of Curaçao, and 18 miles north of Paraguana, a peninsula in Venezuela.
Previously, Aruba belonged to the Netherlands Antilles. It became a distinct, self-governing region of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1986.
This post will highlight some of the fun things to do in Aruba.
Fun Things to Do in Aruba
1. Palm Beach
Located on the island’s west coast, Palm Beach provides white sand and calm waves that are ideal for swimming. Due to its concentration in front of the high-rise resorts, this beach attracts many people. The strip has a long sidewalk that makes it a nice area for a walk with a breathtaking view.
The pelicans are entertaining to observe while you are at the beach, swimming, snorkeling, or paddle boarding. These stunning birds are renowned for their superb flying abilities, particularly when searching for food. When they have found their meal in the water, try to catch a glimpse of their last approach.
Swimming, scuba diving, tanning, relaxing, and socializing are all excellent activities at this bustling beach with lovely, quiet seas. Young and old will be able to find all they require at the beach, which has many beach bars, restaurants, hotels, and watersports businesses.
2. Eagle Beach
This well-liked resort beach has the perfect Caribbean white sand and blue water.
Two of Aruba’s most famous and well-known foot trees, with their distinctive silhouettes pointing toward the Caribbean, can be found at Eagle Beach. In Aruba, four species of sea turtles are there. Eagle Beach is their habitat.
Families from the area take part in the custom of camping on the beach during Easter week in Aruba every year. Every beachgoer may enjoy the best coastal experience at Eagle Beach. If you can see the sunset while you are there, the beauty is spectacular, and you won’t want to leave.
3. California Lighthouse
The California Lighthouse is located atop a hill in the village of Hudishibana, which is in the northwest portion of the island. It is located near Arashi Beach. Numerous indications point the way.
The S.S. California, which sank before it was erected in 1910, is referenced in the lighthouse’s name. The lighthouse, perched on a high seashore elevation and provides a picture-perfect view of the western coastline of the island’s beaches and coral shorelines, has come to be recognized as one of Aruba’s distinctive landmarks.
An amazing sunrise from the island’s east shore may be seen if you travel to the lighthouse early, about 6:00 AM.
Stargazing and seeing the hotel lights along the shore may be done quite well at the lighthouse at night. Additionally stunning is the full moon against the lighthouse’s backdrop.
4. Arikok National Park
San Fuego, which is the easier entry to find and where the visitor center is situated, and Vader Piet, which is situated on the park’s southeast edge, are the two entrances.
Nearly 20% of the island of Aruba is taken up by this lovely national park. This Aruba attraction offers a wide variety of activities. Spectacular caverns, authentic Indian rock art, peculiar land formations built of lava, and guided nature hikes through dry river beds to quiet beaches like Moro, Boca Prins, and Dos Playa are just a few of the area’s standout attractions and cultural heritage sites.
For your visit to Arikok National Park, arrange a guided tour. Although not the only one, De Palm Tours is the island’s primary tour company and offers a variety of day trips and activities inside the park.
5. Donkey Sanctuary Aruba
In the enclosed porch’s safety, you can feed and pet the donkeys at Donkey Sanctuary Aruba. Since donkeys are incredibly friendly and kind animals that have been a part of the island’s culture for 500 years, they are the ideal companions for anybody looking for a stress-relieving hobby.
Visitors are warmly welcomed to the sanctuary at Bringamosa, where tours and information are available. Visitors can relax in the welcoming visitor center, sip a refreshing beverage on the covered porch, or browse for unique items and souvenirs with donkey themes.
6. Aruba Ostrich Farm
You are invited to visit the Ostrich Farm to get a closer look at its 80+ farm animals, which include ostriches and emus.
The world’s largest living bird, the ostrich, its flightless Australian relatives, and the emus live on the farm, which welcomes visitors to enjoy a guided tour.
You can discover fascinating information on the ostrich’s incredible speed and about its mating, rearing, feeding, and defense methods against predators at Aruba Ostrich Farm. Even better, you’ll be able to hand-feed them.
7. De Palm Island
The top attraction in Aruba is De Palm Island, which has something to offer everyone. De Palm Island, off the western coast of Aruba, draws tourists seeking an all-inclusive beach day from the main island.
You must be eight or older to engage in the optional Sea Trek or Snuba activities. If you or someone in your party has any of the following problems, including pregnancy, recent surgery, high blood pressure, epilepsy, seizures, or asthma, a doctor’s letter of release is necessary before participating in the upgrade activities.
8. Flamingo Beac
The Renaissance Hotel in Aruba includes a tiny private island where Flamingo Beach is situated. Here, a few pink flamingos stroll the Dutch Caribbean’s sweet white shores and turquoise waters. The beach is made comfortable and shaded by numerous palm trees.
The only way to reach the island, which is not accessible to the general public, is via boat transfer arranged by the hotel. So, there are two ways to go to Flamingo Beach: stay at the hotel or get a day pass.
9. Aruba Aloe Factory
One of the few aloe vera businesses that produce, harvest, and process its aloe on the premises is Aruba Aloe Factory, established in 1890. This aloe is regarded as the best aloe in the world and serves as the foundation for a wide range of high-quality skin, hair, and sun care products.
Do visit the factory on your next trip to Aruba.
10. Gold Mill Ruins
The ruins of former gold mines at Miralamar are located in the Arikok National Park. There are also two gold mills on the island. On the island’s northern shore is the Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins, which once processed ore from mines in the surrounding hills.
11. Soul Beach Music Festival
The Balashi Gold Mill was constructed at the southernmost point of the Spanish Lagoon. The ruins of this once-bustling mill can still be seen in the gorgeous environment close to Frenchman’s Pass, a constricting rock canyon.
The festival promises nightclub activities, beach gatherings, live performances, comedy shows, and more, all featuring the top artists and entertainers.
Every year, the Caribbean Island of Aruba, which lies close to Venezuela’s Paraguana peninsula, hosts the music event Soul Beach Musical Festival.
The festival’s online website contains information about the schedule of events, tickets, venue, lineup, and other topics.
12. Fort Zoutman Historical Museum
These museum honors the multicultural heritage of Aruba, and visitors can peruse a collection of antiques and documents from Spain and the Netherlands, as well as regularly changing exhibits that showcase the island’s fascinating past.
Make sure to ascend the Willem III tower for a 360-degree perspective of Oranjestad, the vibrant city of Aruba.
13. Black Stone Beach
Black Stone Beach is an undiscovered, one-of-a-kind beach close to Andicuri Beach and is accessible on foot. The Black Stone Beach is unusual because it lacks sand and is made up of spherical, dark-colored stones. Photographers who want to escape the busier beaches should visit this hidden retreat. Not your normal white-sand beach, this one. The sunrise over the rounded black stones the beach is called after makes this quiet, picturesque harbor even more stunning.
14. Hadicurari Beach
The most popular place in Aruba to learn and practice wind and kite surfing is Hadicurari Beach. It was formerly the fishing community’s home and was named after the little huts the fisherman erected here.
Located near Aruba’s northwestern tip, Hadicurari Beach is a rocky stretch of coastline past the Marriott Aruba Resort, where windsurfers cut through the ocean and colorful kite-surf crescents pierce the sky.
The shallow, iridescent water in the area is also great for snorkeling gear, which many visitors advise. Here, you may find a lot of paddle boarding, wind and kite surf schools, and other non-motorized water activities.
15. Royal Plaza Mall
The Royal Plaza Mall is ideally situated in the center of Oranjestad, across from the cruise ship terminal. It is also close to the bus station, museums, and the main street, and, from the second story, offers views of the Caribbean Sea.
Ignoring the mall’s stunning Dutch-Caribbean architecture is impossible since it is so vibrant, vivid, and ornate. A wide range of shops is housed inside the mall, from high-end international brands and jewelers to vibrant kiosks offering regional mementos.
Some bars and restaurants serve light meals for lunch and dinner during the day, while Mojito’s Cantina & Grill transforms into a salsa dance club at night.
16. Butterfly Farm
On J. Irausquin Boulevard Z/N in Oranjestad, Aruba, in the well-known Palm Beach neighborhood, and across from the Aruba Divi Phoenix, is where you’ll find the Butterfly Farm.
As you move through the confined space, friendly, experienced tour guides point out several butterfly species. The guides also go into a butterfly’s life cycle and how they mate. Several butterfly chrysalises on display are about to hatch.
Hundreds of real tropical butterflies can be seen fluttering freely inside a big mesh enclosure, creating a stunning display of the most amazing species around the globe in Butterfly Farm.
17. Baby Bridge
The Baby Bridge, situated on Aruba’s northeastern shore, is among the island’s most well-known tourist attractions. Most visitors are taken aback by the proximity of the “Daughter Bridge,” as it has been dubbed by many, to the original Natural Bridge, which collapsed on September 2, 2005.
This Aruba attraction is free to view and has no set hours. A gift shop, a snack bar, and a pay-to-use bathroom are all close by.
Many couples travel the neighboring shoreline searching for a secluded area to have a picnic as they take pictures, watch the choppy surf, and take in the sunset.
You can travel there on your own in your hired car, but exercise caution since you will be driving on rocky dirt roads, which only contribute to the enjoyment, as long as you do not have a flat tire.
18. Baby Beach
A beautiful Caribbean beach paradise can be found at Famous Baby Beach, adjacent to San Nicolas in southern Aruba. Families with young children will love this stunning sandy expanse that resembles a half-moon in a tranquil lagoon.
The shallow waters make it a popular beach for swimmers. There is a rental cost for snorkel equipment, beach beds, and windscreens. Free huts strewn over the beach to protect you from the sun. A nearby dive store rents snorkeling and diving equipment.
19. Natural Pool
The Natural Pool is a serene body of water formed by a volcanic stone that circles a small depression in a distinctive rock structure.
A barren stretch of beach regularly has magnificent displays of water gushing over the rock as the tide surges in. The unusual natural pool is inside Arikok National Park in Aruba, called the “bowl” or “Turtles Cove.”
There are two ways to reach the Natural Pool. The most typical method is to enter Arikok National Park and hire a guide to bring you to the pool in an ATV. You can drive your 4×4, but you must obtain permission from the rental car provider.
The alternate route is to drive to Daimari Beach and then hike from there to reach Natural Pool.
20. California Dunes
Aruba’s remote northwestern coast is home to enormous undulating dunes that offer stunning views and the option to go off-roading.
The California dunes are a representation of the desert-like environment of Aruba. Aloe, cacti, and the beautiful Divi Divi tree quietly surround California-named white dunes.
When tourists first view the dunes in California, they experience a sense of astonishment. You are welcome to look closer at the dunes on foot, even if you are not permitted to explore the dunes in a car.
21. Alto Vista Chapel
On the island of Aruba, 27 kilometers north of the Venezuelan coast, is a modest Catholic church called Alto Vista Chapel, commonly known as “Pilgrims Church.” It is located northeast of Noord, on a hilltop above the sea’s northern shore.
Services are still held in this tiny chapel, constructed by Spanish missionaries in 1750 and regarded as the first church to be erected in the Caribbean.
The chapel is accessible via a narrow, winding path. The people of Alto Vista revere this as a location of serenity and reflection. Visit the Peace Labyrinth behind the chapel for a meditative stroll.
22. Bon Bini Festival
The Bon Bini festival of folkloric music and dance is the ideal way to experience the hospitality of the people of Aruba. The oldest structure in Downtown Oranjestad, Fort Zoutman, hosts the Bon Bini Aruba Festival in its outdoor courtyard.
Through Caribbean music and dance, as well as regional art and cuisine, it presents Aruba’s distinct culture and heritage. Enjoy an interesting evening learning about the island’s culture, history, people, music, and cuisine.
This annual folk festival’s main components are live music and home-cooked cuisine, and the vibrant dancers in their exquisite costumes are a visual feast.
23. Boca Catalina
A small, isolated bay in the Malmok Beach region of Aruba is called Boca Catalina. Steps go to the beach from a sizable parking area beside the road. It is ideal for private swims and snorkeling because of its peaceful, crystal-clear seas. The icing on the cake is its pristine white sands.
Once you enter the water, you will quickly notice a wide diversity of tropical fish species.
If you go at first light, you might see some sea turtles. Snorkeling at Boca Catalina is best done in the morning because this place is popular. There is a smaller crowd in the morning.
24. Druif Beach
A mile-long line of white sand beaches, including this beach, is immediately connected to other beaches in the Eagle Beach region.
This location is ideal for swimming, aqua jogging, and other forms of fitness because of the tranquil and crystal-clear waters. This region offers both motorized and non-motorized water sports, and there are several beach bungalows and chairs for excellent beach sunbathing.
25. Surfside Beach
The long, narrow stretch of beach at Surfside Beach is perfect for gatherings and picnics beneath the shade of the trees, and the quiet waters make it a great place to practice SUP paddle boarding, canoeing, and other water sports. This public beach is in the heart of Oranjestad, next to the well-known linear park.
The highlights include white, fine sand with scattered stones and pebbles. Chair and umbrella rentals at the beach are available. The beach is easily accessible.
26. Skydive Aruba
When skydiving, you fall freely from a particular height before opening your parachute just before touching down. The scenery during the whole process is breathtaking.
Gabriel Richards and Thijs Landkroon, who together have more than 20 years of expertise in the skydiving and aviation industries, are the owners and operators of Skydive Aruba.
Aruba provides you with the most stunning vistas, with views of Venezuela, Curaçao, and the Caribbean’s crystal-clear blue and green waters below. No prior skydiving knowledge is necessary. Only trained personnel with over 10,000 jumps under their belts, parachute gear that is expertly maintained by a certified parachute rigger on staff, and a wonderful airplane can make your free fall and on-target landing the best and most exciting journey ever.
27. Santa Cruz
The Arikok National Park dominates Santa Cruz, a town in central Aruba. In Santa Cruz, eating out can offer excellent value. Get some bitterballen or enjoy a BBQ meal outside.
Climbing the famed Hooiberg is one of the most popular activities in Santa Cruz, both for locals and tourists. To witness the amazing vistas, hikers climb many stairs to the peak.
28. Aruba Nightlife
Aruba has a fun and energetic nightlife, especially around Palm Beach. Take part in a night out with a touch of Caribbean flair.
Sit back and spend an evening with Ray Ellin during his one-of-a-kind comedy act as you enjoy a fun night out with supper and a show. At one of Aruba’s most exciting nightclubs, dance the night away.
29. Kukoo Kunuku Tours
On this bizarre, funny, one-of-a-kind vehicle, the Kukoo Kunuku bus, capture the island spirit and get ready to paint the town crimson. As you go, take in views of the Aruba countryside, vibrant cunucu homes, and local flora and animals while learning a bit about the history and culture of the island from your guide.
30. Sunset Cruise
Enjoy the amazing sunset while sailing around Aruba’s beautiful beaches and shorelines and gliding over the island’s crystal-clear waters.
There are many sunset cruises in Aruba. They include countless open-bar mojitos, Latin music, salsa instructors, Cuban delicacies, and scenic sights.
Final Note
Aruba is undoubtedly a very exciting vacation destination if you plan to take one during your holidays. The ideal time to visit Aruba is April-August. The island is located far outside the hurricane belt, with no threat of tropical storms. Hotel rates are significantly high during January-March because of the nice weather.
Have a look at this article before your next trip to Aruba, and enjoy your vacation to the fullest.
Last Updated on by Pragya Chakrapani
