I’ve finally done it! I booked my trip to Aruba! It’s been on my bucket list for quite some time and I finally pulled the trigger. Now that it’s scheduled I need to figure out what to do in Aruba in order to make this the vacation of a lifetime. Follow me as I figure out where to go on the island, some places off the beaten path and some straight out of a tourist brochure. I plan on making this a memorable trip mixed with adventure, relaxation and some education.
Touristic Fun in Aruba
I’ll admit it – Sometimes I love going to a touristy destination. While I don’t love a crowd if there are that many people around there must be something to say about the attraction, right? I’ve narrowed my list down to the following “touristy attractions” that I need to visit during my trip.
Relaxing Beaches
- Palm Beach – While this beach may be crowded with tourists staying at the high rise resorts scattered along the way, it’s for good reason. It’s a picturesque beach with white sand and blue-green water. There’s a calm surf so it’s perfect for relaxing or leisurely swimming. There’s also plenty of colorful fish that swim by so snorkeling is a must.
- Baby Beach – This beach is a must see. Its name comes from the calm, shallow waters that would be perfect for babies to swim in. There are some coral formations along the edges which make it great to snorkel in. I’ll be sure to spend a few hours here catching some sun and rest.
Activities
I get antsy when I’m on vacation. I can only spend so much time relaxing in the sun and sand before I need to do something active. Luckily there are plenty of excursions to keep me busy.
- Jeep Safari – This is a full day tour that allows me to drive around the island in a 4×4 vehicle. It’s perfect for my sense of adventure. Being able to explore the island by jeep allows me to see so many unique parts I’d never be able to see otherwise. This tour allows me to visit the Natural Pool which is located inside the Arikok National Park. The pool is surrounded by volcanic rock and in order to get there I’ll need to drive through some rugged terrain. This is surprising since “rugged terrain” isn’t something I’d necessarily think of when talking about Aruba but it’s an exciting surprise.
My jeep tour won’t end there. I’ll still make stops at the California Lighthouse, which was named for a steamship that wrecked nearby in 1891. The lighthouse is open for tours so maybe I’ll check that out. My adventure will continue on with the Alto Vista Chapel which is a small chapel that was built on the site of the first Catholic Church in Aruba in 1750.
- Aruba Ostrich Farm – No vacation is complete for me without visiting some animals. The guided tour at the Aruba Ostrich Farm will be right up my alley! Here, I’ll learn all kinds of interesting facts about these animals and will even be able to hand feed them. I can also check out the incubator and hatchery for the younger ostriches.
- Submarine – This next excursion has me really excited! Atlantis Submarine leads this excursion in which you proceed to depths of 130 feet. There are several shipwrecks to see, along with plenty of coral reefs and tropical fish. It’s definitely top of my list.
- The Butterfly Farm – This charming garden is full of multicolored butterflies. A great place to take pictures, if I arrive in the morning I may be able to see butterflies emerging from their chrysalis. A bonus to this admission is that it’s a free pass for the rest of my vacation so I can come back again and again.
Non-Touristy Adventures in Aruba
Sure, all the touristy sights are fun but I love to go off the beaten path and discover treasures of my own. While there may be some tourists at some of these sights, it won’t be the multitudes of people seen elsewhere. Here’s my picks for some “off the path” adventures.
- Hooiberg – This is a 541 ft volcanic formation in the center of Aruba. It’s the perfect place to go for a hike and once at the top, see views of the entire island and maybe even Venezuela if it’s a clear day.
- Arikok National Park – While this is home to the Natural Pool described above, there are still many more attractions within the park. Jamanota Hilltop is considered the highest point on the island and allows for spectacular views of the island. There are also several limestone caves to visit (Fontein Cave and Quadirikiri Cave). In Fontein Cave there are still pictographs leftover from early European settlers.
- Visit Oranjestad – The capital city is brimming with action. In order to experience daily life in Aruba I plan on taking a day in the city to see what I can find. The local market has many hand-made crafts on site along with fresh food. Cosecha Aruba is where local artists and crafters can display their work. I’ll also be sure to check out the battery powered trolley and hop on and off to discover new spots.
- Northeastern Beaches – While relaxing in a calm surf with a drink in my hand sure doesn’t sound bad, exploring sparsely populated, undeveloped beaches sounds pretty great too. While many of the beaches along this side aren’t safe for swimming there’s still a ton of exploring to be done. It may be the perfect place for photo ops with the surf crashing against the rocks at sunset or just sun bathing in this remote, quiet spot.
Cost
While all of this sure sounds nice, it’s probably pretty costly. I quickly found out that all the excursions I wanted to do would add up. My plan was to splurge on one “big” adventure.
Luckily, most of the resorts in Aruba include plenty of amenities in their price when booking a room. Activities like kayaking, paddle boarding and snorkeling aren’t additional costs and are just as full of adventure.
Since I plan to do a lot of exploring around the island I’ve decided that renting a jeep is my best bet. It does cost more than a car but it’ll also be able to get me around the island, and its rugged terrain, more effectively.
I’ve found that cost is anywhere between $400-$500 for the week. Considering a one-day guided Jeep tour can cost around $120, I feel like it’ll be more cost efficient to rent one and explore myself.
Even though I’ll have my own vehicle there will still be plenty of costs associated with my explorations. For example, the entrance fee to Arikok National Park is $11, the Ostrich Farm is $14 and the submarine ride is $105. All these fees can certainly add up and have you spending more than anticipated. My solution to that is to know your budget and plan your adventures.
Like I said earlier, my big splurge is the vehicle rental which will take me to all different parts of the island. I’m aware I’ll have to pay small entrance fees to some of the parks and other attractions I wish to visit but I’ve accounted for that in my overall budget. Getting the most out of your vacation will simply come down to planning and doing plenty of research.
I was also unsure about booking ahead of time or waiting until I get there. Here’s a few tips that helped me decide. The excursions that I want to do the most, I booked those ahead of time. Jeep rentals are popular and can quickly sell out so I made sure that I booked that first. I didn’t want to start my vacation off on the wrong foot so since that was most important to me; I made sure to do that ahead of time.
Other activities that may sell out quickly or have limited room should be booked ahead of time. The submarine ride or maybe a boating excursion is a few examples. I’ve also found that booking online is usually cheaper so that’s always good for my wallet. Other adventures, like the Ostrich Farm and Butterfly Farm can be booked when I get there. I can go there any day I choose and there isn’t limited seating like in a boat or submarine so I’m fine with waiting for those trips.
There is a complete article about how expensive Aruba is for tourists. You can find out more about the costs in that article.
Final thoughts
My dream trip is falling into place. Not only are there gorgeous sandy white beaches to relax on but there’s also plenty of adventures for me to experience. When I first decided my trip location, what to do in Aruba was the next question in my head. I never could have imagined the amount of history, exploration and relaxing days that would be before me. My trip to this beautiful country will be one to last a lifetime – hope to see you there!
