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Aruba travel guide
Blessed with stunning beaches, plenty of water sports, beautiful scenery and landscapes to explore, it’s easy to see why Aruba is often called the 'Happy Island'. With an all-year-round sunny climate, tempered by a gentle breeze, Aruba is a delightful place to relax and unwind. Time your trip right and you can also take in one of the best carnival experiences available outside of Brazil.
Beaches in Aruba
In Aruba, you can find some of the best beaches in the Caribbean. Honoured with white, pristine sand and rocked by gentle waves, you'll have to work hard to decide which idyllic spot you want to lay your sun towel. Eagle Beach is famed throughout the world and is consistently ranked in the global top three by travel writers and critics.
Best beaches in Aruba
Eagle Beach
Located on Aruba’s northern coast, recognised as the widest beach in Aruba, and often ranked in the top three beaches in the world, Eagle beach is a must visit. This shoreline boasts white, sugar like sand to dip your toes into and tranquil, calm waters that are idyllic for swimming in.
The iconic and notoriously photographed fofoti tree takes centre stage here and is one of the many natural and beautiful attractions that entice people to visit Eagle beach.
However, Eagle beach doesn’t just attract humans, as is also home to the majority of nests inhabited by the four different species of turtle that live on the island.
This little slice of paradise is easily accessible by car and has all the amenities you could hope for, including: parking, watersports and authentic Aruban restaurants on the waterfront.
Andicuri Beach
Situated along Aruba’s east coast, Andicuri beach is one of the most secluded on the island. This 230 feet of shoreline is surrounded by limestone cliffs that provide shade from the sweltering sun.
This beach also hosts very choppy waters that aren’t suitable for swimming or snorkelling, however, the strong waves appeal to many keen and avid bodyboarders and kitesurfers; even local competitions often take place here.
This rugged, yet beautiful beach doesn’t have any facilities so be sure to bring your own snacks and drinks.
Flamingo Beach
If you’ve ever seen an advert for Aruba, then you may be under the impression that flamingos are free to wonder the island. However, this isn’t the case. Instead, flamingos only congregate in one area; Flamingo beach.
This one of a kind beach is located on Renaissance island; a private island that is only accessible by boat. If you stay at the Renaissance Aruba resort you will have unlimited free access to the beach. However, if you are staying somewhere else, Flamingo beach requires a little bit of planning to visit. Day passes can be purchased in advanced and kids under 12 can visit for free.
However, if you plan to take your children to this fantastic experience bear in mind that they are only allowed between nine and ten o’clock in the morning, this is to minimise the disturbance to the birds.
Aruba geography
Aruba history
Wildlife in Aruba
Activities in Aruba
Watersports
Diving in Aruba
Clear, calm and warm seas boasting a diversity of underwater attractions such as expanses of gently waving seagrasses; established, healthy coral reefs and a multitude of shipwrecks make Aruba a fantastic location for those with an interest in diving. There are many shore-based dive centres or dive resorts on the island offering professional instruction and support to all levels of divers including those wishing to gain a Wreck Diver certification.
The mature reefs with their diverse populations of corals, fish and turtles are great to explore, but by far the title for the most popular dive locations belongs to the many accidental and deliberate shipwrecks dotted around the coastline. A great example is the SS Antilla, a German cargo ship scuttled in 1940. Nestling in only 14m of water, it's often cited as the best shipwreck dive in the Caribbean and is perfect for beginners.
Surfing in Aruba
Aruba has great all year round weather, often accompanied by a steady gentle breeze which provides consistent, but mostly not too dramatic waves; creating an island paradise ideal for beginners or addicted surfing enthusiasts. From a surfing perspective, the beaches fall into two categories: idyllic in the west and rugged on the east coast generating waves on which to learn or challenging waters for more seasoned professionals.
We recommend Malmok Beach; offering nearly 60m of clear shallow waters it provides the perfect spot for beginners to hone their surfing skills. Here you will find hire shops and surf schools. Hadicurari Beach or Fisherman’s Huts is home to the Caribbean’s largest windsurfing competition and a mecca for surfers. Affected by strong currents and high waves Boca Grandi, on the southern tip of Aruba, is where the skilled surfer should be setting their sights. Whatever your skill or adrenalin levels, Aruba offers an idyllic setting to partake in surf-based fun.
Windsurfing and Kitesurfing in Aruba
Aruba boasts the longest high wind season in the whole of the Caribbean and with average wind speeds of 20 knots all year round, this island is the prime location for windsurfing and kitesurfing.
Two of the most popular settings in Aruba for windsurfing and kitesurfing are Malmok Beach and Fishermen’s Huts, which is a particularly great place to introduce yourself to this exciting activity due to light winds and 400m of warm, shallow waters.
Each year, the island attracts some of the best windsurfers from around the globe that visit Aruba to compete Hi-Winds World Challenge. If it’s good enough for them, then it’s good enough for you.
Sailing in Aruba
A gentle, flat sea brushed by calm winds, makes Aruba an ideal place to indulge in the pleasures that coastal sailing can offer. Create your own private, intimate trip or join others for a fun-packed party cruise, the choice is yours. There are many opportunities to embark on day or night time excursions offering opportunities to leisurely pass the hours in the most relaxing of environments.
What could be a better way to spend the day than on a pristine, sailing ship gliding over sun-kissed waters, viewing the majestic beaches from an alternative perspective whilst eating quality food and sipping great cocktails. Not your thing? Then take a dip in the ocean and try some snorkelling to obtain great views of reefs and shipwrecks lurking just beneath the water instead.
A wide variety of boats can be chartered by individuals or groups for varying durations, or join a scheduled, all inclusive, cruise catering for all ages. For those of you wanting to realise their inner Long John Silver, pirate-based jaunts are available offering BBQs, themed activities and a thoroughly swashbuckling experience.
Fishing in Aruba
Do you like secrets? Are you hooked on fishing? If the answer is yes, you need to head to Aruba. Its calm, southern location protects it from the big storms that can occur in the Caribbean and its gentle, warm waters make it an enticing, largely ignored, attraction for beginners and experienced anglers alike.
Whilst jumping on a boat to go deep-sea fishing is the most popular choice, shore-based or even fly fishing options can be found. The species to be found around the island include Sailfish, Black and Yellowfin Tuna, Marlin, Barracuda and Bonefish to name a few. Because of the plentiful stocks of fish, charting a boat can be done from most coastal locations; where knowledgeable local guides take pleasure in navigating you to the best fishing spots.
Our recommended places to start your memorable fishing experience are Malmok Beach on the northern tip of Aruba; Renaissance Marina, a short jaunt from the capital, Oranjestad; Manchebo Beach in the southwest and finally Spanish Lagoon in the south. Wherever you choose, you're guaranteed a catch to be proud of.
Canoeing and Kayaking in Aruba
For those wanting to get close to nature and maybe experience something new, then Kayaking should definitely be considered. Paddling on top of the calm, clear sea provides many opportunities to explore and watch wildlife, including birds and marine life, from a different perspective. Particularly popular are kayaking excursions around the mangrove lagoons, situated at Aruba’s southern tip.
Whilst Kayak and safety equipment hire or guided tours can be found at many locations throughout the island, a particular hotspot is at Savaneta, a town in the South East. Here you can start your trip by mastering the basics of staying afloat and controlling your kayak, before being led by your informative guide to favourite locations such as Mangel Halto or the Spanish Lagoon.
Don’t despair, it's not all paddling; tours offer many opportunities to take in swimming, snorkelling, beaches and of course food. In short, this is a great way to enjoy some of Aruba's favourites, but from an alternative perspective.
Land activities
Golf in Aruba
Whether you’re an avid golfer or you just want to have an afternoon of fun spent playing a game or two with friends; there are three eclectic golf courses to choose from on the island of Aruba.
The most pristine and only 18-hole course on the island is Tierre del Sol. Situated on the northwest tip of Aruba and positioned near the Tierre del sol Resort spa and country club, this golf club offers breathtaking views of the ocean and features waterfalls on the course. Tierre del Sol welcomes guests staying at any resort in Aruba and uses state of the art technology, including a GPS yardage system, to give players a virtual view of the course and electronic scoring. Throw away those pencils and scoring cards.
Located in the Divi Village Golf and Beach Resort, the smaller 9-hole Links at Divi Aruba is a stunning and challenging course. Beautifully landscaped, it hugs the shoreline, providing stunning views to soften the impact of those occasional but inevitable poor shots. After your game, relax in Mulligan’s Bar & Restaurant or sample some gourmet food in the appropriately named Windows on Aruba, with views of the course and sea.
For something slightly different try Aruba’s oldest course, the Aruba Golf Club. Built in 1941 for the workers at the Lago Refinery, it has little grass on the fairways and uses oiled sand for greens. To add to its quirkiness and charm you may also find that you've joined on your round by the occasional wild goat or donkey.
Cycling and Mountain Biking in Aruba
For those of you wanting to negate some of the indulgent and calorific delights offered by Aruba, then hiring a bike or joining a cycling tour offers a healthy way to explore the island and discover places a pure beach lover will never see.
The Aruban government has invested in a 350km cycling infrastructure of paths, lanes and trails and there are several companies providing bicycles and safety equipment as well as structured tours. So why not take the scenic route up to the California Lighthouse, where after passing by Eagle, Hadicurari and Malmok beaches you can take a well-earned break and enjoy some amazing views. Alternatively, go bird watching by cycling to the Bubali Bird Sanctuary.
Whatever your preference, grab plenty of water and a helmet; rub in lots of sun protection and get those legs moving for some energetic outdoor fun.
Walking and Hiking in Aruba
Whether you want to maintain your fitness or just love walking and being in the great outdoors; Hiking is one of the best ways to explore Aruba’s natural and rugged landscapes. Encompassing 20% of the island and providing 29 miles of walking routes, Arikok National Park should be at the top of your list of places to go hiking in Aruba. One of the most popular spots to visit within the park is the Conchi natural pool. Take a treacherous walk up a well-worn, pebbled path to reach this natural wonder and treat yourself to a well-earned dip in the water.
Probably the most notorious walk in Aruba is climbing the 562 concrete steps that lead up to Hooiberg (Haystack) mountain. Located in the centre of Aruba, once you reach the top, this 165 meters above sea level mountain provides 360-degree views of the beautiful island and on clearer days, you can see the coast of Venezuela.
Whilst the six trails within the park are clearly signposted, we recommend you obtain the services of a local guide who will enhance your experience with entertaining facts as you explore the dunes, hills, caves and abandoned mines.