1-Day in Aruba: Best of Aruba Tour

Earlier this year on our Southern Caribbean cruise with Royal Caribbean a stop in Aruba was on our itinerary. We had 1-day in Aruba to explore the island and learn as much about the culture and history of the island as possible. This was the longest port stop on our itinerary with almost 12 hours in port! Below I’ve shared how we spent our 1-day in Aruba and a brief overview of the island.

About the Island of Aruba

The island of Aruba is referred to as one happy island, and it’s easy to see why with the friendly people and vibrant cities. Out of our entire itinerary Aruba was my favourite of all the ports. The history of the island began with Caiquetio Indian roots and the island went through both Spanish and Dutch rule over the years. Now Aruba is a constituent country of the Netherlands and is Dutch influence can be found throughout the island.

Best of Aruba Tour

For our 1-day in Aruba we did the Best of Aruba shore excursion that took us on a scenic drive to the natural bridge, California lighthouse, the Casibari Rock Formations, and one of the most popular beaches in Aruba. Our tour guide Rubin was fantastic and really made the tour extra entertaining and informative.  The port is located directly beside the city of Oranjestad which makes exploring the city very easy. If you take a tour in this port you would probably have enough time to go out and explore on your own or to head to a beach later in the day – depending on when your ship leaves (if your’e on a cruise). Here’s a look at some of the things we did

Casibari Rock Formations

The Casibari Rock Formations are a tourist attraction in Aruba. There are walking paths and steps through the rock formation to allow visitors to get up close to see this unique formation. Similar rocks to the Casibari Rock Formations can only be found in a few locations in the world. Some of the rocks have interesting shapes that seem to resemble animals or even a face. I saw some of the shapes but others weren’t able to see past the rocks. If you have 1-day in Aruba or more, this is an interesting geological sight to see.

Baby Natural Bridge

We stopped at the natural bridge for some beautiful water views and learned this side of the island has such rough water it is unsafe to swim here. We also learned that this bridge is the smaller of 2 natural bridges, though the larger (main attraction) collapsed years ago. There is a building there that sells trinkets, food and has restrooms. Aside from that there’s not much to do in this area. I loved the scenery but found the area very over populated by tourists. If you’re visiting, try to avoid the days when there are ships in port so you can avoid the larger crowds.

Bushiribana Gold Smelter – Gold Mining Company Ruins

We stopped at the remains of Bushiribana which was a Gold Smelter from the 1800s. The building is made of rocks but there is nothing holding them together. The gold mine and building were built by Aruba’s Island Gold Mining Company and since abandoned when the mine ran dry. If you visit this attraction make sure to wear close-toed shoes and prepare to get dusty!

California Lighthouse

The California Lighthouse is located on the northern tip of the island, and the name comes from the ship that was shipwrecked off the shoreline in the 1800s. There is a restaurant (Faro Blanco) located beside the lighthouse with beautiful views of the city and water below. You can actually go inside the lighthouse! There will likely be lots of tourists there, so you’ll probably have to wait in long lines. If you’re hungry or thirsty there are usually vendors outside the lighthouse selling various snacks and drinks. It’s an interesting part of Aruba’s history and the views from this location are great, so definitely check it out!

Eagle Beach

Eagle beach is beautiful with pristine white sand and ranks among the top beaches in the world. If that’s not reason enough to visit, the beach also boasts the famous fofoti tree and is a popular spot for nesting sea turtles. This is definitely somewhere you should visit if you’re in Aruba. The beach has shade, beach huts, water sports and plenty of nearby parking, so plan to stay for the day and enjoy the beautiful views.

Exploring Oranjestad

After our tour we decided to make the most of our 1-day in Aruba and explore the city of Oranjestad. There is a trolley that runs through the city and is free to locals and tourists alike. This is a great way to see the city without walking everywhere and is a fun activity no matter your age. The shops and restaurants are plentiful, so if you’re looking for things to do you will definitely find something. If you’re into beer, give the local beer “Balashi” a try like we did!

1-Day in Aruba Summary

Overall we had a fantastic day in Aruba. If I could go back I would definitely like to spend longer exploring more of the island and taking some time to relax. Check out my Curacao excursion itinerary and my Freedom of the Seas Southern Caribbean Cruise Review for more!