If you’re planning to visit the island of Aruba there are so many things to see and do. Whether you want a relaxing beach vacation, or you want more action and sightseeing, you will not be disappointed. Sadly, I couldn’t capture everything this island has to offer in our short visit. But, here are 14 different activities you can add to your Aruba attractions itinerary on your visit.
About the Island of Aruba
Before I jump right into the activities and attractions, I wanted to share some important details about the island. Aruba is located in the Southern Caribbean about 20 kilometres north of the Venezuelan peninsula. The island of Aruba has a population of approximately 107,000 people and is part of the Netherlands along with Bonaire and Curacao making up the “ABC Islands”.
Entry Requirements for Aruba
Is it possible to visit Aruba now? Yes, the country is open to travellers from across the globe (as of November 2021 when this post was shared). Before travel to Aruba, all visitors 12 years and older must take one Molecular COVID-19 test within 3 days to 4 hours and receive a negative result. There is also a mandatory Embarkation/Disembarkation form that must be completed, and all visitors are required to have proper insurance. All details are available on Aruba’s official website or the Visit Aruba tourism site. Bust as always, if you’re not sure – you can work with a travel agent to ensure you have all of the proper requirements and plan your dream trip!
Aruba Attractions – 14 Things to do in Aruba
We visited prior to the pandemic, but these attractions are definitely still places to see if you’re visiting Aruba. Make sure you check out these 14 things to do in Aruba on your visit!
1. Ayo Rock Formations
The Ayo Rock Formation are monolithic boulders found in a desert landscape surrounded by cacti. There are walking trails around the formation, and if you venture in you may also be able to see some of the petroglyphs that were carved into the rocks by early settlers of the island. We went on an island tour that took us to these formations, otherwise we probably wouldn’t have made it out there. I’m so glad we did though – because these rock formations were pretty interesting to see in person. If we had more time I’d definitely want to explore the area to get a closer look at the petroglyphs.
2. Natural Pools
The island has many natural pools that form along the coast where the rocks form a barrier to the rough Caribbean sea. There is a small natural pool located on the way to the Natural Bridge, and a larger one is just a short drive down the road. The entrance to the small natural pool looked like a pile of collapsed rocks, but behind the rocks were crystal clear pools of calm water for swimming. To get down to them, you have to climb down a slightly scary wooden ladder. I didn’t venture down to the bottom but I watched a few people climb down to swim in the natural pools. Our guide told us the history of the pool – it collapsed while two fisherman were sitting on the edge and they were never found again… so it definitely didn’t make me want to climb down and see for myself!
3. The Natural Bridge
The next attraction to add to your itinerary is the Natural Bridge. This bridge was formed by waves crashing against the land and eroding underneath to form a “bridge.” The original bridge collapsed in 2005, but a second “baby bridge” formed nearby. It was a pretty sight to see, though you probably don’t need too long in the area. There is a store on site selling food and drinks and it has restrooms available to visitors. Closer to the waters’ edge there is a rock garden where visitors have built rock statues – and where we added one of our own. Be careful though – the water gets very rough in this area, and if you’re not paying attention you could get knocked over or out to sea from the big waves.
4. ATV or UTV Tour
Another activity you can do on the island is to rent an ATV or UTV. You can do this on your own or go as part of a guided tour to explore the island. We didn’t have time to do this on our trip, but it looked pretty fun when we saw all of the riders rushing past the the gold mill ruins. The scenery it lovely and it is probably a rush to drive the ATV, but you will definitely get dusty in this area, so bring something to cover your nose and mouth – and sunglasses or goggles are a must!
5. Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins
Gold mining was an important part of Aruban industry until around 1916. After operations ended, the Bushiribana mine sat abandoned and has crumbled over the years. Today you can go inside and climb these ruins, but our tour guide noted that many of the rock walls are no longer structurally sound and aren’t being held together with anything. They are just rocks that have been stacked together and held in place over time. So, enter at your own risk! We went into the ruins but only a few feet to get some photos and videos, and it definitely did not look like a safe building. People were even climbing the walls and posing for photos where windows once were – not something I would recommend!
6. California Lighthouse
The lighthouse is located near the north western tip of Aruba in the area known as Hudishibana. It is named after the SS California which sunk off the coast before this lighthouse was constructed. You can climb to the top for approximately $5 to see 360 degree views of the area. When we visited there were food vendors in the parking lot selling various snacks and drinks. There is also a lovely restaurant there that seemed like it would be a beautiful evening dinner spot with views of the town below. I’d love to go back and take some more time in the area to enjoy the scenery.
7. Eagle Beach
This beach is the widest beach in Aruba and a popular resort beach with soft white sand, fairly calm waters and water sport rentals. It is also popular for photographers to catch the classic shot of Aruba with the Divi Divi tree on the beach. We noticed it was quite busy when we were there and it wasn’t even a weekend, so I can only imagine that it would be even busier then. I’d recommend arriving early to get your spot. The water here is calm compared to the other side of the island, so it’s a great spot to go swimming and enjoy a nice beach day.
8. Explore Downtown Oranjestad
There are many shops, restaurants and attractions in the downtown area, especially close to the cruise terminal. If you’re looking for something to eat, drink, or do you can definitely find something here. There are parks, museums and you can catch transportation to take you to some of the other attractions I mentioned earlier.
9. Aruba Flea Market
This outdoor market is the perfect place to pick up some souvenirs and handiwork. Since it is a tourist attraction, the prices reflect that, but we enjoyed browsing it when we were in the area and picked up a few small trinkets. If you’re looking for souvenirs then this might be a great place for you to start.
10. Renaissance Aruba Hotel & Casino
As like most casinos, you can’t film inside. But, it offers a standard casino experience. They also have a lovely lobby area, a boat launch to take you to the Renaissance Private Island, shopping and a Starbucks with free wifi! So if you like gambling, or like to watch other people gamble you can add this to your itinerary!
11. Ride the Oranjestad Street Car
There is a single track tram line that operated through Oranjestad. There are a total of 9 stops on the loop including the cruise port, Plaza Museo, Renaissance Mall, and Royal Plaza to name a few. Some of the trams are double deckers and some are single level – we enjoyed sitting on the second level, but it does get hot up there when you’re waiting at a stop for more passengers. It is definitely a great free way to explore the city.
12. Visiting the I heart Aruba sign
A great spot to visit is the I heart Aruba sign to get a photo. It was really busy when we were there and the crowds were just too much. I decided to skip it because I didn’t want to wait in line, and I didn’t want a whole bunch of people in my photo. So if you are going to go to this attraction, try to get there early!
13. Dining Out & Sample Local Beer
If you’re looking for somewhere to eat, downtown Aruba has plenty of options. We went to a bar and tried the local beer Balashi. It was pretty tasty and definitely a refreshing option to beat the Aruban heat!
14. Flamingo Beach
Flamingo Beach is located on the Renaissance Aruba private island. You can pay to visit the island for the day to experience the flamingos and pretty views. Sadly, we didn’t have time to do this, but if we ever get back to Aruba this would be at the top of my list.
14 Things to do in Aruba Summary
So there you have 14 things to see and do in Aruba. We only got a small taste of what this island had to offer and I can’t wait to get back in the future. Even if you’re stopping here as part of a cruise, you can still get a good highlight of the island and attractions. If Aruba isn’t already on your travel list, you should definitely add it as a future destination!
