Over the summer of 2022, I went to Aruba for 3 weeks. I also visited Aruba in January of 2022 for a week with two of my best friends so I was very familiar with the Island the second time around. One of my best friends loved it so much that she spontaneously organized a group of 4 girls to go in June. Next thing you know we were in Arriba Aruba! As locals of Aruba like to say. Aruba is an island full of experiences and memories to be made. Although sitting under a palm tree and drinking a strawberry daiquiri sounds amazing, there is so much more to do in Aruba than that! If you like outdoor adventures like hiking, riding UTVs, sailing on crystal blue water, etc. then you’re not going to want to sit under a palm tree for too long.
Between the Airbnb, stunning beaches, exhilarating activities, and delicious food, there is so much to love about the One Happy Island of Aruba. Here I am sharing my favorite places to visit in Aruba. Take a look below and enjoy your trip to Aruba!
1. What is the language in Aruba?
Dutch and the local language of Papiamento are the official languages of Aruba. Papiamento is a mixture of Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, French, and English! Cool right? Arubans also likely speak English and Spanish.
2. Is Aruba Safe?
If you didn’t know, Aruba is considered to be one of the safest islands in the Caribbean. Also, because the island is outside of the hurricane belt, there are rarely natural disasters meaning it’s a great destination for anyone! Girl’s trip, family trip, baecation, or even a solo trip Aruba is a breathtaking destination.
3. Where to Stay: Airbnb vs Hotel
Airbnb
Where you stay really depends on the type of traveler you are. Personally, when I travel I like to experience the location as a local. I like to immerse myself in the culture and people so Airbnb was a great option for my friends and me. With an Airbnb, you can rent a home for an affordable price with a jacuzzi, pool, or even just a really nice outdoor area. Most of the time the host also has bicycles or gear you can borrow or rent. If budget is important to you then one way to save money is by cooking meals at home as we did. Both times I visited Aruba, I stayed at an Airbnb with a great host who always recommended amazing places to visit and eat. When you stay at an Airbnb it’s necessary to rent a car to get around the island but it’s worth it because you are on your own time so you can drive around the island all day if you wanted to. You can pack a cooler and all your beach necessities in the car and go wherever you’d like. If you’ve never stayed at an Airbnb in another country, I strongly recommend it! Try it out and let me know how the experience is for you in the comments below!
Hotel
Aruba has a beautiful area full of different resorts you can stay at. There is a strip called South Beach where most tourists stay at. There are bars, restaurants, beaches, and activities so a lot of people stay there for convenience purposes. If you stay at a hotel then it isn’t necessary to rent a car because there are shuttles that pick you up if you booked a specific activity and need to go to another location. However, the con is that you don’t have the freedom of driving a car around the island at your convenience if you don’t rent one. Also, resorts are typically a lot more expensive. The combined cost of staying at a hotel and a rental car will most likely be 50% more than the combined cost of staying at an Airbnb and renting a car. The pros of staying in a resort are that you can pay for an all-inclusive and get unlimited drinks and food. You also don’t have to cook or clean due to having room service. Again, it is personal preference the route you choose to go. However, I strongly recommend renting an Airbnb that is cost-effective and support the locals who rent out their homes.
4. Best things to do
Best Beaches in Aruba
The beaches in Aruba are just breathtaking. If you’ve ever been to the Caribbean, then you know the feeling of being in the clear blue water where you can see your feet through the water and the fishes around you. The best thing about the water in Aruba is that you can go deep into the ocean and it is still shallow! Next thing you know you’re half a mile in.
- Baby Beach
Baby Beach is on the other side of the Island from where the tourist attractions are. It’s a 45 minute drive from Oranjestad, which is the downtown of Aruba but its 1000% worth the drive. As I like to say, the water has 50 shades of blue! It truly is a breathtaking beach. They have two restaurants on the water and an infinity pool overlooking the Caribbean water.
2. Mangel Halto
Mangel Halto is another breathtaking spot that not many people know of. There are two stairways that lead into the shallow water. This is a perfect spot to go snorkeling! Make sure to pack your sunscreen and beach essentials because the sun is strong! Fun Fact: If you look into the horizon you will see Venezuela from Mangel Halto!
3. Surfside Beach
Surfside beach is a great beach to lounge all day at because they have various restaurants right on the water. You can order right from your lounge chair, relax, read a book and they will bring you all the drinks and food you could possibly ask for! Sunset dinners here are also AMAZING. It’s worth being here from the start of the sunset so you can see all the beautiful colors in the sky. I would also recommend spending a sunset in the water like the first photo on the left. It was such an unforgettable experience! Surfside beach is in Oranjestad.
4. Arashi Beach
Arashi beach is a quiet and secluded beach on the northwestern tip of Aruba. It’s known for its water activities, snack shack, fun bar and calm water. Don’t forget to grab smoothies or refreshers on your way out to the next beach in your beach hopping day!
5. Palm Beach
Palm Beach is near all the resorts and hotels. The pictures say it all! Sunsets are breathtaking, watching the sail boats pass by. It’s a great location to grab dinner, have a picnic or just toss around a beach ball.
6. Eagle Beach
Eagle beach is rated one of the top beaches in the Caribbean and widest beach in Aruba. The highlight of the long beach with soft white sand is the variety of water sports like jet skis, parasailing and banana boats.
Best Experiences in Aruba
Arikok national park should definitely be on your things-to-do list in Aruba! It’s a must-see location on the island. The desert terrain covers almost 20% of the island (Aruba is small so 20% is a lot!). If you can, I would recommend renting a jeep. When I went we used our rental car which worked out fine but having a jeep that could sustain the rocks and bumps would have made the ride smoother. We were able to drive around the park and see several areas. If you do a UTV excursion then you will also be able to see a glimpse of Arikok National Park. More on UTVs below!
2. Go, Beach Hopping / Catch the Sunset!
The best way to see Aruba is by going beach-hopping! Choose three different beaches to see and go to one for the sunrise, another one for lunch, and the last one for the sunset. Again, Aruba is a small island so the beaches are in close proximity to each other.
The UTVs were one of the best excursions we did! We were three people on one UTV which made the experience even better! We got to see the coast of Aruba with the most beautiful views at the top of the terrain mountains, driving through rocks and steep hills. Personally, I have a fear of heights but I was able to drive through them. Midway through the excursion, we stopped at the most beautiful cave pool. We had to take a ladder down but were then able to jump into the natural pool. After, we stopped at a beautiful beach to end the excursion before we headed back to the starting point.
4. Go Jet Skiing
Jet skiing was an exhilarating activity to do in the Caribbean water of Aruba. The crystal blue water made the experience even better. Eagle beach has multiple kiosks to do a variety of water activities.
5. Go Snorkeling at a Cave Pool or Catamaran Cruise
There are plenty of group excursions to go snorkeling. However, my friends and I took it upon ourselves to go hiking to get to this beautiful natural pool and ended up seeing horses. We had the opportunity to talk to a local and learn more about this magical island.
One of my favorite things to do when I go on a trip is a sunset sail. They provide unlimited beverages and snacks to enjoy on your sail. The golden sun is magical and it’s the perfect way to start the night out. Make sure to dress up to take breathtaking pictures!
5. Eat/ Nightlife
Aruba is very diverse in the food that they have. You can find just about any cuisine you want to eat from Italian, Caribbean, Steak, Seafood, etc. Below are some of my favorite places!
- Arepados Bar Cafe
Aruba is right off the coast of Venezuela and Colombia where arepas originate from. If you didn’t know, I am Colombian so getting some authentic Colombian food was the cherry on top of my trip. I 100% recommend Arepados Bar Cafe. They have a variety of options and delicious fresh drinks to enjoy on a hot day. My personal favorite is the Pabellon arepa!
2. Arashi Beach Cafe
Arashi Beach Cafe is on Arashi Beach. Make sure to enjoy some delicious Caribbean food and a Piña Colada on your visit to Arashi Beach!
3. The Rum Reef Bar and Grill
The Rum Reef Bar and Grill is in Baby Beach on the other side of the Island. As I mentioned before, it has an infinity pool, delicious food, and drinks to enjoy on your break from the hot sun. I recommend spending a day in Baby Beach. Trust me, you won’t want to leave!
4. O’neil Caribbean Kitchen
You can’t go to the Caribbean and not have seafood! The images below speak for themselves.
5. Don Jacinto Aruba
Do you see a trend? I love Colombian food! Don Jancito has delicious authentic Colombian meals. You can’t forget to try their empanadas.
6. South Beach
South Beach is where the nightlife is in Aruba. If you want a night out, this is a great place to visit as well as the surrounding bars and restaurants like Gusto Nightclub.
6. Beach Essentials in Aruba
- Sunscreen
2. Bathing suits!
3. Sunglasses
4. Beach Cover Up
5. Beach Bag
6. Speaker