Your travel guide, Best Things to do in Aruba! (with Video and Photos) is here! I am so excited to be sharing some of the best things we did while visiting this Dutch Caribbean slice of paradise: Aruba!
MY GUIDE TO: Ocho Rios, Jamaica! CLICK HERE
Travel Guide, best EXCURSIONS in Aruba!
CALIFORNIA LIGHTHOUSE
We had so much fun climbing those 118 stairs to witness gorgeous views of Aruba from this narrow, but impressive lighthouse.
PHILLIP’S ANIMAL GARDEN
A laid-back, fun place for animal loving children. Lot’s of space and well cared for animals, loved this place for my little girl.
ARUBA ALOE FACTORY, MUSEUM AND STORE
“Aruba Aloe, founded in 1890, is one of the few Aloe companies in the world that grows, harvests, and processes its own Aloe on site.” Worth a visit for checking out the aloe, but I was a little disappointed that there werent any 99% all natural products available.
*DONKEY SANCTUARY
Loved this adorable sanctuary! No entry fee, donations encouraged, but not enforced. However, it is a non-profit and completely run by volunteers, so please give what you can! There are small buckets of feed available for purchase if you would like to feed the animals as well. My children loved their experience and my daughter didn’t want to leave.
*BUSHIRIBANA GOLD RUINS
Abandoned gold mil with great views of the sea! It’s worth a quick stop if you heading to visit the sight where the Natural Bridge used to be. There was also a food truck available with basics like, fries, water, sandwiches, chips…etc.
*NATURAL BRIDGE, ARUBA
Unfortunately the bridge collapsed years ago, but the site is still worth a visit. There’s a simple hike with pretty views (or entry to) of Andicuri beach. My husband and I easily hiked a short distance with our 6 & 4 year old to take it all of the beauty if this spot. There is also a small cafe/restaurant available!
*All very close to one another, if you’re ambitious and gangsta, you can visit them all in one day. My family wasn’t very gangsta that day.
Dowtown Trolley Sight Seeing (Oranjestad)
This beautiful, colorful trolly (shipped in from San Francisico!) makes “About a 30 minute loop” we were told. Offering hop-on-hop-off service, taking the trolley makes it easy to stop by key shopping areas, take 6 monuments and museums and beautiful sights of downtown Oranjestad. Unfortunately, we scheduled this excursion the day of our departing flight and had to be to the airport by 2pm. The trolley was set to be in service by 1.30pm, so we couldn’t wait, but the sweet people at the trolley terminal were kind enough allow us in for my son to see the trolley and snap a few photos.
Travel Guide, best BEACHES in Aruba!
MANGEL HALTO
A tucked away, chill beach with shallow water and lots of gorgeous mangroves! It was pretty busy the day we decided visited and my children didn’t like how rocky it was. There were small pebbles that didn’t bother my feet much, but I could see how it wouldn’t be very comfortable for my children. If you decide to check this beach out with your little ones, bring water shoes with the rubber sole, it should be fine. We ended up leaving after just short amount of time and returned to Baby Beach.
EAGLE BEACH
This beach was a really fun beach for my kids! My son especially loved that the waves were a bit stronger and could push him across the sand with more force. HAHA
BABY BEACH
My kids adored this beach! The water was calm, shallow and it wasn’t too crowded. I loved the fact that I did not have to be in the water at all times, it was one of my most relaxing times ever at a beach with my kids. We visited twice and it ended up being our favorite.
PALM BEACH
Technically designed for the resort/hotels, however you can still gain access to this beach. It was pretty easy for us to walk right thru the gate near the resort’s parking lot (someone happened to be exiting). Calm waves, pretty beach, but I hear it gets pretty crowed and not really worth it since there are so many other pretty, less crowed beaches available. We went some time after dinner, so I’m not sure of what it’s like when is as busy as I hear it gets.
ANDICURI BEACH
We were going to hike to the alluring beauty after our visit at the Natural Bridge, but the water was too rough for us that day. However, it was some of the most incredibly blue water I have ever seen the beach was equally beautiful.
Travel Guide, best Scenic Drives in Aruba!
Matividiri Road
Stunning views in route to the Natural Bridge site! Along this drive you will find small, unused beaches that would be great for a quick snack picnic and views. The water looked pretty rough, so I don’t think its swimmable, but the tide pools and little “beach areas” are beautiful and worth a stop. I kept finding my myself wanting to step out of the car to take quick snaps of this inspiring drive! HINDSIGHT IS 2020, I WAS WISHING WE HAD VENTURED DOWN TO BOCA PRINS BAY! I heard so many good things about it!
Boca Prins Bay
We didn’t get to go, but you should if you have time! It is along the same shores as Matividiri Road, and that drive was breathtaking, from what I’ve researched we definitely should have added it to our must-do list.
Travel Guide, best places to EAT in Aruba!
Kamini’s Kitchen
The food is freshly made, so the wait is long (we waited 30-40 minutes, it was tough). Our meal was incredibly good and my kids ravaged their Alfredo Fettucini (their first time eating that dish and they adored it. It was creamy and delicious).
Linda’s Dutch Pancake House
Delicious Dutch Pancakes with all the fixings (pretty good list of toppings), fast service with a side of simple decor that almost give diner vibes. I also loved their peach mimosa!
The Dutch Pancake House
I loved this place for brunch. I didn’t get Dutch pancakes this time, I had the Seaport Breakfast (scrambled eggs, hash browns, toast, jam & your choice of bacon or sausage with poffertjes (Dutch style silver dollar pancakes).
Kalin’s Real Mexican
My husband especially loved their chilliquiles. A casual dining experience with pretty good Mexican dishes.
Mojitos Cantina and Grill
Great for people watching, cocktails and their patio that has ocean views of the occasional, enormous cruise ship and cute markets below (a bit pricy, but it is to be expected for being in a touristy area).
*Tons of grocery stores, restaurants
I loved that there were so many grocery stores and smaller “convenice stores” everywhere we visited.
Carmencita’s Jugo
Bought a sandwich, bottled water, chips and an empanada for 8.00. Very reasonable prices, super casual and easy. With simple offering like, smoothies, sandwiches, burgers, eggs, juices, drinks and etc.
***She is near corner of Lloyd G. Smith Blvd. & Paardenbaaistraat (Behind “Local Market”, cruise dock can be seen from it’s location)
SHOPPING
Palm Beach Plaza Mall
More plaza than mall, but has decent offerings. A number of restaurants (we like Kalin’s Mexican), there is a large, I ❤️ ARUBA sign, bowling and movie theater available.
Renaisance Hotel Area
More shopping (Zara is near here), beautiful, walkable area. And it’s all near the place I loved for brunch, The Dutch Pancake House!
BEFORE YOU GO…
*The dollar is widely accepted and we were always given change back in dollars (Aruban coins tho)!
*Aruba’s municipal water was great and was fine enough to drink right from the tap! YAS!
For over 80 years, Aruba has been a pioneer of purified water technology.
Being a desert island, Aruba has a distinct scarcity of freshwater. The population explosion prompted by the opening of the Lago refinery in the early 1930s resulted in the Balashi development of one of the largest desalination plants in the world.
Through the decades, island engineers have continued to perfect the process, providing residents and more than 1.5 million annual visitors with water that tastes seriously good. Mineral content is strictly controlled to provide a clean flavor and, among locals, an icy glass of fresh, purified seawater is called a Balashi Cocktail. The extremely soft water also means bubblier baths, and just a wee bit of shampoo will go a long way.
For more , visit Aruba.com
*I found Aruba to be abundantly instagramable, even random roadside stops made for great shots . It was also interesting to notice how “flat” Aruba is, with the exception of their nation park with a big “hill”.
I was also pleasantly surprised by the amount of cacti! I read about their being covered in 20% desert, but it was still such a surprise to see and so much fun to experience in person. To be in the middle of an island that has a desert is such an incredible thing to witness!
Wonderful Pictures!! I am highly impressed with the way you have written this blog.
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Thank you so much, I appreciate your visit and comment!