Aruba is also known as “one happy island.” Locals also call the way you feel when you step on its sands “the Aruba effect.”
There are plenty of ways to enjoy this for yourself. Relax or play watersports on one of its many beaches. Walk through its capital city. Stop by a museum. Visit a sanctuary that protects its many unique tropical animals. There’s no end to the sights and sounds in this paradise, and you may never want to leave.
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Beaches
Eagle Beach has the highest rating in Aruba and is even the 3rd Best Beach in the World. It has clean sand, shade, and unique foto ti trees.
Palm Beach is one of the largest and most famous beaches in Aruba at 2 miles long. It also receives exceptional ratings for its soft sand, clear waters, activities, bars, and shady divi-divi trees.
Hadicurai Beach is nicknamed Fisherman’s Huts Beach because it’s full of shacks. It has strong waters for windsurfing, kiteboarding, and other water sports. There’s an annual windsurfing Tournament every June or July.
Baby Beach is perfect for families because of its shallow, calm waters. You can swim, rent snorkeling gear, or just enjoy the beach. There’s also a refreshment stand that offers delicious food that ranges from hamburgers and hot dogs to seafood platters.
Andicuri Beach is a secluded and beautiful beach with a collapsed natural bridge and large bluffs. Arashi Beach has soft, clean sands and unique wildlife. It’s a perfect place to relax by renting a lounge chair and enjoying live music at the local bar or watching the sunset.
Boca Catalina has easy parking access and is rarely busy during the week. Boca Grandi is a kitesurfing haven with strong winds and waves.
Boka Prins sits within Arikok National Park and has a gorgeous rocky coastline, but don’t enter the strong water. Go visit the restaurant instead. The other beach in the park is known as Dos Playa, or Papiamento which means Two Beaches. It’s great for surfing and sunbathing.
Druif Beach sits near plenty of hotels and restaurants, and you won’t be far from any necessary amenities. It also has plenty of water sports opportunities and beautiful sand to relax on.
Malmok Beach sits between limestone and rocks. It’s a perfect snorkeling and scuba diving spot with plenty of reefs and shipwrecks to explore. Mangel Halto has calm and shallow waters and is surrounded by mangrove trees that keep it secluded.
Rodgers Beach isn’t one of the most popular in Aruba, but it’s a great fishing destination and a relaxing escape. Surfside Beach is another great place to watch boats or have a picnic while you enjoy the shade provided by the Kwihi trees. It even has a floating waterpark, dive school, and beach bar.
Hyatt Regency Casino
Aruba is nicknamed the Las Vegas of the Caribbean because of its 12 casinos, and this is one of the best. It sits in the Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort on Palm Beach. There are 13 gaming tables, 221 slots, and 19 video poker machines.
Arikok National Park
This is one of the best things to do in Aruba, and you can’t miss it because it takes up 20% of the island. There are plenty of spots to enjoy its natural beauty, including Conchi, a natural pool, Fontien Cave, and Arikok Hill. You’ll need a 4-wheel drive to reach some of its best areas.
There are plenty of beautiful plants to see in Arikok. Its unique coastal wildlife includes rattlesnakes, parakeets, whiptail lizards, iguanas, birds, and more.
The park is open from 8 am-4 pm. There’s an entry fee of $11 for adults, and you can go on a guided tour if you’d like.
Aruba Ostrich Park
You’ll learn anything you could want to know about ostriches and emus here, including their mannerisms, breeding habits, and more. You can even watch them eat food off your head, hold their gigantic eggs, play with them, and more.
Butterfly Farm
Anyone who loves chasing butterflies in their local parks should come here to see exotic species they could only dream of. They include South American longwings and Caribbean monarchs.
20-minute guided tours are available all day. Come in the morning to watch caterpillars hatch, and wear bright colors to encourage them to land on you.
Donkey Sanctuary
Riding donkeys was once a primary transportation method in Aruba. This non-profit sanctuary exists to rehabilitate and educate visitors about them. They have over 130 animals that are friendly and love to take treats.
California Lighthouse
This famous lighthouse was built in 1910 on the northern tip of the island and named after a famous British steamship. It has a romantic vibe, and you can impress your date even further by going for Italian food at El Faro Blanco. Come at sunset to get the best view.
Shipwrecks
Nothing excites a diver more than finding a shipwreck. Looking for them is one of the best things to do in Aruba, and there are plenty to find.
The SS Pedernales sunk in 1942 during WWII on its way to a refinery when it was hit by a torpedo from a German U-boat. It sits 25 feet below the sea off the shore of Palm Beach. It takes 40 minutes to reach and is a great choice for beginners.
The SS Antilla is a German Cargo ship. The crew set it on fire to avoid capture in 1940. It’s still intact on the ocean floor.
The sinking of the Jane Sea in 1988 is more mysterious. Its cargo hall is open and intact, leaving plenty for divers to explore.
Caves
Aruba has unique, hollowed-out areas to see above the sea as well. There’s no shortage of beautiful caves, and they all belong on any list of the best things to do in Aruba.
Fontan Cave is the most popular because of its historic Arawak Indian drawings. Guardirikiri Cave is 100 feet long and full of holes in the roof that let in the sun.
Like and subscribe to ViewCation for more island travel guides. Keep watching to learn about more of the best things to do in Aruba, including museums, unique neighborhoods, and more.
Burhiraban Gold Mill Ruins
The first bits of gold were discovered in Aruba in 1824. The island then had its own gold rush started by the Aruba Island Gold Mining Company.
They built the Bushiraban Gold Mill, a mine that produced over 3 million pounds of the ore over 10 years. Visiting the ruins of this historic industry is one of the best things to do in Aruba if you want to learn more about the history of the area.
Bushiri Karting Speedway
This is the only outdoor karting track on the island and offers fun for all ages. Its tracks encourage speed and tight turns. Sessions last 8 minutes with up to 12 drivers at once.
Fort Zoutman Historical Museum
This museum was built in 1796 and is the oldest building in the city of Oranjestad. Its purpose was to protect the coastline from marauding ships, but now it teaches visitors about the island’s culture. Come on a Tuesday night from 6:30-8:30 pm to enjoy the Bon Bini Festival.
Philip’s Animal Garden
This center houses and rehabilitates over 50 species of exotic animals. Visiting it is a worthwhile experience, especially if you take one of its interactive or educational tours.
Bubali Bird Sanctuary
There are over 80 species of birds in this one spot. They include several varieties of herons, egrets, gulls, coots, ducks, and more.
Watching them from the Bubali Watch Tower is one of the best ways to get a look at them. The sanctuary is also within walking distance of the hotels on Palm Beach and a perfect way to spend a few hours in Aruba.
Oranjestad
Visiting the capital city is one of the best things to do in Aruba if you want to see as much as possible. The Dutch colonial buildings are a sight to see for any fans of architecture.
There are plenty of shopping areas for retail therapy, and the Local Market offers souvenirs and snacks. The Cosecha Gallery is where local artists sell their wares. You can relax at Queen Wilhelmina Park and look for the iguanas that also like to sunbathe there.
If you’re too tired to walk through Oranjestad anymore, you can take the free streetcar. It runs every 25 minutes from 10 am-5 pm every day.
Alto Vista Chapel
75.3% of Aruba’s residents are Roman Catholic. Chapels like these remain important landmarks.
Alto Vista was the first Catholic church in Aruba. It was built in 1750 by a Spanish missionary named Domingo Antonio Silvestre near the town of Noord. It’s bright yellow and was also known as the Pilgrim’s Chapel.
You’ll have to go up a long winding road to get here, but you’ll be rewarded with gorgeous views. You can also participate in a weekly mass every Tuesday at 5 pm.
Aruba Aloe Factory
Aloe is an important skincare product and also a major part of Aruba’s industry and culture. This is the place to go if you want to learn more about how it’s made and the impact it’s had.
There’s also a museum and store. You can explore the whole thing on an interactive tour with an experienced tour guide or go on one yourself that starts with a presentation on the history of the museum. Both let you see the cutting room, testing lab, and filling room.
Atlantis Submarine Expedition
This tour tops rating lists of the best things to do in Aruba, and it’s easy to understand why. You’ll go on the largest passenger submarine in the world and drop 130 down into the water to see all the wonderful local wildlife.
The submarine is environmentally friendly and fully air-conditioned, so you’ll be comfortable the entire time. Tours last 1 hour and 45 minutes and depart from the Atlantis Submarine Store. Children must be at least 4 years old, but it’s a great family attraction.
What is the first thing you want to do on an island vacation? Let us know in the comments. Like and subscribe to Viewcation for more on how to get the most out of trips to the world’s best islands, from their beaches to their tours.