No one cares or even notices we’re driving in the wrong direction. We’re officially on Aruba time, where moments are counted in happiness rather than minutes. Cacti and colourful buildings blur together and a reggae remix of Chers ‘Believe’ beats out of the speakers. As I dangle my arm out of the car window the familiar breeze of the island heat warms my skin, and I close my eyes not wanting to wake from this dream.
I haven’t even left yet, but somehow Aruba’s got me hooked, I’m urging time to stop, so I don’t have to say goodbye to what the locals, and I now call, the one happy island.
One week in Aruba seemed like plenty before I arrived. At only 8km at its widest, and 30km at its longest, this small Caribbean island just off the coast of Venezuela isn’t exactly vast. But what it lacks in size, Aruba makes up for in punch. There is an abundance of natural wonders here, alongside the better-known resorts and casinos, though sadly I feel many people don’t venture beyond their all-inclusive.
While there is no shame in just taking a holiday, and boy Aruba is the perfect place to do so, for those who want to venture beyond those oh-so-inviting waters and their next cocktail, you’ll be pleased to hear an authentic Aruba still very much exists. With rugged national parks, incredible stargazing, fantastic local restaurants, near-empty beaches, caves with historical paintings and a thriving street art scene, Aruba is so much more than a sandy feet escape.
My favourite beach is a short drive south of the Airport, although most things are a short drive in Aruba. Mangel Halto seemed lesser known than many of the other beaches on the island, especially given it is a little way from the city and cruise terminal.
Mangel Halto is a mix of white sands, and mangroves, and it’s also a great spot to snorkel. If you walk along from the beach to the side road, you’ll find a mix of stairs and decks leading straight down into the water.
Another of my favourites was Arashi Beach and the nearest to my accommodation at Gold Coast in Malmok. The beaches along here are well known for their snorkelling and with a beer shack and fewer crowds, it was a beautiful place whether in the day or for sunset.
The main resort beach on the island is Palm Beach, which is flanked by hotels along its length. While I had heard talk of the ‘high rise’ beach before arriving in Aruba, it isn’t that drastic at all. I had assumed it would be like Benidorm with huge tower block hotels, but it’s still a lovely beach with some of the whitest sand I’ve seen, although a little crowded.
Watersports and diving in Aruba
If you are anything like me, then lying on a beach is only good for a while before you are restless and ready to hit the water.
The water in Aruba is a warm temperature, so swimming and snorkelling are a go-to activity. Snorkel hire is available at many resorts and most of the beaches, except for the smaller quieter beaches that don’t have activity centres.
Palm and Eagle beach likely have the most on offer, from jet-skiing to kayaks and SUP. The prices seemed entirely fair here, for Aruba anyway, with costs being around the USD 20 for an hour on a SUP or USD 50 for thirty minutes jet-skiing.
The Scuba Diving in Aruba is some of the best in the Carribean, partly due to its excellent coral reefs such as Mikes Reef, but also due to the abundance of wreck diving.
Some of the wrecks, such as The Pedernales which was torpedoed during WWII, are legit wrecks, while others have been purposefully sunk. The difficulty of diving varies between the wrecks so consult with a local diving school which is best for you. One of the most famous, The Antilla for example, requires a boat to get to and although some of the ship is near the surface, the main hull is as low as 18metres.
A unique opportunity offered for diving in Aruba is the sunken aeroplane which is near the Renaissance island. Sadly I wasn’t able to dive it on this visit, but it certainly raises the stakes when it comes to wreck diving FOMO.
The marine code of Aruba, like most places, means you can’t touch the wildlife. This includes the turtles which you can sometimes find laying, or hatching, on the island as well as underwater life.
Where to stay in Aruba
Most of the resorts and all-inclusive are centred around Palm Beach, and you’ll find no shortage of accommodation on hotel booking platforms here. Aruba is having a bit of a re-think though, and new hotel resorts are less likely to be built in the future as the island aims to limit the amount of development.
I would personally suggest to stay away from the big hotels though and look more into apartments and Airbnb. We stayed in the Gold Coast club, which is a mix of residential and rental apartments in the Malmok region in the north. Each came with a kitchen, which is ideal for cooking and cutting costs, and it also has a clubhouse with pool guests can use. Of course, if you plan to stay somewhere like this, a car will be essential.
Budget accommodation is lacking in Aruba, with no hostels I could find. That said, there are some homestays and rooms in houses available on Airbnb.
If you want to splurge, places such as the Renaissance Hotel are the most famous, and this also includes access to their private island where the flamingos are. Personally, I wouldn’t want to stay in the central city, or so close to the Cruise Port as when the ships are in, it can get busy quickly.
For somewhere a bit more unique, you can actually find Aruba’s only overwater bungalows in Savaneta, the old capital of the island.
The Arikok National Park
Covering just over 20% of the island is Arikok National Park. This rugged and dry landscape feels a world apart from the resort beaches on the west coast, but in reality, it is just a short drive.
Stargazing in Aruba
In the Arikok national park, and nearby, is also where you will find some of the best stargazing on the island.
One evening, we headed down the dirt track road (4WD is essential) by the Ayo Rock Formations, just outside the park, and set up under the stars. The night sky was awash with stars, and with minimal light pollution, it was an incredible evening marvelling at the universe.
The once run-down streets and dilapidated walls are coming alive as mural artists from across the globe share their work across the city. On each corner, you’ll find another piece of art, whether it be sprayed on the wall or constructed from the island’s garbage.
San Nicolas is also home to the newly built carnival museum, paying homage to this colourful and electric festival which occurs from January to March every year.
If you are seeking out a more raw side of the Caribbean vibe on Aruba, you’ll love San Nicolas as much as I did.
Start your visit at the Cosecha Creative Center, which has led the way in bringing a new lease of multicoloured life to the city. Here you can purchase local artists work, or turn your hand to create your own. I was lucky enough during my visit to meet some Portuguese street artists and leave my mark with a can of spray paint on the newest mural in town.
If you time your visit right, steel pans will echo across the streets as flamboyant outfits dance around you in a whirlwind of colour. Here, in San Nicolas, was where my heart really came alive. Each Thursday you can sample the flavours of the festival here in the city, with music, shows and handicrafts bringing the streets alive.
Keep an eye out for pop-up events here in the form of outside street restaurants, which will round off the perfect visit to this lesser-explored side of Aruba. If you are seeking the island’s culture, make sure you come down to the sunrise city.
Best time to visit Aruba / Events
Aruba is just outside the hurricane belt so as a general rule, it is a year-round destination when it comes to weather, keeping a temperature of around 28 degrees throughout the year.
The lower seasons is September – November when the weather can be slightly unpredictable, but the costs are usually much lower to visit.
From January through to March, the Aruba Carnival takes place which is a huge event attracting many visitors. While this would be an incredible time to visit, be sure to secure accommodation as far in advance as possible if you want to join the party!
If you are in the mode to drop some dosh, you’ll find plenty of high-end retail stores on the squares and in the malls here, alongside the more typical tourist takehomes. It’s also a hub of nighttime entertainment, although most of my evenings out were spent around the white sands of Palm Beach.
Notable tourist attractions worth visiting include the oldest building in Aruba, Fort Zoutman. The tower next door followed in 1868, and both were used to protect from pirates. Now you’ll find the Historical Museum here which will give you a good overview of the islands life.
The area that Oranjestad covers used to be known as the horse bay, as many horses were imported here over the years to run amok. You’ll spot blue horse statues across the capital to pay honour to how the landscape has changed here.
If you want to sample some culture in Oranjestad, you can either head to the community art centre, or enjoy a performance at the countries theatre, the Cas di Cultura.
The capital is compact, so exploring on foot is your go-to here. Park up the car, though be aware if it’s a busy day in the port for cruise terminals the capital can quickly become very busy, so head here in the mornings, and you’ll be luckier with both parking and the crowds.
[mashshare]
One of the things that we like the most in our family is traveling, knowing and bringing back many memories.
Aruba is a destination that we have already been planning, taking a trip to these beautiful islands, this guide article helped us a lot to get an idea of all the activities we can do (diving, sending a bike, riding a jet ski, gazing at the stars ), means of transportation that we can do, places that we cannot miss (Palm Beach, Eagle Beach, Renaissance Islands, Fontein Cave, Bubali Bird Sanctuary, Hadiculari Beach, among many more).
I have definitely fallen in love with Aruba after reading this enriching and comprehensive article, hopefully God through traveling soon.
Thank you very much!!!!
Thanks for the comment Astrid, and I hope you have an amazing time in Aruba!
great video and soundtrack. keep sharing beautiful content like this.
Thanks Keith!
Food plays a huge part in Aruban culture, there s a real vibrancy to local dishes that are packed full of flavour. There are many traditional dishes in Aruba you can try. Ask the staff at your hotel and resort what they would recommend?
Hi Daniel, Thank you for sharing this travel guide, for our beautiful island of Aruba. Very good photos and beautiful landscapes. Excelent!
I adore your way of writing with so much information. You have described Aruba in an interesting way, and it is really a captivating place to explore. Thank you very much for sharing travelling tips.
Such a great post, your trip looked fantastic, what a great vibe Aruba has. I loved your short video too.
Wow, amazing beach Aruba. I want to visit these types of beaches in the world.
Great stuff Dan, thanks a lot for sharing an interesting place.
Excellent post, the photos are really beautiful!
For 2 years I have lived in Aruba and I have no regrets; Life here is quite entertaining, since I bought an apartment in Azure Beach Residences (www.azure-aruba.com) I feel that my life has taken a turn.
Now I can leave a beautiful apartment to my children
Hi Dan!
Love your blog!! May I ask what kind of camera did you use for your photos? I am not a professional photographer. I just wanted to look for a good camera for memories on future trips. BTW, I am going to Aruba in June for 1 whole week!
Thanks much!
Helen
Hey Helen!
I use a Canon 5Dii, which was second-hand when I purchased it but will soon be upgrading. I got it at a good price as it’s a slightly older model but still works great, though if you aren’t looking for an overly complicated camera there are certainly more affordable and likely more suitable options. I also use a Canon SX740 point and shoot for some of my travels too (more here: https://www.danflyingsolo.com/kumbh-mela-photos-facts-canon-powershot-sx740/)
Have an amazing time in Aruba, enjoy the sunshine :)
Pictures and Blog is amazing Dan. I love your way of writing.
Wow! Wow! and Simply Wow! Pictures are so beautiful. It seems you click the real beauty of the Aruba! Thanks for sharing with us.
I want to see Aruba. Exotic place. Your article is inspiring. Thanks.
Awesome!
Hi Dan, Nice location and same is your views but whats is the budget like as a normal traveler for a week
It really can vary, as if you eat inland and away from the resorts and beaches it’s at least 70% cheaper I would, for the extra days I spent in Aruba this is what we were doing. With the car hire, you can also fill the days with free activities, or say a pass to the national park for less than $10. Accommodation will always be quite expensive on Aruba, but the rest of the costs really depend on how you want to travel!
Honestly, I haven’t read the article thoroughly but only seen the video. I really loved those street arts full of vibrant colors and the happening cultural festival of Aruba. Seeing all this through your video, it’s making me an itch to plan for Aruba. :)
Thank you! Highly recommended Aruba, would love to return during Carnival proper!
This is just so amazing Dan. Your photos are so wonderful.
Thank you so much Agness!
I love the laid-back vibe on the islands, the beautiful nature and the amazing dives you can do there! I’ll definitely be back
I want to go back for more diving!
Vaibhav! You are right! All the people want to be back there, me for example! I don’t know about anyone that thinks that Aruba is not a good side to visit. I loved its beaches, because the sand is almost white. Besides, I loved the sea, because the water is turquoise. Also, as you say, the vibes and the nature are wonderful, and not only these, the views on the island are amazing! There, was the first time that I did diving, but I do not regret, I think that it was the best experience of life and I would do it again. To travel is to live and travel around the world is my life long ambition! I love Aruba and the magic that it has.
Hi Dan,
As always this blog is mindblowing.Recently,I watch a video that is “48 Hours in Cuenca,Spain”.I can’t explain you how much I like This Video.I also watched this article’s video it is also very amazing.I also like your articles and the style of your article writing It never bores a man.Anyway.Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, appreciate you enjoying the videos especially!
Antilles always looks like a paradise on the earth, but maybe a bit boring. Your article gives really interesting tips on what to do there and have fun. I really like your post. I subscribed, so I can be updated to your next articles.
Thanks Marco! Aruba really did surprise me and it is anything but boring :)
I love it! I thought I had enough of the Netherlands Antilles after visiting Bonaire & Curacao, but who am I kidding? I love the laid-back vibe on the islands, the beautiful nature and the amazing dives you can do there! I’ll definitely be back :-)
Third time is a treat ;)
Wow, star gazing is fantastic. Great article Dan!