Authentic island vibes, welcoming people and some of the best beaches in the world earn Aruba the slogan of One Happy Island. The island is not just the happiest, but also the sunniest in the Caribbean. If that isn’t reason enough to vist the A in ABC, let this guide be.

---

Location

Aruba is part of the Dutch Antilles, an island group off the Venezuelan coast. Together with Bonaire and Curacao, Aruba is commonly referred to as the ABC islands. On a clear day, the Venezuela mainland is visible on the horizon.

Despite its Latin American neighbors, Aruba’s ties are with Europe. As a country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Aruba is self-governing with the exception of foreign affairs and defense. The island is a unique cultural melting pot: over 100 nationalities are represented and the average Aruban speaks four languages. We had our pick between Dutch, Spanish and English, in addition to the creole language Papiamento. We quickly learned that Aruban citizens have a Dutch passport, but don’t plan on moving to the Netherlands any time soon. The 300 days of sunshine per year might have something to do with this.

Looking for a honeymoon destination in September, we picked Aruba for its location outside of the hurricane belt. Unlike most of the Caribbean, the ABC islands can be visited year-round without the risk of a hurricane hitting. We got to enjoy perfect weather from the moment we set foot on the island. The wind makes you forget about humidity during the day, and turns into a gentle ocean breeze by sunset.

Where to Stay

The hotels in Aruba are spread out over three different zones, all on the west coast of the island. Oranjestad is the capital of Aruba and is considered the downtown area, with many hotels and restaurants right next to the airport. We spent our first night at the Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba, a Marriott resort that is the gateway to Flamingo Beach. The hotel wasn’t our favorite, but the access to private Renaissance Island made it well worth the stay – more on that below.

Palm Beach is lined up with high-rise hotels, tour operators and watersport concessions. That makes it the most touristy area of Aruba. Even if you don’t stay at Palm Beach, you will spot the high-rises on the horizon or depart on a tour from this area.

Between Oranjestad and Palm Beach lies Eagle Beach, a stunning wide beach that only houses low-rise resorts. We followed in the footsteps of many honeymooners at Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort, a romantic adults-only oasis on Eagle Beach. Bucuti & Tara exceeded our expectations with unique facilities, exceptional service and a fantastic location on a world-class beach.

Top Activities in Aruba

Time in Aruba is spent in, on or near the water. We captured our trip to Aruba in seven island-proof activities. In tune with our honeymoon relax mode, we skipped the car rental and relied on pick-up services from the tour companies instead.

#1- Take a snorkeling tour

Aruba has perfect snorkeling conditions, with clear and shallow tropical waters. A lot of great snorkeling spots can be accessed directly from the beach, but approaching from the bow of a ship with a cocktail is even more fun. We booked a morning snorkeling tour on a pirate ship with Sailaway Tours, which includes three snorkeling stops and an open bar.

The pirate ship took us to Malmok Beach and Boca Catalina, two adjacent locations with incredible marine life. In between both lies Tres Trapi, known for housing starfish. After our initiation to Aruba’s underwater life from the pirate ship, we returned and accessed from the beach to snorkel at our own pace. We got up close with sea turtles, a starfish, octopus and a variety of colorful fish.

#2- Sail into the sunset

A sunset cruise is another excursion on the water that shouldn’t be missed in Aruba. After our pirate ship snorkel, we opted to sail into the sunset on a catamaran. Most sunset sails include drinks and appetizers, but the Wine & Dine Cruise with Red Sail Aruba serves a Caribbean buffet dinner during the three-hour sail.

As the dinner is seated, the number of participants is very limited compared to regular sunset sails, which pack people like sardines. The Wine & Dine Cruise was definitely one of our favorite activities in Aruba.

#3- Escape to a private island

Pink flamingos wading through azure waters is one of Aruba’s postcard images, yet it’s a secluded scene. The flamingos roam the beach of Renaissance Island, a private island that can only be accessed by water taxi from the Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort. We booked our first night at the Renaissance Hotel to get up close with Aruba’s photogenic birds. The water taxi transported us straight from the hotel lobby to the dreamy tropical island.

We came for the flamingos, but stayed for all the island has to offer. There is a nature trail, great snorkeling and unique wildlife everywhere – not including the flamingos, who were introduced to the island and aren’t native to Aruba. We arrived early to enjoy our breakfast at the island and found the flamingos bathing in the water. By late morning, they hide in the shade from the sun and the crowds.

#4- Go off-road on Aruba’s wild side

With snorkeling and sunset sailing, we ticked off two popular organized tours in Aruba. The third one leaves hotels, beaches and civilization behind. The eastern coast of Aruba is arid and rough, making it perfect for an off-road adventure. You can choose between ATV and UTV tours, open safari-style Jeeps and closed Jeeps. We picked the dust-free option with a half-day Jeep Wrangler tour from Pelican Adventures. The group size played out nicely, as each group ended up with a private Jeep.

Lined up in a small Jeep convoy, we visited several points of interest on paved roads before switching to off-road mode. The last stop on the tour is Baby Beach, a great snorkeling spot and popular beach with locals at the southern end of Aruba. The half-day tour was a nice introduction to Aruba’s wild side, but felt a bit rushed. I recommend booking a full-day tour that includes Arikok National Park. 

#5- Watch the sunset in the Caribbean Sea

Aruba’s developed coast is located on the west side, spoiling visitors with a daily sunset spectacle. Eagle Beach offers front row seats to watch the sunset in the Caribbean Sea. Toasting to the sunset from the SandBar at Bucuti & Tara is what our Caribbean dreams are now made of. The idyllic beach bar is open to hotel and restaurant guests.

The long, wide stretch of powdery sand provides the perfect setting for a sunset beach walk or even a beach wedding, as we witnessed plenty. The northern end of Eagle Beach is home to Aruba’s iconic Fofoti tree, unique because it grows on the beach and always to the southwest. The trees make up a natural compass, shaped by the constant trade winds blowing from the northeast.

#6- Dine with your toes in the sand

The spectacular sunsets in Aruba are followed by dinner right on the beach. Dining options range from ocean views (Elements Restaurant) to toes in the sand (Barefoot Restaurant, Passions on the Beach) and even in the water (Flying Fishbone). We dined at Barefoot Restaurant on our first night given its proximity to the Renaissance Hotel.

Once we settled in at Bucuti & Tara, we didn’t make it much further than their in-house Elements Restaurant. The restaurant has a stunning oceanfront deck and serves delicious plates with a side of romance. Even if not staying at the hotel, the restaurant offers a taste of Bucuti & Tara’s dreamy and elegant atmosphere.

#7- Relax at world-class beaches

As I get to travel with a beach critic that grew up in Cuba, the bar is set high when it comes to beaches on our holidays. For my husband to praise a beach, it has to tick off several boxes – with warm water as a non-negotiable. Aruba passed the test with flying colors and left us both in awe. The white-sand beaches and turquoise waters rightfully earn a spot on many World’s Best Beaches-lists.

Aruba’s northern side surprised us with the relaxed island vibes you hope to find in the Caribbean. The beaches are still largely undeveloped, as there are no hotels in this area. With shallow waters and reefs close to the shore, the snorkeling is spectacular. Malmok Beach, Boca Catalina Beach and Arashi Beach are all walking distance apart. For a refereshing Balashi and break from the sun, head to colorful Arashi Beach Shack.

---

Related Posts