Aruba is a playground for adventurous vacationers due to an ideal mixture of local weather and tradition that retains this desert island feeling recent and thrilling – even for seasoned vacationers to the Caribbean. Certain, you may bask on blissful seashores and swim in crystal-clear waters, however you can even discover rocky desert landscapes and mangroves, journey horses alongside pristine coastlines, scuba dive on wartime wrecks and board the social gathering bus in Oranjestad – your days in Aruba won’t ever really feel empty!
Whereas most individuals keep within the resorts on Aruba’s northwest coast, it pays to discover past the infinity swimming pools. The island’s pocket-sized capital, Oranjestad, has bustling nightlife and candy-colored structure, and lots of the island’s sand-sprinkled seashores are additionally busy hubs for water sports activities, from scuba diving to browsing and kite browsing.
In the meantime, the island’s mangroves and volcanic nationwide park are havens for wildlife and bases for extra adventures. Whether or not you’re on the lookout for waves, thrills or pure wonders, listed below are the highest issues to do in Aruba.
1. Plunge right into a pure pool at Arikok Nationwide Park
Overlaying about 20% of Aruba, Arikok Nationwide Park performs host to a wide ranging pure pool the place guests can swim and cliff soar amidst crashing waves. Conchi Pure Pool is positioned on Aruba’s rugged and rocky northeastern coast; from the park entrance, hikers can observe a 3.5-mile path to the pool or you may journey right here by rented Jeep or on a nationwide park tour.
Planning tip: The lone highway resulting in the pool snakes across the Sero Arikok Volcano (the second-highest level within the nation) persevering with as a tough, high-clearance grime observe – if you happen to come underneath your individual steam, you may have to lease a 4WD automobile.
2. Take an off-road tour by a dramatic volcanic panorama
For a change of tempo from basking on the seaside, Arikok Nationwide Park gives a labyrinth of roads and trails that meander by arid volcanic landscapes and dotted with towering cacti and fringed by a curtain of blue Caribbean waters on the horizon. Journey excursions by 4WD price about US$100, nevertheless it’s price it for the enjoyable of exploring this glorious, rugged panorama. Observe that different kinds of off-road automobiles had been banned from the park in 2021.
3. Dive World Battle II shipwrecks on the northwest coast
In February 1942, a German U-boat torpedoed the British tanker SS Pedernales off the Aruban coast. Right now, components of the ship stay on the seabed, creating a synthetic reef that teems with marine life. Resting in simply 20ft of water, the wreck is accessible to divers of all expertise ranges and it is a frequent cease for dive retailers working on the island.
Simply alongside the coast, the hulking wreck of the cargo ship SS Antilla sits in a comparatively shallow 55ft of water. Measuring 400ft in size, this German ship was scuttled by its captain on the onset of World Battle II, and eight many years later, it stays some of the common dive websites within the Caribbean.
Planning tip: The SS Pedernales and SS Antilla are simply accessible from the seashores north of Oranjestad; Purple Sail is a dependable firm with three dive facilities alongside the resort strip.
4. Journey the wind at Hadicurari Seashore
Windsurfers and kitesurfers will really feel proper at residence on Hadicurari Seashore. As soon as identified for its iconic fishing huts, this stretch of coast between Malmok Seashore and Palm Seashore now performs host to a few of the greatest windsurfing competitions on the planet. Inexperienced persons can guide a lesson with Windsurfing Aruba, whereas skilled surfers can lease gear and set out alone onto the lilting, shallow waters.
5. Take a glass-bottomed kayak by Aruba’s mangrove forests
A glass-bottomed kayak is a good way to get near the colourful fish, sea turtles and different marine life that flourish alongside the coast of Aruba. Clear Kayak Aruba gives glass-bottomed kayak excursions of the island’s largest mangrove forest, the place vacationers can view a lush, marine ecosystem as they glide between the timber. Excursions embody decide up and drop off at your lodging, and the prospect to snorkel within the tranquil waters of the mangroves.
6. Skydive to the seaside for whole-island views of Aruba
It is laborious to say which is the larger thrill when taking a skydive with Skydive Aruba – plummeting in direction of the Earth at 120mph, or having fun with a chook’s eye view of the whole island of Aruba. Adrenaline junkies can get pleasure from views stretching from Oranjestad to Arikok earlier than descending to a drop zone subsequent to the seaside. Jumps take about two hours to finish and the value contains transfers to and from the drop zone.
Planning tip: Tandem skydives with Skydive Aruba are open to anybody over the age of 13, however teenagers want permission from a father or mother. The minimal and most weights for skydivers are 100lbs and 220lbs respectively.
7. Lounge underneath divi divi and fofoti timber
To seize a quintessential picture of Aruba, search out the island’s well-known fofoti and divi divi timber, discovered rising on the seaside and inshore respectively. These windswept timber all the time level in direction of the southwest as a result of prevailing path of the commerce winds that sweep over the island.
Considered one of many prime white sand seashores within the Caribbean, Eagle Seashore is residence to probably the most photographed fofoti timber on the island, although examples of every will be discovered clawing their means skyward from the sand throughout Aruba. December to April is the very best time to get pleasure from Aruba’s seashores.
8. Discover the Guadirikiri and Fontein Caves
Guests can delve into the pre-Columbian historical past of Aruba on the Guadirikiri and Fontein caves. These damp limestone caverns inside Arikok Nationwide Park are residence to petroglyphs which will date again greater than a millennium. The intricate, vermillion work had been left by the Arawak individuals and provide a tantalizing glimpse of historical life within the Caribbean. Probably the greatest hikes in Aruba results in the caves after scaling the island’s highest peak.
9. Catch the social gathering bus in Oranjestad
Cruising down the road in a cacophony of maracas and drumbeats, Oranjestad’s vibrantly colourful Kukoo Kunuku social gathering bus is both well-known or notorious relying on who you ask. For lovers of nightlife, it’s undoubtedly the latter; this fun-filled tour is the proper strategy to kickstart an evening in town after a day spent lounging by the surf. Tour choices vary from calmer outside dinners to a pub crawl of the very best bars on the island.
Planning tip: Able to dial up the enjoyable even larger? The Karaoke Social gathering Bus tour contains a shot at each bar alongside the route and reside karaoke all through the journey.
10. Dive beneath the Caribbean on a submarine
Children and people much less assured within the water can admire pure and synthetic reefs bustling with coral, colourful fish and marine life by the home windows of one in every of Aruba’s vacationer submarines. The semi-submersible Sea World Explorer and the fully-submerging Atlantis provide guests spectacular views of the world beneath the waves. The latter plunges to depths of 130ft throughout its voyage alongside the reef.
11. Discover the countryside on horseback
Aruba’s dry panorama is ideal for equestrians – you’d be forgiven for feeling just like the American West has in some way been transported to the Caribbean. The island’s rocky landscapes and bountiful cacti create a jarring distinction to the aquamarine waters off the coast, and there is no higher strategy to soak within the surroundings than on horseback. Operators reminiscent of Rancho Infamous provide horseback excursions catering to all budgets and ranges of expertise within the saddle, together with ever-popular journeys alongside the seaside.
12. Catch the sundown from the California Lighthouse
Aruba’s northwestern tip is residence to a historic stone lighthouse that is nicely price a go to to get pleasure from a few of the island’s most placing views. The 180ft-tall California Lighthouse looms above the northern tip of island, its alabaster exterior standing out brilliantly in opposition to the sundown. Excursions of the inside can be found from 9am to 7pm and embody entry to a viewing deck with expansive views of the island.
Planning tip: Guests who wish to go the additional mile can guide a personal dinner on the prime of the tower. Alternatively, get pleasure from a extra earthbound eating expertise on the close by Faro Blanco restaurant.
