There’s so much to see, do, and eat in Aruba. And whether you’re looking for a relaxing beach, exotic nature, or exciting history — Aruba’s got you covered. Today we’re covering the top 10 things you need to do when visiting Aruba.
1. Visit Aruba’s Famous Beaches
Let’s start with the main reason why most people come to Aruba, and that’s for the amazing beaches that line the island. And while there are many fantastic beaches to choose from, there are two in particular that are absolute crowd favorites and that you need to check out.
The first of these beaches is Palm Beach and is probably the most famous beach in Aruba. Palm Beach is located right out front of the major high-rise hotels in Aruba, which makes a really nice backdrop of this beach. The waters here are crystal clear and warm and the sand might be the softest sand we’ve ever walked on. Along this beach there are umbrellas and long chairs everywhere for you to rent as well as shops for you to sign up for snorkel tours, party boats, or even private charters.
We saw some people out having fantastic times on these party cruises and I’ve had friends that love them, so if you’re looking for a lively time you’ll definitely want to check those out.
So we’re sitting on Palm Beach right now and it’s really fun. It’s just lively but it’s still pretty calm. Yeah, it’s a funny combination of like being very family-friendly and then you see these huge boats coming in with people partying on them. Yeah, it’s hilarious.
While at Palm Beach you’ll need to walk north along the beach until you hit the Hadakarari Beach. This is where everyone windsurfs and it’s a great spot to hang out and watch some of the thrill seekers fly through the air. Seriously, this is really cool.
The other beach you should check out is Eagle Beach. This is located more towards the low-rise hotels and is a little less hustle and bustle than Palm Beach. You’ll still have options to rent chairs and there’s also lots of little areas with cutouts of shaded trees for you to relax in for free. This is important because Aruba is notoriously windy and these trees can be useful not only for shade but also to cut out the incessant wind.
2. Explore Casibari Rock Formations
The second thing you should do when visiting Aruba is to visit Casibari, which is an incredible rock formation on the island. This area is really cool to explore. There are paths up and down the rocks for you to hike and climb. This area is also neat because they found ancient paintings on these rocks dating back thousands and thousands of years, which shows the significance this area has been to the people here for many, many years.
I can’t get over how impressed I am with this place. It almost feels like you’re walking around on another planet because all the cactuses and the shrubs look so interesting. Yeah, if you drop me here I would not guess that this is Aruba. It would be more like Arizona or something.
We were told that these rocks were made without any cements. Seems like it’s worked pretty well for, I don’t know, a couple hundred years. Not really sure.
At the top of the largest rock, you can gain some great views of the island including Mount Hooiberg, the second largest mountain on the island. We really were pleasantly surprised by this place and really loved the interesting plants and animals we saw here.
This is so cool. It’s like you’re in a forest entirely of cactuses so you gotta be careful and you’re not gonna prick yourself. But man this is actually way cooler than I expected.
We’re on the right track. We’ve got another one of these guys pointing us away. Expect to spend 45 minutes or so exploring the rocks unless you plan on grabbing a drink at the bar area, in which case you can easily tack on some more time.
3. See the Natural Bridge
The third thing you need to see when visiting Aruba is the Natural Bridge. The Natural Bridge area is located around one of the rougher sections of ocean along the island and you’ll need to traverse a dirt road to get here. We were able to do this in a standard sedan, so rest assured you don’t need a 4×4 off-roading monster truck to get you there.
Natural Bridge is one of the natural wonders Aruba is known for, and while the larger Natural Bridge collapsed when Hurricane Katrina hit the island in 2005, there’s a smaller natural bridge that is still neat to check out.
This is a really cool natural forming stone walkway carved out by the ocean, and the area around it is super neat as well. Along the shore here are tons of rocky cliffs that are known for giant splashes as waves crash into them, so be prepared to channel your inner Little Mermaid while singing on the rocks here.
I have never seen waves like this. Yeah, it feels like a Disney World. Just be sure to keep your footing here as the rocks can be wet. We don’t recommend getting too close to the water here as it can be dangerous, but it’s still really cool to view from afar.
4. Visit the Bushiribana Gold Mine Ruins
While near the Natural Bridge, it’s a great time to check out our fourth destination, which is to visit the ruins of the Bushiribana Gold Mine. These ruins date all the way back to the 1800s and look absolutely otherworldly nestled in this ocean desert landscape.
The ruins here are free to explore and you’ll do so at your own pace. There aren’t any guardrails or roped off sections, so be sure to use caution if you choose to enter and explore the ruins. Once inside you’ll find some great photo ops and you’ll be able to peek out some old windows as you explore.
You’ll also find areas that will shield you from the island’s endless wind and from the top you’ll have some great views of the surrounding area. It’s almost like feeling like you’re an Indiana Jones explorer in this because it’s really cool ruins. You just like get your mind on like — all right, there’s gold somewhere here, maybe I’ll be the lucky one.
Outside the ruins, you’ll find a garden of thousands and thousands of stacked stones. While here be sure to find some stones to stack yourself so you can add to this one-of-a-kind landscape.
5. Do an ATV Tour
The fifth thing you should do when visiting the happy island of Aruba is to do an ATV tour. We actually have never done an ATV tour ourselves but given how neat this landscape is, if you’re into adventure activities you’ll certainly want to try this. These tours take you all across this one-of-a-kind landscape and it looks like an absolute blast. You can find plenty of people selling tours along Palm Beach if you’re interested.
6. Visit Palm Beach Plaza
The sixth thing you need to do when visiting Aruba is to visit Palm Beach Plaza. Palm Beach Plaza is the main shopping center and nightlife location for visitors to Aruba, and this area really has something for everyone.
There are options for just about every kind of meal you can think of and the environment itself is fantastic and very family friendly. We felt incredibly safe everywhere we went in Aruba, even after the sun went down, and Palm Beach Plaza is no exception.
Not to mention as the sun goes down, the sunsets here are amazing, and with the lights coming up it’s a really cool ambiance. You can expect to find free live music in the outdoor auditorium. It really is a night spot to relax.
They also have one of the famous Aruba signs nearby if you’re looking to snap a quick photo to document your time in Aruba.
7. Explore Oranjestad, Aruba’s Capital
The seventh thing you need to do when visiting Aruba is to check out Oranjestad. Oranjestad is the capital of Aruba and it’s a lively area to explore. The name is Dutch, like many other names on the island, and comes from the Dutch who initially settled the island.
While in Oranjestad expect to explore cool shops and take in some of the unbelievable architecture in the Dutch style. There’s even a free trolley you can take that winds you through the city, which is something you should do if you’re looking for a fun way to take in the sights without walking too much.
8. Visit Renaissance Marketplace
While in the area you should walk down to the next thing you should try when visiting Aruba, and that is to visit Renaissance Market. This lively area is home to many shops, restaurants, and live music and is very similar in atmosphere to the Palm Beach Plaza.
Being so close to the city and waterfront, this area is a fun spot to explore if you’re looking for dinner, drinks, or just an enjoyable spot to enjoy the energy.
Just be careful — during one of the free concerts you might even run into some dancing babies. Seriously, how adorable is this?
9. Try a Dutch Pancake
Okay, while in Renaissance Plaza it could be the perfect time to try one of the local delicacies Aruba is known for. So the ninth thing you need to do when visiting Aruba is to try a Dutch pancake.
We have Dutch pancakes here — something we really want to try on Aruba. They have a Dutch influence here so a lot of the names are Dutch, obviously some of the food is Dutch.
So we’re savory people so we want ones that have cheese, sausage, tomatoes. They look amazing. I guess you just eat it.
