Would you be interested in a trip to a warm, sunny island where you can have a different adventure every day and the sunset beats anywhere else’s? OF COURSE you would, you’re not insane!
However, it might surprise you that we’d recommend Aruba. If you’re like us, your idea of Aruba tourism is expensive cruise ships that only stop for a few hours before heading to the next island.
And like us, you’d be wrong.
This small island is an excellent spot to stay and enjoy life for a while. There are many outdoor activities to do, from watersports to hiking in a national park. So many that we ran out of time and didn’t get to do everything we wanted. And the weather is always perfect, so anytime is the right time to do something.
Read on to see what we did in Aruba, followed by our best tips and all the important information for your visit to this Caribbean island!
Places To Visit in Aruba- Our Epic Trip to Palm Beach
Aruba has dozens of perfect beaches to enjoy, and no doubt each one is unique and amazing on its own. We ended up staying at Palm beach. Our taxi driver said this is the best beach in Aruba, and obviously he was not just saying that because we were going there.
Palm beach is located next to another popular area named Playa Linda. You easily cross from one to another while strolling on the beach or boardwalk. They are on the western side of the island.
As the name implies, palm trees dominate the Palm Beach and Playa Linda area. The fronds ruffle in the constant breeze along with the palapas, which provide the majority of the shade.
Alot of people stay in Palm Beach for the entirety of their trip (in fact, we met a woman who flew from Baltimore just for the weekend!). Everything is at your fingertips; beachside bars and restaurants of varying price ranges, watersport rentals, and all the palapas your heart desires.
This trip was already perfect because Janina’s family met us halfway (us from Philadelphia, them from Peru), and some members of our families met for the first time!
But even without that context, Palm Beach was a most excellent vacation spot :)
Here’s why:
What We Did in Aruba
Besides the epic family reunion that was occurring, there are some sweet highlights that stand out (which I would recommend for anyone visiting Aruba!):
Pirate Tour!
Snorkel with tropical fish and turtles, then jump off a rope swing into the water! The boat tour includes a surprisingly delicious BBQ meal (they cater to vegans and vegetarian diets). Also, open rum bar!
TIPS: take the morning/lunch tour instead of the evening one. You get in one more snorkeling spot if you go in the morning. Make sure to sun block up too.
*And remember to avoid touching corals to avoid damaging them*
Finally, buy these tickets in advance because this sells out! You can buy tickets with this link.
Tube Ride
The easiest thing to sign up for, as there was a watersport tent next to our hotel. As the name implies, we got pulled around in a tube behind a speedboat for 20 adrenaline-filled minutes. We screamed a lot and didn’t fall off.
You can just walk up to a water sport tent on the beach and do this anytime. It cost us $25 a person.
TIP: WEAR GOGGLES! My eyes were burning from the salt water splash for an hour afterwards (worth it!).
Also, kayaks and paddle boards are rented at the same tents on the beaches. The prices are $20-25 an hour and you don’t to make need a reservation.
Windsurf
I tried it for the first time and must say, Aruba is THE place to learn windsurfing!
That’s because there is a constant breeze that ensures you don’t get stuck with no wind power in the middle of the ocean. The wind is never too strong for beginners, either. For $90 I booked an hour long lesson and surfed alone for another hour. If you already know how, a rental costs $30/hour.
More people were actually learning kitesurfing. But it takes multiple lessons and a lot more money (over $500). So you shouldn’t try it here unless you plan to kitesurf a lot in the future.
Best Time to Visit Aruba
There’s no “wrong time” to visit the turquoise waters and warm weather of Aruba. Why’s that? Well, the average temperature year-round is 80-83 F (26.6-28.3C).
Oh… And it’s located just outside of Hurricane Alley. There’s not even a rainy season (Aruba is a desert island)!
Do you want to avoid crowds or higher prices? Then avoid the tourist season (which is April to August).
Is Aruba Expensive to Visit?
Yes. I mean, nowhere is perfect.
Especially compared to other countries we’ve been to (Peru & Portugal in particular), Aruba is expensive.
This is mostly because FOOD is expensive because so much is imported. Seriously, find a well-priced place (or cook in your rental) and stick to it if you’re on a budget. It’s normal for dinner to cost $20-35 per plate at an average restaurant.
We went to Carlito’s in Playa Linda (see What To Eat below) so much the waitress recognized us. There you can have a decent dinner for under $15.
Besides the food, prices are similar to those in the United States. That includes watersport activities, taxis, and hotels/rentals.
Where to Stay
There are a LOT of big hotels in Aruba. To the point where it’s overwhelming and kind of a turn off.
Of course, you can choose to stay at one of the big chains. But also available are more personable options, like homestay and private apartments.
We use HotelsCombined to find a spot. That’s because HotelsCombined searches all the deals on other sites and gives you the best one. It saves both money and also time.
What to Eat
Unsurprisingly, the seafood! Also, dutch pancakes. For alcohol, rum is the name of the game (it is the Caribbean after all).
In Palm Beach two places stood out for the food and prices: Carlito’s for happy hour drinks and bar food (plus American sports on TV!), and Eduardo’s for breakfast and lunch. Eduardo’s has amazingly delish breakfast bowls and vegan options for lunch (try the vegan pad Thai!!!).
The coffee drinks were on point, too.
Eduardo’s is actually in Playa Linda but since it was just a 10 minute walk from our place in Palm Beach Beach I’m counting it :)
Caribbean-grown coffee is sold all over the island. Try some and buy a bag of organic, shade grown beans to bring home!
What to Do
Sunning with a drink in hand is the stereotype for a reason: most everyone does it at SOME point here. But that drink always tastes better after an adventure.
Aruba offers great outdoors activities, like snorkeling and the pirate boat tours with snorkeling and rope swing action.
And getting pulled by a speedboat in an inflatable tube is a great adrenaline rush.
BUT to do something uniquely Aruban, learn to kitesurf or windsurf like I did.
Yes, you can do these sports somewhere else. But the constant steady breeze makes Aruba the PERFECT place to try these out! As mentioned above, I picked up windsurfing in under an hour.
Hikers and horseback riders should check out Arikok National Park (horseback riding tickets here; guided hikes here). Aruba’s lone national park covers 1/5 of the entire island!
How to Get to Aruba
Most people have to fly to get to Aruba. Even taking a boat isn’t that realistic, unless it’s a cruise.
This article is about minimizing your carbon footprint while in Peru, but the tips and concepts apply to Aruba, too.
How to Get Around
Transportation in Aruba is easy, with a mix of walking, buses (find the schedule here), and taxis making it unnecessary to rent a car. The only reason to rent a car is if you want a Jeep to drive to Arikok National Park.
Requirements to Visit Aruba
The Aruba ED Card
Many people worry about this additional requirement which most other countries don’t require of their visitors. But it’s an easy, straightforward process.
Every visitor has to complete the “Embarkation and Disembarkation” card before entering. You can fill it out and submit it on the official site, up to 7 days before arrival. It’s simple and straightforward.
Aruba Visitor INsurance cost
This is part of getting the ED card and so is also mandatory for anyone staying for more than 1 day. It covers the costs of testing positive for Covid, up to $75,000. Transportation, isolation ($125/day for 14 days), hospital, ICU, doctor visit, and COVID test costs are covered.
The insurance only costs $15. It’s free for everyone 14 and under.
Visa and Travel Documents
Unless you’re an Aruban citizen, you need a valid passport and proof of return ticket to show upon arrival. There is a long list of countries that can visit visa-free, including the USA, all of the Schengen zone, and most Latin American and Caribbean countries.
The full updated list is here.
Upon arrival you’re approved to stay for up to 90 days. This can be extended once, up to 180 days.
Conclusion
If it’s your first time going, Arubans are quick to tell you that you’ll be back to their island. There are some things we didn’t get to do, so the locals were right!
Hopefully you’ve realized that Fun & Earth-friendly travel isn’t just possible in Aruba, but that this Dutch constituent country is a perfect spot for it.
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Chau! Brad y Janina
