I went to Aruba after my first year of MBA with my best friend from Lebanon. That year was very packed with schooling, recruiting, social activities and travels, that I needed a trip to decompress and recharge. A destination including a crystal-clear beach, a bit of history and an adventurous nature seemed like the perfect place to go. My best friend was onboard, and we found ourselves booking a trip to the One Happy Island, Aruba.
A few days in and it directly made sense to me why Aruba is called the One happy island. Aruba is like no other place. With white sandy beaches, clean waters, hiking cliffs, wild animals, colorful historical towns and very friendly people, no person can have a bad time there. The vibes are so freeing and positive. I was glad I made it to Aruba.
Aruba is a tiny island part of the ABC Island chain, Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao. It is located in the Caribbeans. Although it is small, there is so much to see and do in the country. I went to Aruba for 5 days and could have easily added a few more days to see some of the things I had no time to explore. Here is a 5-day itinerary for a fantastic stay at the One Happy Island.
WHEN TO GO TO THE ONE HAPPY ISLAND
Aruba is sunny and has great weather all year long, around 28 degrees Celsius. You can basically go anytime of the year and have a great time. The lower season is September to November because the weather could be slightly unpredictable. The higher season starts from December and lasts until March, with January and February getting more crowded because that’s when the Carnival of Aruba takes place.
WHERE TO STAY IN ARUBA
Aruba is known for its all-inclusive resorts and big hotels by the beach. While I am not always a fan of all-inclusive because it can limit your willingness to explore, if you have a budget for Aruba, the all-inclusive could be a good option since food and drinks prices are high.
I definitely recommend staying near the beach, in a place that is walking distance to the shore. The Palm beach or the Eagle beach would be my recommendations. These places are packed with hotel options, surrounded by restaurants and bars. While the Palm beach could be a bit more crowded with families and tourists, Eagle beach is calmer, if you are looking for that.
I stayed at the Marriott’s Aruba Surf Club, and while the hotel is huge, clean, and very well located, I did not LOVE it. It was too packed with families and felt a bit old. I would suggest staying at the Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino, the Ritz Carlton, the Divi Aruba Phoenix Beach Resort or the Hilton at Eagle beach.
Marirott’s Aruba Surf Club
HOW TO GET AROUND THE ONE HAPPY ISLAND
The best way to get around in Aruba is to rent a car or hire a driver on specific days. Buses and taxis are also available, but I did not find them easily accessible.
I personally had a driver/tour guide drive me and my friend on certain days, otherwise, I was walking to the nearby spots.
WHAT TO DO IN ARUBA IN 5 DAYS
Day 1: Settle-in and head to the beach
For your first day in Aruba, check-in to your hotel and settle-in. Then head to the beach.
There are several beaches you can go to: Palm beach, Eagle Beach, Baby beach (more to the south), Arashi Beach and many more. They are all public beaches and easily accessible from your hotel. Since it is your first day, head to closest one to you. Tan, swim, read a book and relax. Most importantly put on sunscreen because the sun in Aruba can be extremely strong!
Grab some drinks while watching an amazing pink sunset. Make sure you take advantage of the Happy hours around!
Breath-taking sunsets in Aruba
Day 2: Visit the Flamingos
I am sure you have already crossed the pictures of the pink flamingos in Aruba. Since you’re there, you really can’t miss seeing these elegant creatures.
There are two spots where you can see the flamingos on the island:
Renaissance Aruba private island: This is a private island that is owned by the renaissance hotel. Hotel guests have free access to the island whereas visitors need to book a 100$ ticket in advance to do the tour. The island has two separate beaches, with a few restaurants and bars. There are also cabanas in case you would like to stay the night.
The De Palm beach: This is another island that has flamingos. The flamingos however are less pink, and more white/grey. The island also provides a lot of activities and it is a great place to spend a full day with a big group.
I personally wanted to do the full experience and so I opted for the renaissance private island. Since day tickets were sold out, I booked a night at the hotel. Besides, the hotel is very nice and modern. Provides very spacious and clean rooms, a pool with a nice view and a DJ and several restaurants. It is also located in between the colorful streets of the island’s capital Oranjestad.
I took the ferry to the private island and spent the full day there. Honestly, I LOVED it. The island is so tiny but beautiful. The sand is very white, the water very blue and the few flamingos very pink! They walk around people, and you get to feed them. I also saw huge iguanas roaming in between the greeneries. I spent the day by the beach, had lunch and drinks and took a ton of pictures of the scenery.
If you like flamingos, definitely do that trip. But make sure you don’t scare them, traumatize them or ruin their habitat.
Renaissance Aruba private island
Day 3: Hop on a jeep tour
Aruba is not only about the beach, it also has great landmarks that are a must-see. Book a jeep tour online or through your hotel and start exploring the inners of the island. You can decide to rent ATVs and do the drive alone, but I recommend having a tour guide that can take you around.
Make sure the tour includes the California lighthouse. This lighthouse is famous for the scenic view it provides of Aruba’s coastline. There is also the Faro Blanco restaurant that is a great spot for lunch or even dinner.
After that, visit the Bushiribana gold mill ruins. The ruin is now composed of a few walls and rocks that remain from the times when locals used to look for gold. The landscape is so cool, definitely tour around, maybe you’ll find some gold!
Head to the Natural bridge. This bridge was formed naturally out of coral limestone. Today, it is characterized by very strong currents that splash water around. Stand there and take a picture when the waves are exploding. You can also contribute to the wish-making rock tradition. A tradition where locals put rocks on top of each other making tiny pillars. It is said that if you make a wish and add a rock, on top of another without breaking the whole pillar, your wish will come true.
Definitely, you should not miss out on the Casibari rocks. These are rock complexes that make up very interesting forms (some of them look like animals!). You can also climb one of the biggest rocks to see an amazing view of the city.
After lunch, head to baby beach. This beach is very calm and perfect for a getaway. It is probably the prettiest beach on the island. Chill there, take a quick swim before heading back to the hotel.
Jeep tour around the island
Day 4: Beach and water activities
You can’t visit an island without going to its beaches more than once! So let this day be another beach day. Book yourself a water activity for the day. I recommend doing a catamaran tour in the afternoon (1-4pm) and snorkeling to see the different wrecks. Aruba is known for having so many underwater gems. Besides the beautiful coral reefs, you can see the Antilla shipwreck, the Jane C wreck and even a plane wreck. If you are a scuba diver, I would suggest scuba diving to see these sites.
You can also try to wakeboard, windsurf or take a surfing lesson. There is unlimited water activities that you could engage in.
Otherwise, you could do the sunset cruise. This is a nice way to end your day: having drinks and bites in the middle of the sea, overlooking a breathtaking sunset. I went on Jolly pirates sunset cruise, and although the whole experience was fun, the boat was a bit too packed with tourists. If you are looking for something smaller and more intimate, I suggest booking another tour.
Water activities
Day 5: Tour the city Oranjestad
Aruba’s main city is its capital Oranjestad. Oranjestad is so cute and honestly gorgeous, with an architecture hugely influenced by the dutch colonial times. Oranjestad is filled with small streets, colored with murals and different paints. It is also the place for luxury shopping. The town has many shops if you would like to buy something for you or your loved ones.
Walk around, shop and explore the streets. Make sure you go to the surrounding museums and eat local street food.
Oranjestad, the capital
WHAT ELSE TO DO
Honestly there are so many more things to do still in Aruba and I wish I had the time to explore more. But here are local recommendations in case you have more time:
– Visit the butterfly museum & aloe museum
– Kayak in Mangel Halto (apparently one of the clearest water around the island and not to miss!)
– Watch the sunrise at the Alto Vista Chapel
– See the San Nicolas street art
Aruba is gorgeous, and has so much to offer. You definitely need to add it on your destination list.
I hope you found my guide useful. Definitely let me know your experiences in Aruba and any recommendations you have!
