Things to Do in Aruba: Beaches, Free Things and More!

Things to do in Aruba! While beaching on a beach vacation is always nice, I find it enjoyable if you can have a mix of beach and other things to do. Good news is, Aruba does offer some alternatives to just beaching.

Not only does Aruba have some of the prettiest beaches and water I have ever seen, it also has a very unique landscape that adds some adventure to your beach vacation too!

Here are some fun things to do in Aruba including some of the best beaches, landmarks to see around the island (such as a chapel, natural bridge and gold mill ruins), hiking to a natural pool, caves, tours and more!

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Aruba Location & Mini Guide to Help You Plan!

Aruba, One Happy Island, is part of the “ABC” islands (Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao) off the coast of Venezuela. It is technically part of the Netherlands, but it’s location puts it on the South American continent.

So what seems like a typical Caribbean island really has unique cultural influence and has superior weather with the constant trade wind (and it is also out of the hurricane belt!)

With that being said, if you are planning to visit Aruba, you are in for a treat!

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Things to Do in Aruba Overview

While beach vacations CAN be expensive, one of the good things about Aruba is that there are a lot of beaches and things to see and do that are free!

I also love that you can see world- renowned beaches but also hike through a desert, cactus-filled landscape and swim in natural pools.

It has a little of everything!

So here are some of the best things to do in Aruba!

Visit eagle Beach

Aruba is full of beautiful beaches and Eagle Beach is at the top of that list. Though it is definitely one of the most popular beaches, it is for good reason.

Eagle Beach is a good place to make a full day of the beach. It has chairs and shade that can be purchased by the general public, restrooms, and a restaurant/bar on the beach to supply your hunger and thirst needs.

It also has a good amount of trees along the back of the beach where you can throw a towel down and enjoy the beach without paying a dime.

Price: Free

Visit Palm Beach

Palm Beach is another beautiful beach along the west coast of Aruba. It is located near the “high rise” hotel section of Aruba; this is where you will find more of the resorts.

With that being said, it also has more to do around the area. You can find food and drinks on the beach and you are also within walking distance to shops and stores on the other side of the street.

Price: Free

Hike to the Conchi Natural Pools

Unless you are just in Aruba to enjoy the beaches, this is a MUST do! This is one of the most fun things to do in Aruba!

I think the best way to visit the pools is to drive yourself and hike in. This way, you can get to the trailhead early and beat the crowds.

Because, like everything else, the pools have become popular. And, since they are a little hard to get to on your own (have to rent a car and hike), there are a lot of tours that go to the pools.

If you go on your own time, I recommend making an early morning of it and beating the crowd!

Everything to know about hiking to the Conchi Natural Pools!

Take a Tour to the Natural Pools

If you don’t want to rent a car on your own, you can still make it to the natural pools.

My recommended way to do this would be to take the guided sunrise hike to the pools. This way, you are going to beat the crowds and still get to hike through the unique landscape that leads to the pools.

(There is also a cheaper sunrise hike. However, it doesn’t include transportation so you will have to pay for a taxi to the trailhead. And it doesn’t include the $10 per person ticket to Arikok National Park. This may be a cheaper option, depending on how many people you can split the taxi with, etc!)

The hike is only about 3.5 miles round trip and is relatively flat with no significant elevation gains. Plus, you will have a break to enjoy the pools before having to hike the ~1.75 miles back out.

However, if you aren’t a fan of hiking, you can still get to the pools either via horseback or ATV.

My second option would be to visit the pools via a horseback guided tour!

• A) it will be a unique experience and you get to go down the same path as the hikers (which is a cool landscape) and
• B) there were LOADS of ATVs/UTVs on the island of Aruba and my personal opinion is that I don’t think they will be good for the island in the long run.

Explore Arikok National park

You will find the Conchi Natural Pools INSIDE Arikok National Park. However, there are several other things to see in the park as well.

A few of the most notable sites are the caves: Fontein and Quadirikiri.

Fontein Cave is smaller but known for having petroglyphs.

Quadirikiri Cave is larger; you can walk back into the cave through a few different chambers. And, at the right time, you can get a nice surprise in the ceiling of the cave! (see photo below)

There are also a few beaches in the park, Dos Playa and Boca Prins being some of the most popular.

You will also see more of the unique landscape in the park including desert sands and cacti.

Entry: $10

Tour the Aruba Aloe Factory and Museum

Though aloe isn’t one of Aruba’s top exports, it does produce some of the most high-quality aloe in the world.

And, you can take a free tour and learn how they produce the aloe for FREE!

The tour occurs every 15 minutes, beginning near the aloe plants where you can learn about the aloe and even get to feel the inside of the plant.

Then, you make your way inside where you see the process of how the turn the plant into the skin-soothing products they ship across the world.

There is also a gift shop where you can find every kind of aloe product you can think of. Great spot for souvenirs for the family!

Price: Free

Take a Guided Snorkel Cruise

Spending a day on a boat, in beautiful blue water while getting to explore the sea below is always a good time! (usually lol)

Aruba has really good snorkeling, though. You can snorkel at the Antilla Shipwreck, a WWII sunken ship, which is really unique! Plus, Aruba has crystal clear waters and loads of colorful fish as well as sea turtles, so the marine life doesn’t disappoint either.

So take a snorkeling cruise with drinks included to see the ship wreck and Boca Catalina!

Explore the Bushiribana Ruins & Natural Bridge

While snorkeling can be pricey, these spots are FREE. Balance, right?

The Bushiribana Ruins are old ruins of an old gold mill built in 1872. Gold was discovered in the 1820’s in Aruba and was a BUSTLING business for a while.

So, throughout the island you can find old gold mines as well as gold mills for production.

There are two mills on the island, but the Balashi Gold Mill is a bit small and less impressive (in my opinion.)

If you are a photographer, you may appreciate the angles, colors and lighting at the Bushiribana Ruins too!

I’ve squished the Bushiribana Ruins and Natural Bridge together because they are located only an 8 minute drive from each other.

Admittedly, the large natural bridge collapsed in 2005. However, there is another that is still standing that they still label as the “natural bridge.” It is just a bit smaller and less impressive than the original. Still nice to see if you are in the area though.

Price: Free

Visit the Alto Vista Chapel

While you are out sight-seeing, you can stop and see the Alto Vista Chapel. The chapel is about a 20 minutes drive from the Bushiribana Ruins (see why I recommend renting a car in Aruba!)

The Alto Vista Chapel is a small Catholic chapel on the mountains above Noord. I am a sucker for cute, small chapels and the Alto Vista Chapel definitely fits the description.

I will say, be prepared for the vendors outside and the UTVs that may pull up while you are there (some of the island UTV tours stop here.)

The business can take away form the beauty, but I still think it is a cute chapel to see.

Price: Free

Take in the Views at the California Lighthouse

Watch the Kite and Windsurfers

I didn’t even know kite and windsurfing was big in Aruba, but it is! We actually saw them in two different spots.

On our way back from the California Lighthouse we saw loads of people kitesurfing at Hadicurari Beach, just before Palm Beach.

We also watched people kite and windsurf for a while by the kitesurfing school at Boca Grandi and the very southwest tip of the island near San Nicolas.

Price: Free

Visit Baby Beach

If you decide to go watch kitesufring at Boca Grandi, just around the corner will be Baby Beach, one of the most BEAUTIFUL beaches in Aruba.

Its name arrives from the super shallow and calm water that is said to be good for the babies.

A downfall of this beach is:

• 1) It is quite a bit further from the main area of Aruba so you will have to either taxi, bus then taxi or RENT THAT CAR and
• 2) There isn’t a lot of natural shade.

There are a few trees at the back of the beach, but not as much availability as Palm and Eagle Beach.

You can, however, rent tents and chairs for the day for around $80 (or bring your own.) There are also a couple of nearby restaurants where you can order drinks, food and use the restrooms.

Price: Free (unless you rent a tent and chairs)

watch Planes Fly in During Happy Hour

The airport in Aruba is located just off Surfside Beach. Where low-flying planes are, there are typically bars and restaurants to take in the views. No exception here.

There are several beach bars along this area that boast great plane views. We arrive at Surfside Beach Bar for happy hour and then watched the sunset from the Reflexions Beach Bar.

Both boasted good views of the planes. The planes came in more overhead at the Surfside Beach Bar and then you had more of a side view from Reflexions Beach Bar

Price: Depends on your food, drinks and possible chair rental

Shop at Oranjestad

While you are in Aruba, you should see the capital of Oranjestad.

As this is where cruise ships dock, you can find a lot of restaurants and shops in this area as well as the “I Love Aruba” sign!

There is high-end shopping at the Renaissance Mall and then also shops and restaurants at the Renaissance Marketplace.

The pink building with the Dutch architecture is also located in Oranjestad. Technically, it is a mall. But when we walked through it was largely closed down. Maybe more things have opened up since then!

Price: Depends on your shopping habits 🙂

Take a Sunset Happy Hour Cruise

Getting out on the water is always a good idea when you are in a place like Aruba! While the snorkeling is a great option, snorkeling isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.

Or, maybe you want to snorkel AND sail at sunset.

Either way, a sunset cruise is always a romantic, great ending to a day or even a trip.

Take an ATV/UTV or Jeep Tour of the Island

Again, while I think the island may be getting overrun with the ATVs and UTVs, this CAN be a good way to see the whole island.

If you just want to invest in one tour and see the most of what the island has to offer, a UTV or Jeep tour is probably going to give you the most bang for your buck.

There are loads of tours either via ATV/UTV or Jeep that will take you to many of the sights I have mentioned.

UTV Tour of the Island

One of the most top-rated tours is a UTV tour with AGW Tours Aruba.

This tour takes combines popular sites on the island with swimming in two different spots.

You will drive yourself in your own UTV to go swimming at a “secret pool,” the California Lighthouse, Alto Vista Chapel, The Natural Bridge, swimming at Tres Trapi and few other stops.

Arikok National park Jeep Tour

An alternative tour is a jeep tour with EZ Raiders that will take you through Arikok National Park to see the Conchi Natural Pools, the caves and a few secluded beaches along the way.

Rather than driving a UTV, you will ride in the back of a jeep from site to site. This is also a highly rated tour of 4.9/5 stars out of 122 reviews on Get Your Guide.

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Final Thoughts on Things to Do in Aruba

While there may not be as MUCH to do on the island of Aruba as some of the other Caribbean islands, we were able to fill 5 days worth of things to do in Aruba with no problems at all!

We loved the beaches of Aruba but also loved going inland to see the unique desert landscape.

Here is a 5 day itinerary to Aruba that includes great beaches, hiking to the natural pools and more!

Other Articles You May Be Interested In!
An Epic 5 Day Aruba Itinerary: Beaches, Hiking and More!
How to Visit Aruba on a Budget and the Best Way to See the Island!
Hike to Aruba’s Natural Pools: Everything You Need to Know!
Renting a Car in Aruba: Everything to Know!
Things to Do in Aruba: Beaches, Natural Pools and More!
Arikok National Park: What You Need to Know Before Visiting!
Where to Stay in Aruba: Best Affordable Options!

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