An Epic Aruba Itinerary: Beaches, Hiking and More!
A 5 day Aruba itinerary! Aruba is one of my favorite tropical destinations to date (though I admit I have a lot to see). It has an incredible constant breeze, small island feels, friendly locals, a unique landscape and pristine beaches.
It is the PERFECT mix of relaxation and adventure in a beautiful paradise.
Spend 5 days in Aruba seeing the best beaches, hiking to natural pools, seeing the desert and cacti landscape, visiting notable landmarks, touring an aloe factory and more!
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5 day Aruba Itinerary Overview
You can definitely visit Aruba and spend your whole time enjoying the incredible beaches on the west coast of the island.
However, I really encourage you to get out and explore the rest of the island!
This 5 day Aruba itinerary has a mix of beach time combined with a little hiking, natural pools, seeing historical landmarks, caves and more!
Day 1: Land in Aruba, check-in to accommodations, watch sunset at Eagle Beach then get food at Super Food
Day 2: Spend the day at Eagle Beach
Day 3: Spend the day at Palm Beach & Get a rental car
Day 4: Hike to Conchi Natural Pools, Explore Arikok National Park, Baby Beach
Day 5: Explore the landmarks on the north side and east side of the island
Want an Affordable Accommodation Recommendation?
Stay at the Dancing Iguanas Apartments!
We spent less than $600 for 5 nights! The apartment was clean, the owner was so friendly and we loved the kitchen!
Day 1: Land, Watch Sunset, & Visit Super Food!
Good news is, a lot of flights to Aruba land early to late afternoon, giving you daylight and a few hours to enjoy before dinner.
I suggest renting a car to see the whole island of Aruba, but it isn’t necessary for your whole trip. To save money, a great option is to stay near Eagle Beach where you can spend two days enjoying everything in walking distance of Eagle Beach and then pick up a rental car for your last two days!
Upon arriving, check into your accommodation, drop off your bags and head to Eagle Beach for your first glimpse of the pristine beaches of Aruba 😍 (Or whatever beach is closest to you)
After watching your first Aruban sunset, find some dinner! If you are looking for a relaxed, easy dinner for your first night, I suggest Señor Burrito! Located near Eagle Beach, it is a great option in walking distance, affordable and the staff was SO friendly and helpful!
After dinner, head to Super Food! Super Food is a GIANT grocery store that has everything you will need! Grab some bread, peanut butter, snacks, whatever you need to enjoy your upcoming beach days!
Day 1: Eagle Beach
Eagle Beach is consistently rated as one of the top beaches in the WORLD and for good reason. The sand is soft and white, the water is clear and some of the bluest waters you will see!
Eagle Beach has public restrooms available and a bar associated with the Amsterdam Manor Beach Resort hotel, open to the public.
Fair warning, the drink prices are steep, but on your first day in a beautiful place, you’ve earned it!
Chairs and umbrellas are available to the public as well (the tiki huts are only available to those staying in the hotel).
- Two chairs and an umbrella are about $25 dollars for the day or you can bring your own chairs and umbrella if your accommodations have them.
- There are also trees along the back of the beach that provide shade you can use for free.
From 5:30 to 6:30 pm, Horizons, a rooftop bar overlooking Eagle Beach at the Amsterdam Manor hotel, has a happy hour that includes a WIDE variety of drinks that are 50% off.
Dinner Recommendation
A great seafood selection for dinner in walking distance from accommodations located near Eagle Beach is The Grand Fish. It is a smaller establishment, but the food was amazing and the staff was SUPER friendly!
Day 2: Palm Beach
Day 2 is for another beach day!
If you are staying near Eagle Beach, Palm Beach can be accessed via walking, or, like us, you can take an electric scooter via Bird or Green.
The electric scooters are plentiful along the west coast of the island, especially in this area. Expect to pay around $10 for the ride, so honestly, it would be about the same price to get a taxi. But scooters are more fun 😁
Palm Beach is the area where many of the resorts are. Naturally, prices of things are going to be higher here. (this is where those snacks from Super Food come in handy 😉). Also, know, many of the bars here will only serve to people with armbands from the hotels, so it isn’t quite as public-friendly as Eagle Beach.
A positive to Palm Beach is that there are plenty of shade options due to the palms. You can rent half a tiki hut, which is rather large, and two chairs for $25 dollars or you can purchase chairs to put under a palm tree (less shade) for about $10.
Bring cash, otherwise you’ll have to go into a hotel to pay by card.
If you are interested in doing any kind of water sport excursion (snorkeling, catamaran tour, etc) Palm Beach is where most of those begin.
In the Palm Beach area are many shops and restaurants as well. When you’ve had your fair share of beach time, take a walk through the shops and stop for some Gelato at Gelatissimo!
Car Rental
Day two wraps up most of what you can see via walking from Eagle Beach area.
From Palm Beach, taxi to the airport to pick up a rental car. Be sure to rent the car in advance, as they sell out quickly during high season (November-March/April).
Taxi prices from Palm Beach to the airport are about $28 (Aruba has set prices for certain destinations, so be aware there are no meters in the taxis- click here for rates)
OR, if you prefer, you can just rent a car once you land in Aruba (more convenient, but also requires two more days of paying for a rental car that you won’t need much.)
Here is everything to know about renting a car in Aruba!
Dinner Recommendations
After you get your car, you can get ready for dinner! Though the car gives you access to ANY restaurant on the island, a good option close to Eagle Beach is The Red Fish!
The Red Fish has open air seating (and it feels amazing at night in Aruba!) and another great selection of seafood! You’ll run into tourists and locals alike, enjoying delicious local cuisine.
Day 3: Arikok National Park, Natural Pools and Baby Beach
Lazy beach days are over for this Aruba itinerary! Now that you’ve got a rental car its time to explore!
Morning: Visit the Conchi Natural Pools
Begin your day by going to the Conchi Natural Pools before they get busy.
The natural pools sit along the east coast of Aruba in the Arikok National Park. They are formed by volcanic rock and fed by constant waves hitting against the waves.
The water is SO clear! You can snorkel to see some small fish and the pool is deep enough for cliff diving.
To get to the pools you can:
- Take a guided tour via ATV or horseback ride or
- Hike to the Natural Pools
If you have a car, I highly recommend doing the hike! The trail head is located near Daimari Beach, but you need to visit the Arikok National Park visitors center located at the San Fuego entrance to get your entrance arm band ($20 per person) first.
The natural pools are WORTH the hike, which is about a 45 minute, relatively flat and easy hike. There is one larger pool and one smaller that requires some climbing to get to.
NOTE: There is no storage, so be mindful of what you bring. With that being said, though, I brought a camera, and nothing was disturbed while I was swimming.
Everything you need to know about hiking to the natural pools including how to get to the trailhead, what to expect on the trail and at the pools, how much time to allot and more!
After the pools, head back to Arikok National Park. You can drive throughout the park and the highlights have close parking. Be sure to visit:
Boca Prins Beach
- Boca Prins is a small beach that takes in a lot of waves from the eastern side of the island, giving it a unique, hollowed out rock formation surrounding the beach (as many of the beaches have on the eastern coast).
Fontein Cave
- Fontein Cave is the smaller of the two caves located in Arikok National Park, but known for its pictographs created by the Arawak people. It is located JUST across from Boca Prins.
Quadirikiri Cave
- Quadirikiri Cave is the bigger cave, consisting of two rather large chambers. It is considered an “above ground cave” and is famous for its two holes in the ground that provide beautiful natural light into the cave.
- If you see a park ranger there, ask about the special “photo op” located in the back chamber of the cave!
Everything to know about visiting Arikok National Park!
Afternoon: Watch Kite Surfing & Visit Baby Beach
The park exits toward the southern portion of the island. From the southern exit of Arikok National Park, head to Baby Beach!
On the way, stop at the the Boca Grandi Beach and see the kite surfers!
You will come to a natural “T” on Sero Colorado street when driving to Baby Beach where you will see a GIANT red anchor.
From here, you will be able to see the kite surfers and beautiful blue waters of Boca Grandi Beach to the left.
- Take a left, park in the parking area and take in the kite surfers!
- The Pro Kite School of Aruba is located here
From Boca Grandi Beach, head back the way you came and continue down Sero Colorado toward Baby Beach! Prepare yourself, Baby Beach may have the bluest waters of all the beaches on this Aruba itinerary!
Baby Beach
Baby Beach is home to very shallow waters (like a kiddie pool 😜), that create SUPER blue waters.
It is located on the edge of a reef, making it a great snorkeling location! But be careful, because there are also riptides if you get too far out from the edge of the reef!
There is not a lot of natural shade options at Baby Beach. However, you there are a FEW huts that are free for the taking (but I’m sure they go FAST) or you can rent a beach tent/cabanas from Big Mammas Grill, which (I think) are about $50-60 USD per day
There are two restaurants located at the beach:
- Big Mammas Grill
- Bigger restaurant with open-air seating and a bar located right on the beach
- Great atmosphere! But be prepared for prices to be higher than normal due to the convenience of location.
- Rum Reef
- Smaller restaurant and bar located on the opposite end of Baby Beach from Big Mammas Grill
- Home to the famous infinity pool (for paying customers)
- Prices are also high here
There are also several food trucks parked in the paved parking lot, including a delicious smoothie truck
Dinner options for Day 3
Dinner on day 3 may be more casual if you plan to spend the majority of the afternoon at Baby Beach; the distance from Baby Beach to Eagle Beach (or Palm Beach) may mean you’re going to look homely and wind-blown for dinner 🙂
Option One: San Nicholas
Baby Beach is located near San Nicholas, so if you would like to explore this city, now is a great opportunity to do so! San Nicholas is the “mural city” of Aruba and boasts LOADS of beautiful, brightly colored murals.
We opted for option two for dinner, but Nomadic Niko has a great read on all the information you will need for San Nicholas, including where murals are located, what to do and where to eat!
Option Two: Surfside Beach Bar
If you would like to head back, closer to central Aruba, a great option is the Surfside Beach Bar.
It has a happy hour from 5pm to 6pm and a great sunset view, so get there for half-off drinks (on selected drinks) and stay for the sunset!
The best part of this area is its proximity to the airport! Not only can you watch a great sunset from here, but you can watch airplanes coming in and fly JUST overhead!
Day 4: Lighthouse, Chapel, Natural Bridge, Aloe Vera Tour and Oranjestad
Day 4 of the Aruba itinerary: explore the northeastern portion of the island, tour the aloe vera museum and walk through the capital city!
Morning: Lighthouse, Chapel, Natural Bridge, Bushiribana Ruins
Get an early start and go see the California Lighthouse.
Not only is the lighthouse pretty, but it is also up on a hill that provides incredible views of the ocean below! If you are an early riser, this would be an epic sunrise spot!
15 drive from Eagle Beach
From here, drive to the Alto Vista Chapel. The chapel was built in 1952 on the site of the first Catholic chapel built in 1750.
The chapel is known as a place of peace, which you get a sense of as you drive down the winding road lined by many white crosses. It also has a peace labyrinth located behind it.
18 minute drive from the California Lighthouse to the Alta Vista Chapel
Next, head to see the natural bridge. The large bridge actually collapsed in 2005, but the baby bridge still stands near where the large bridge used to stand.
Though Baby Bridge is quite small and a bit underwhelming, it is cool to see how vast the erosion is along the coast due to the high winds and strong waves.
23 minute drive from the Alta Vista Chapel to the Natural Bridge
As you drive down the path to the natural bridge, you will also see the Bushiribana Ruins, which are old gold mine ruins.
Once gold was discovered in Aruba, it became one of the leading industries in Aruba (until it ran out) and there are several ruins located around the island. While you are here, stop to see the ruins on your way out.
Expect to spend about 2-3 hours seeing the above-mentioned sites, so with a relatively early start, you will have plenty of time in the afternoon to explore more!
Afternoon: Aloe Vera Museum & Downtown Oranjestad
After you finish sightseeing the landmarks above, head to the Aloe Vera Museum! Why include the Aloe Vera Museum into your Aruba itinerary? Aruba Aloe is the oldest Aloe company in the world and it grows, packages and exports all of its products at the factory/museum!
The museum is free to enter and offers free tours that provide information about growing the aloe and the process they use to prepare and package the aloe.
At the museum there is also a gift shop with the locally made products, but you can also find several stores around the island.
The tour of the museum is short and sweet, leaving plenty of time to head to the capital, which is only a 5 minute drive!
Following the Aruba Aloe tour, head to downtown Oranjestad. Downtown is where you’ve likely seen pictures of the pretty pink and yellow Dutch architecture. Downtown is small and walkable and home to high-end shopping, souvenir shops and multiple restaurants and bars.
Dinner Options for Day 4
Oranjested has no shortage of great places to eat. Here is a list and reviews of some great options in the capital city!
However, if you have to go back to your accommodation to get ready for dinner (like we did) and are open to suggestions you can consider some great Italian food for your last night in Aruba!
Terrazza Italiana– This is restaurant is located on the rooftop of Paradise Beach Villas, so is a great option for a sunset dinner!
It is an affordable option and has a great happy hours as well (recommend the sangria!) and is in walking distance from Eagle Beach.
Giannis Restaurant Aruba– We asked a waitress at one of the bars where the best Italian food was on the island and she suggested Giannis Restaurant. This was actually surprising, because Giannis is located in the rather touristy area near Palm Beach and has that “tourist trap” look to it. However, we took her suggestion and went there anyway.
To note, this is a POPULAR restaurant and it is suggested to make reservations if you want to eat here. However, the bar is open seating (which is how we got in), but you may have to wait a while for a seat. Good news is, there are lots of shops and bars nearby to fill your wait time.
Giannis is more expensive than Terrazza Italiana, but the food was great. So, if you’re looking to splurge on your last night (as we were to cap off Elizabeth’s birthday celebration with a bang), then this is a great option!
Aruba Itinerary Recap
Aruba is so incredible, we met many people staying on the island for 2 weeks or more! So, yes, you can spend a lot of time on the island. But for us working travelers, 4.5 days is plenty to explore the island and still have some relaxing time!
Did you notice there were no flamingos on the itinerary? Yes, I’ve seen the loads of flamingo pictures and I’m sure you have to. However, the flamingos are on Renaissance Island, which is privately owned by the Renaissance Hotel.
- To access the island (and the flamingos) you either have to be staying at the hotel OR snag a day pass. The day passes are only given when the hotel is at 80% capacity or less and you can only determine if there is availability the day before.
- When we looked up the availability online, it showed none for the next couple of months. So, in reality, I’m not sure how realistic it is to snag a day pass to the island.
HOWEVER, Aruba is amazing and your Aruba itinerary will be epic with or without flamingos!
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