Aruba Travel Guide: Beaches, Snorkeling, and Island Adventures

Aruba is a great winter escape from the United States. It's approximately a four-hour direct flight from Washington, DC, and offers beautiful beaches, warm weather, and plenty of opportunities to explore.

All of Aruba's beaches are public, so you can explore the coastline on your own. Nearly every beach we visited had incredible white sand and clear water, and each offered something a little different. From calm, shallow water to rocky snorkeling spots where we saw sea turtles, there was plenty to discover.

One thing we especially appreciated was Aruba's tap water. The island produces drinking water through desalination, and it tasted great! One of us is very picky about how water tastes and loved being able to drink water straight from the tap.

Since we were traveling during peak season, hotel prices were steep, but we thought it was worth it to spend a few days on a beautiful, warm island in the middle of winter.

Food prices were comparable to those in a major US city. While Aruba's local currency is the Aruban florin, everywhere we visited listed prices in US dollars, and we paid for everything in USD.

Wednesday and Sunday were our travel days, filled with casual meals and drinks by the beach and plenty of relaxing. Our detailed itinerary covers Thursday through Saturday.

All prices listed below are in U.S. dollars and reflect what we paid during our visit. Prices and operating arrangements may have changed since then.

Where to Stay and Transportation

Radisson Blu Hotel

We stayed at the Radisson Blu Hotel, located approximately a five-minute walk from the beach. The hotel also offered complimentary shuttles for guests who preferred not to walk.

Our room was large and comfortable, with a kitchen, coffee maker, and ocean-view balcony.

The pool area was also very nice, and we never had trouble finding a chair at either the hotel or beach. Although Aruba's beaches are public, the Radisson Blu had a section of beach chairs and umbrellas set up for hotel guests.

Our hotel cost: $533 per night during peak season.

Getting Around Aruba

We used organized tours for our first two full days, then rented a car for one day to explore the island independently.

This combination worked well because we got to experience the national park and snorkeling with knowledgeable tour operators, while still having the freedom to visit beaches and landmarks at our own pace.

Our one-day rental car from Top Drive cost $87. The company picked us up at our hotel around 9am and drove us approximately five minutes to their check-in location.

Our Aruba Itinerary and Costs

Thursday: Arikok National Park and Beach Time

We started our Aruba adventure with a half-day tour of Arikok National Park. It was a fantastic introduction to the island's natural landscape.

We were picked up around 7:30am in an open-sided vehicle with Cross Aruba Tours and spent the morning exploring the national park and visiting several beaches.

One of the biggest surprises was discovering that Aruba has a desert landscape. We saw countless cacti, interesting rock formations, caves, and animals. In some places, the desert seemed to extend almost all the way to the ocean.

One memorable stop was a small natural pool where tiny fish nibbled at the dead skin on our feet.

Our tour ended at Baby Beach, which had beautiful, clear, shallow water that was especially appealing for families with children.

• Half-Day Arikok National Park Tour with Cross Aruba Tours: $95 per person. Included transportation and visits to the national park and beaches.
• Arikok National Park Independent Visit: Admission was $20 per foreign adult during our visit, with free admission for children. Check current entrance fees and access requirements before visiting.
• Afternoon: Returned to the hotel around 2pm and spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing at the beach and pool.
• Dinner at MooMba Beach Restaurant: Beef kabobs ($36), grouper fish fillet ($30), and two cocktails ($18), for a total of $100 including tip.

Friday: Catamaran Snorkeling and Exploring the Beach

Friday was all about enjoying Aruba's beautiful water. We booked a half-day catamaran snorkeling cruise with Delphi Watersports and had a wonderful time.

We especially loved Delphi's Dolphin II catamaran. Many catamaran tours require guests to take a smaller boat out to the main vessel, but this one picked us up directly from the beach.

We saw lots of colorful fish while snorkeling, and someone else on our boat even spotted an eel!

The cruise included an open bar, snacks, a rope swing, and a waterslide. We had so much fun using the rope swing and slide. They're definitely not just for kids!

• Half-Day Catamaran Snorkeling Cruise with Delphi Watersports: $65 per person. Included snorkeling, an open bar, snacks, rope swing, and waterslide.
• Afternoon: Spent time walking along the beach and exploring the downtown area.

Saturday: Self-Guided Island Tour and Romantic Beachfront Dinner

On Saturday, we rented a car through Top Drive and spent the day exploring Aruba on our own.

This was one of our favorite ways to see the island because we could spend as much or as little time as we wanted at each stop.

Our rental car cost: $87 for one day. A comparable guided island tour with Cross Aruba Tours was approximately $79 per person during our visit.

Our Self-Guided Aruba Island Tour

Here are the stops we made, in order, along with the approximate driving times between each location during our trip.

1. California Lighthouse

Our first stop was the California Lighthouse, approximately a 10-minute drive from our rental car pickup location.

The lighthouse is a recognizable landmark on the northern part of the island and a good place to take photos.

Our cost: Free to visit the surrounding area, or $5 to enter and climb the lighthouse during our visit.

2. Arashi Beach

From the lighthouse, we drove approximately five minutes to Arashi Beach.

This beach had beautiful white sand and relatively small waves. It's a great stop if you're looking for a classic Caribbean beach experience.

3. Boca Catalina and Tres Trapi

Next, we drove approximately three minutes to Boca Catalina and Tres Trapi.

These beaches were rockier than some of the other spots we visited, so water shoes were helpful. However, they were excellent for snorkeling.

We had heard that sea turtles could often be spotted here in the morning, especially before 11am. We arrived around 10:30am and were lucky enough to see turtles swimming in the water!

This was one of the highlights of our entire trip.

4. Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins

We took a break from the beaches and drove approximately 25 minutes across the island to the Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins.

These historic ruins are a reminder of Aruba's gold-mining past and make an interesting stop for photos.

Our cost: Free.

5. Cave Pool Aruba

Right next to the gold mill ruins is Cave Pool Aruba, a natural pool tucked into the rocky coastline.

During our visit, visitors could climb down a ladder to reach the pool and swim.

Travel Tip: Conditions around natural pools can change with waves and weather. Only enter the water when conditions are safe, and avoid climbing down if the area is slippery or the sea is rough.

6. Natural Bridge

From Cave Pool, we drove approximately 10 minutes to the Natural Bridge area.

This is another interesting coastal landmark where you can see Aruba's rugged shoreline and natural rock formations.

There's also a snack bar nearby if you need a break.

Our cost: Free.

7. Ayo Rock Formations

We headed inland for approximately 12 minutes to see the Ayo Rock Formations.

This was a quick stop to admire the unusual rock formations and see Indigenous rock art in the area.

Our cost: Free.

8. Mangel Halto Beach

Next, we drove approximately 16 minutes back toward the coast to Mangel Halto Beach.

This beach had shallow water, white sand, and beautiful mangrove trees. Some areas were rocky underfoot, so water shoes were useful.

It was a different beach experience from the wide, sandy stretches we'd visited earlier in the day.

9. Divi Beach

We continued approximately 20 minutes to Divi Beach.

This beach offered a large stretch of white sand and relatively small waves, making it a lovely place to relax and enjoy the water.

10. Eagle Beach

Our final stop was Eagle Beach, approximately six minutes from Divi Beach.

Eagle Beach is frequently recognized among the world's most beautiful beaches, and it's easy to understand why.

With its wide stretch of soft white sand and gorgeous turquoise water, it was a wonderful place to finish our self-guided tour.

Romantic Beachfront Dinner at Atardi

After a full day exploring the island, we finished with a romantic dinner on the beach at Atardi.

The beachfront setting made it a memorable way to end our trip, and we enjoyed a delicious seafood dinner.

• Two cocktails: $32.
• Macadamia-crusted grouper entrée: $52.
• Sea bass entrée: $57.
• Total dinner cost: $169 including tip.

Our Aruba Travel Costs

Here's a quick reference of some of our main expenses during the trip. All amounts are in U.S. dollars and reflect what we paid during our visit.

Accommodation and Transportation

• Radisson Blu Hotel: $533 per night.
• Top Drive Rental Car: $87 for one day.

Tours and Activities

• Cross Aruba Tours Half-Day Arikok National Park Tour: $95 per person.
• Delphi Watersports Catamaran Snorkeling Cruise: $65 per person.
• California Lighthouse: Free to visit the surrounding area; $5 to climb during our visit.
• Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins: Free.
• Natural Bridge: Free.
• Ayo Rock Formations: Free.

Food and Drinks

• MooMba Beach Restaurant: $100 for dinner for two, including tip.
• Atardi: $169 for beachfront dinner for two, including tip.

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