5 Days in Aruba: Where to Go, What to Do, and Why You’ll Love It
If you’re planning to visit Aruba (and you really should), you’ll want to forget pretty much everything you thought you knew about the Caribbean. The western-most of the Leeward Antilles islands, a visit to Aruba doesn’t only look different, it feels different. And all in extremely positive ways.
Situated just 18 miles north of Venezuela and one of the “ABC Islands” along with Bonaire and Curaçao, no other place in the Caribbean Sea can lay claim to being free of hurricanes and torrential rainfall. You’ll notice a difference in humidity, too, with its sunny, consistent 82-degree weather feeling dry rather than muggy. Topping it all is a very pleasant cool breeze that’ll find you no matter where on the island you happen to be.
This tropical desert weather (more on the desert bit later), as well as its being among the safest countries in the Caribbean, all add up to making Aruba an ideal vacation destination. Easy to get to from major airports across the United States, a five-day getaway to beautiful Aruba is just what’s needed to reset and recharge.
Day 1: Get Into Vacation Mode In Palm Beach
Your Aruba adventure begins the moment you exit Queen Beatrix International Airport at step into your clean, comfortable, air-conditioned shuttle or taxi. A pleasant, hassle-free experience, Aruba’s taxis are impeccable. And, thanks to the fact that all taxi drivers on the island are licensed and more than half of them are driven by women (something my female driver proudly told me), they’re safe for solo travelers. They’re also reasonably priced, with no gouging as fares are fixed and the same no matter who’s driving.
Less than 30 minutes later, you’ll find yourself deposited at the 4-star Radisson Blu Aruba, a modern resort in the popular Palm Beach area with spacious suites for its guests to relax in. Check-in is efficient and easy, with friendly staff offering a glass of sparkling wine while that always-present breeze blows through the lobby.
After getting settled, head to the rooftop for a dip in the island's largest adults-only infinity pool. The views over Palm Beach and the entertainment strip are excellent. Both are busy and close enough to walk to, but are also just far enough away that you’ll not hear people or traffic. Towel off, finish your Balashi beer (Aruba's popular local lager), and get ready for a night on the town.
An easy five-minute walk away (a hotel shuttle is available), Palm Beach proper runs along J.E. Irausquin Blvd and reminded me of a cross between Florida’s famous Worth Avenue with its endless shopping experiences, and the party vibe of Key West with its busy Duval Street. With perfect evening temperatures and as many locals out enjoying themselves as there are tourists, it’s a buzzing, busy, boisterous place. But never too loud, and never in your face (there are no pushy vendors here). It’s friendly and as safe, if not safer (Aruba has a remarkably low crime rate) than back home, making it a wonderful place to let your hair down without having to watch your back
Given this is your first night in Aruba, I’d recommend combining your desire for a great cocktail with your need for food. That makes Azia Restaurant & Lounge the perfect place to head to. With a large and well-stocked bar and extremely capable mixologists, start off with a twist on a classic, the Smoky Old Fashioned, or the sweeter Berry Blast for a tropical twist. The food is an equally enthralling blend of Asian fusion cuisine with plenty of fresh seafood options and shareable dishes.
After dinner, the Palm Beach strip really comes to life, with places like Gusto Nightclub where DJs spin until the early hours. Then it’s an easy, safe walk back to the Radisson Blu: simply follow J.E. Irausquin Blvd, which will take you safely back to your digs for a good rest on what the locals proudly call their “One Happy Island.”
Day 2: Sail And Snorkel The Caribbean Sea
Bookable through the resort, Pelican Adventures provides fun catamaran excursions that depart from Hadicurari Pier. While several options are available, the four-hour morning cruise departs at a reasonable 9 am and visits three different snorkeling sites.
The first, Boca Catalina, reveals brain coral formations 15 feet below the surface with fish like yellowtail snappers and blue tangs weaving between elkhorn branches. Quality snorkel gear and inflatable vests are provided, with certified dive instructors staying in the water with you to point out spotted eagle rays and green moray eels hiding in the reef crevices… and to lend a hand if needed.
The Antilla wreck, a 400-foot German freighter scuttled in 1940 and now resting at depths of up to 60 feet, is another highlight. Simply floating on the surface above is quite the experience, while experienced divers can touch the ship's massive propeller and swim through its cargo holds. It also serves as an artificial reef, attracting barracuda schools and giant groupers that can reach six feet in length.
Between stops, the crew serves unlimited mimosas and keeps other drinks like Balashi beer or even G&Ts flowing. Lunch on board is a very pleasant surprise with made-on-board seared tuna with wasabi aioli, grilled chicken with chimichurri, and vegetarian quinoa-stuffed bell peppers. Fresh fruit platters with papaya, watermelon, and pineapple are always available.
After a snorkel stop at Arashi Reef, it’s back to port for an afternoon relaxing at the resort pools or shopping in Palm Beach. If you enjoyed the cruise, consider joining a sunset dinner cruise. These include a four-course meal with lobster tail and filet mignon, and one of the best Caribbean sunsets you’ll ever experience.
Day 3: Enjoy A Day At The Beach
Dedicate a day to the #1 reason tourists come to Aruba: its spectacular beaches. If you've already visited Palm Beach (it's a 5-minute walk from Radisson Blu), head next to Eagle Beach. Ranked one of the world's best, Eagle Beach is worth getting up early for. A 10-minute shuttle from the Radisson Blu, arrive early to claim a spot under a divi-divi tree.
Permanently bent over by those ever-present trade winds, these native trees frame this magnificent two- mile stretch of soft sand. Rent a palapa (thatched umbrella) or bring your own setup to enjoy one of the least-commercialized beaches you’ll find anywhere in the Caribbean.
Just 15 minutes north of Eagle Beach, Malmok Beach is another great place to soak up the sun. This rocky coastline is the one locals prefer for its excellent snorkeling, something easily done directly from shore as the reef starts just 20 feet from the beach. Grab a lunch from Eduardo's Beach Shack (try their jerk chicken wraps) and watch kitesurfers race across the water.
Next up, and a personal favorite, is Baby Beach. Set at the island's southeastern tip, this half-moon lagoon in San Nicolasfeatures waist-deep water protected by a natural rock barrier that keeps waves at bay. JADS Dive Center (you can’t miss its bright blue exterior) provides trial scuba sessions in the shallow lagoon, but honestly, snorkeling here is easy with plenty of juvenile fish to observe.
Big Mama Grill provides tasty and reasonably priced treats like garlic shrimp. Add a bottle of homemade hot sauce, plus a couple to take home as souvenirs. Afterwards, take a stroll through San Nicolas itself. An area once known for its “risqué” nightlife, this former red-light district has been revitalized and is now an up-and-coming arts and cultural zone. Check out the amazing murals, as well as the local art on display at ArtisA Gallery.
Day 4: Go Wild In The Country
Remember earlier, I mentioned Aruba’s being a desert? Well, I wasn’t joking. While you can see evidence of this pretty much everywhere across the island, a trip to Arikok National Park will reveal so much more about the island’s unique desert character. Covering 20 percent of Aruba's total land mass, the park preserves a Sonoran-like desert ecosystemfound nowhere else in the Caribbean.
Book a full-day Jeep tour with De Palm Tours, and you’ll be picked up at the Radisson Blu in an open-air vehicle built to handle the park's rough roads. Along the way, you'll pass other landmarks like the famous California Lighthouse and learn how the island's indigenous Arawak people survived here for 4,000 years before European contact, living off a harsh environment that’s surprisingly full of life.
They were known to hang out in Fontein Cave, a stop you’ll make that reveals geometric petroglyphs painted centuries ago with iron oxide. The cave's stalactites drip mineral water that the Arawaks considered sacred, and brown, long-tongued bats roost in the deeper chambers. The tour continues to Quadirikiri Cave, where two chambers connect through a tunnel system that opens to natural skylights.
The natural pool at Conchi requires a 10-minute hike, but the payoff is worth the effort. Protected by a ring of volcanic stone, the pool fills with crystal-clear seawater while waves crash dramatically on the outer rocks behind you as you swim. Cool.
Aruba’s Atlantic coast shows the island's wild side, so stop and watch those impressive waves pounding the coral limestone cliffs. The sand dunes at Boca Prins reach up to 90 feet high, and some tour companies even offer sandboarding down the steepest faces. The Natural Bridge collapse site is also worth seeing before you head back to the resort for the evening.
Top Tip: It’s a long and hot day, so wear sunscreen. Also, take a hat and plenty of water to stay hydrated. Oh, and it's dusty, windy, and bumpy, so make the most of every opportunity offered for a dip in the sea.
Day 5: Explore Oranjestad's Dutch Caribbean Charm
Save Aruba's capital for your final day. By now, you'll have experienced enough of the island and its warm, friendly residents to fully appreciate its cultural contrasts. Take the Radisson Blu's shuttle or grab a taxi to reach downtown Oranjestad before the cruise ship crowds arrive. An early arrival also means fewer locals and tourists out shopping, making for some memorable photos to take home with you.
Start at Fort Zoutman, Aruba's oldest building. Built in 1798, its Willem III Tower houses the Historical Museum's collection of Arawak tools and Dutch colonial furniture. After, walk five minutes to the free Aruba Streetcar, a vintage double-decker electric trolley service that circles downtown.
Ride the complete loop at least once to orient yourself (twice if you’re a rail fan), then hop off at the National Archaeological Museum. Housed in a restored 1929 mansion, its displays feature skeletal remains, ancient burial pottery, details of Aruba's gold rush, and an aloe vera exhibit explaining how this crop briefly surpassed gold in export value during the 1920s. You can still buy aloe-based products at Aruba Aloe outlets across the island and can tour the factory and museum.
From here, walk along Wilhelminastraat to browse high-end stores like Gandelman, a classy jewellery shop, and pop into the Renaissance Mall, reputedly the Caribbean’s poshest shopping experience. Luxury brands here include Cartier, Louis Vuitton, and Gucci boutiques, all of them duty-free.
For lunch, head to Lima Bistro. Set overlooking the harbor, this reservations-recommended eatery serves delicious Peruvian-fusion cuisine in a former warehouse. My favorite? The three-hour braised short rib with purple corn reduction and cashew puree literally melts off the bone. The cocktails are fantastic, too.
After lunch, stroll to the other side of the Renaissance Marina to see Aruba's famous flamingos on Renaissance Island. Water taxis (free for Renaissance hotel guests) whisk you to this 40-acre private island where flamingos wade through the shallows and eat directly from your hand. You can also walk along the Renaissance boardwalk to Queen Wilhelmina Park, a delightful green space in the heart of the city.
Other Oranjestad highlights include a visit to SANTOS Coffee With Soul for a cortado made with Colombian beans; browsing the Cosecha market, where local artists sell handmade jewelry, paintings, and Papiamento phrase books for those wanting to speak like a local; and grabbing a selfie with friends, family, or on your own at the I Love Aruba sign.
You’ll Be Back
Ask any Aruban or traveler who has visited the island, and they’ll all but guarantee you’ll be back. In fact, “One Happy Island” can lay claim to being the most revisited of all Caribbean islands, boasting a return rate of more than 50 percent of all visitors coming back for more.
Sounds too good to be true? Well, hop on a flight to Aruba and find out for yourself. That’s why, when you check out of hotels like Radisson Blu Aruba, or tip a waiter at Azira or Lima, they more than likely won’t say goodbye. Instead, it’ll be, “See you again soon!”
