The 13 Best Things To Do in Aruba

Hitting the high seas for a Caribbean getaway is as easy as ABC. What better place to start than Aruba? The first member of the ABC islands (followed by Bonaire and Curaçao), Aruba offers year-round summertime, with enough adventure and relaxation to keep any traveler happy.

This guide covers the top experiences you can claim in Aruba, the best time to visit and how to prepare for your cruise vacation.

Adventurous Things To Do in Aruba

1. Snorkeling or Diving

If you love getting beneath the waves to blow bubbles, you’ll find around 13 popular dive spots on the island, mostly along the western and southern coast. With water temperatures at 80°F, options for drift, wreck or reef and visibility of 60 to 100 ft, visiting the fish is among the best things to do in Aruba.

The Antilla Shipwreck is the largest wreck in the Caribbean, sunk in 1940 after just one year of service. It’s sitting at 55 ft, making it ideal for open water divers. Another popular site for beginners is the Mangel Halto reefs, where you’ll find plenty of colorful tropical fish, sponges and corals, eels, nurse sharks and sea turtles.

2. Try Out Watersports

If you’ve got a penchant for action, see how fast you can skim across the ocean’s surface either windsurfing or kitesurfing. Hadicurari on the northwestern coast is a great place to start, especially if you’re visiting in June or July.

Boca Grandi, just above Baby Beach in the southeast, has winds between 20 and 30 knots from January to August. This one’s best for intermediate and advanced levels. There’s plenty of jetskiing around the island, too.

3. Explore Akirok National Park on a 4x4

When you want cool things to do in Aruba, head on a 20-minute drive inland toward Akirok National Park. Take on the rugged terrain in a 4x4, exploring parched earth spotted with cacti. Make your way to the 490-ft-long limestone terraces in the Quadriki Caves to see ancient Amerindian petroglyphs, then finish up with a well-deserved swim in the coastal Conchi natural pools.

4. Take a Submarine Tour

Take a page out of the Beatles’ book and head to Aruba’s underwater worlds in a submarine (yellow not guaranteed). Descent 130 ft below the surface to immerse yourself in vibrant corals and get a taste of the local marine residents’ daily happenings.

5. Visit the Beaches

Those craving a beach day at shore can’t go past Baby Beach, located on Aruba’s southeastern tip, near San Nicholas. Here, you can wade from white-sand beaches into waist-deep turquoise waters. This tranquil lagoon is ideal for families with young children.

​Just an eight-minute drive northwest from the port, you’ve also got Eagle Beach, the island’s widest white-sand shoreline featuring distinctive wind-sculpted Fofoti trees. Between March and September, you might even spot protected turtle nests on this beach.

6. Sunset Cruises or Catamaran Tours

If you can’t get enough of the boat life, spend a day sailing on a private catamaran tour around the island. You can pair this experience with destinations, like De Palm Island, featuring an introduced flamingo population, or activities like snorkeling. Sunset cruises often feature music and an open bar.

7. See the Donkey Sanctuary and Butterfly Farm

For a more ethereal take on Aruba, head to the tropical gardens fluttering with exotic butterfly action. At just a 10-minute drive northwest from the cruise port, you can take a guided tour in walk-through enclosures and discover a gazillion species of butterfly and photo opportunities to boot.

Or, if you prefer a more hands-on encounter, you can pet, feed and interact with rescued donkeys at the Donkey Sanctuary, following a 15-minute drive southeast from port.

Cultural and Historic Attractions

8. Visit Downtown Oranjestad

A colorful town splashed in pastels and Dutch Colonial architecture, Oranjestad still offers more than meets the eye. Visit iconic landmarks like Fort Zoutman, an old military fortress, and the National Archeological Museum, before heading to the marketplace to sample local snacks and pick up hand-made crafts. Each of these places is an easy 10-minute walk from the port.

9. Head to the Aloe Factory and Museum

While you’re working on your vacay glow, take the opportunity to spruce up your skincare regimen at the Aloe Factory and Museum. Learn about the nation’s history of aloe cultivation and sustainable farming techniques with a guided tour and interactive exhibits. Then, pick from a range of local products designed to soothe and heal on your way out. 

10. Connect With Local Cuisine

Cheese-lovers will do well in Aruba. The national dish, “keshi yena,” is a large, hollowed-out Gouda or Edam cheese stuffed with spicy meats, vegetables and raisins, then oven-baked. Like many other Southern Caribbean islands, Aruba’s cuisine draws on a mix of Dutch, African, Latin American and Spanish influences. Make sure you try the cornmeal pankate, “pan bati,” at least once.

11. Visit the California Lighthouse

A 20-minute drive along the northwest coast will bring you to the tallest structure in Aruba, the California Lighthouse. Climb to the top for a 360° panorama of the surrounding coastline and corals. Better yet, be there around 6 pm for stunning sunset photos.

12. See the Gold Mill Ruins

Over the industry’s lifespan, Aruba produced around three million pounds of gold. The island now has two gold mill ruins: Bushiribana, located on the rugged northern coast and built in the 1870s, and Balashi, a 15-minute drive south of port, found near the Spanish Lagoon. Both sites are not currently operating and are free to explore.

13. Check Out Murals in San Nicholas

For the artsy crowd, among the top things to do in Aruba is wandering through San Nicholas, a 20-minute coastal drive south of port. Soak up views of up to 82 bold streetside murals and stop to refill the tanks at one of many local food stalls along the way. Be warned: You could spend a whole day looking at the murals alone.

When Is the Best Time To Visit Aruba?

Rainiest and Driest Periods

Aruba’s wettest months are between November and January, which hardly says much, seeing as there’s less than four inches of rain per month. The days dry quickly, and many may actually take advantage of this period for a more lush take on its typically parched landscape.

For the sun bunnies, Aruba delivers over 300 days of sunshine annually. Book any other time of year, and you won’t be disappointed. For the record, the driest month in Aruba is March.

High vs. Low Season

Low season runs from mid-April to mid-November, generally offering lower prices, fewer crowds and hotter, more humid weather. Come during this period if you’re down for a chill and intimate experience of the island.

The busiest season runs from mid-December to mid-April, driven by European and North American visitors seeking a reprieve from the colder months back home. The island gets more crowded, and prices are typically higher. This period also coincides with the island’s popular carnival celebrations.

Local Culture, Holidays and Events

If you’re coming for the carnivals, you’ll want to time your cruise for February or March. Moving around the calendar to May, the Soul Beach Music Festival takes place, presenting a lineup of high-energy performances, which is great for the musos.

In July, you’ll find the annual Hi-Winds windsurfing and kitesurfing competition. As the name suggests, you can expect epic Southern Caribbean gusts for adventurous watersport activities. During the quietest time, between September and October, and at Christmas and New Year, you may find some services (like small shops) and activities less available.