Is visiting Aruba on your bucket list?  In this Aruba travel guide I’m sharing the best places to eat, stay and visit on the dreamy island of Aruba! 

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Aruba travel requirements are changing as needed. The Aruba government and tourism board is doing a great job, in my opinion, of updating visitors on the requirements to visit. If you’re ready to start planning your trip, check out my guide to the Aruba travel requirements. 

 

In this Aruba travel guide I’m going to be helping you plan a memorable trip to one of my new favorite destinations in the Caribbean. We’ll cover getting there, where to stay, possible day trips, and much more. 

 

Visiting Aruba: The Complete Aruba Travel Guide

Aruba is definitely one of my new favorite Caribbean destinations. It is the perfect destination for all occasions. This past March we spent six nights, seven days exploring this breathtaking island and I already cannot wait to plan our return trip. 

 

Things you should know before visiting Aruba

• The currency in Aruba is the Aruban florin but almost everywhere accepts American dollars.
• Dutch and English are the most commonly spoken languages.  Almost everyone everywhere speaks fluent English.
• The water in Aruba is completely safe to drink.
• The nearby airport in Aruba is Queen Beatrix International Airport.

 

Pro Tip: When leaving Aruba to head home, be sure to give yourself at least 3 hours to get through the airport. Unlike most other international destinations, in Aruba you will go through both Aruba and U.S customs.  By the time we got to the airport lounge, I felt like I had run a marathon! (Special shout out and thank you to Kitty, Alisa and Lee for this tip and all of the others you shared!)

 

Getting to Aruba

Aruba is an island in the Caribbean Sea about 18 miles north of Venezuela. Getting to Aruba from the East Coast was a breeze. Considering how far south Aruba is, the travel time is very manageable. From Pittsburgh we flew through Fort Lauderdale which broke the trip into almost equal parts. We flew into Queen Beatrix International Airport and rented a car to self-drive around the island.

 

How long should I spend in Aruba?

I think a week is the perfect length of time to visit Aruba if you’re interested in exploring the island. However, given the ease of getting there and the availability of flights, this also makes it a great place for a long weekend trip. 

Aruba Weather

Aruba is one of those places that there is legitimately not a bad time of year to visit. Due to its location just above Venezuela, Aruba sits outside of the hurricane belt. This means that while other popular Caribbean destinations are a bit of a risk to book between June and November, Aruba is a safe bet. Aruba averages temperatures in the high 80s year round. Additionally, it’s worth noting that it is always ( I mean ALWAYS) windy in Aruba. The breezes definitely help keep things cool during the day but it’s worth noting to be prepared for some strong gusts of wind periodically. 

Getting Around while visiting Aruba

The best option for getting around Aruba depends on your plans and intent while visiting the island. If you plan to visit a luxury beach resort and spend most days soaking up beach time while mostly walking to nearby shops and restaurants, then walking or taking taxis should be sufficient for getting around. On the other hand, if you have a more adventurous itinerary and plan to explore the island, I would suggest renting your own car. This way you can choose to go when and where you want. On our recent trip, this is the route that we took and I love having the flexibility to do what we want. There are a variety for rental car companies to choose from in Aruba. We usually rent through Hertz and always have the best experience. The process of picking up and dropping off at the airport was seamless. 

What to pack for Aruba?

Reef safe sunscreen

First, you’re definitely going to want some spf in Aruba. The weather can somewhat deceive you. With the wind as gusty as it can be in Aruba, sometimes it won’t feel as hot as it really is. You might not realize just how much sun exposure you’re getting because it can feel very cool thanks to the wind. 

A reusable water bottle

As I mentioned earlier, the water is safe to drink in Aruba so don’t forget your reusable water bottle. Most resorts have refillable stations and with the heat you will not want to venture out without water.

Swimsuits and coverups/breathable beach dresses

This one goes without saying, I think. Aruba is known for its beautiful beaches and water activities. I basically lived in a swimsuit and breathable cover up each day. 

Cameras: Go Pro (or other type of underwater camera)
+ regular

With all of the water activities available in Aruba, you’ll definitely want an underwater camera. This will especially come in handy if you’re a fan of snorkeling. 

Sunhats

Beach Bag

 

What not to pack: You actually do not need a power adapter in Aruba if you’re visiting from America. 

Things to do while visiting Aruba

Go snorkeling

Mangel Halto, Arashi Beach and Malmok Beach are some of the best snorkeling spots in Aruba. Our best snorkeling experience was actually the day we did the Monforte Luxury Cruise. The crew took us to an old shipwreck that you can snorkel around. I would say that this activity should be done with caution and you should be a strong swimmer. The day that we went, the wind was so strong that the ocean was really rough making it pretty challenging to snorkel in the open ocean. 

Visit the beautiful beaches

There is no shortage of beautiful beaches to visit and explore in Aruba. 

Palm Beach

Palm Beach is the most popular and with good reason. The sea along this stretch of beach is quite calm. So calm that I was actually surprised. It was quite nice to be able to hang out and relax in the sea. There are high rise hotels, restaurants and shops all along this beach connected by a convenient boardwalk type path. 

Eagle Beach 

Eagle Beach is the iconic long stretch of beach that you’ve most likely seen in famous photos of Aruba. At Eagle Beach you will also find the famou Divi Divi Trees.  This beach is known as one of the best in the world!

Baby Beach

Baby Beach is a beautiful beach but a very popular and crowded one, in my opinion. The water here is very shallow so you will see a lot of families and children enjoying this area. On the drive to Baby Beach is where you will have a high chance of seeing the wild donkeys.

Arashi Beach

This beach is known as one of the best spots to watch the sunset.  It’s also a pretty popular beach to snorkel. 

Mangel Halto

This is one of the best spots for snorkeling on the island. Mangel Halto is surrounded by mangroves with a few hidden coves for entering the water. 

Visit Arikok National Park

It’s not hard to spend a half or full day exploring the beautiful and untouched south east side of the island. The big draw for most people is to get to the Natural Pool. This is a popular swimming and snorkeling spot when the weather is nice. However, most locals will recommend that you do not try to get to this spot on your own. It’s known to be quite difficult to navigate. There are a variety of jeep tours and UTV tours offered in Aruba that make a stop here. 

Spend the day on a boat while visiting Aruba

There are a handful of boat tours that you can choose from when planning to visit Aruba. There are day trips, snorkeling tours, sunset cruises etc. On this trip we chose to book the Monforte Luxury Cruise and it did not disappoint. We had the absolute best day on the water. The crew was phenomenal. Jon and I have done several boat and catamaran sailings and we both agreed that this one by far exceeded all of the others we’ve done. The day began with welcome mimosas for all guests and then included stops at two lovely snorkeling and swimming spots, a gourmet lunch prepared on board by the chef and lots of other yummy drinks enjoyed while sailing around the Caribbean Sea. What could be more perfect?

Learn to kite surf

With the trade winds and warm temperatures year round, Aruba is the ideal destination for kitesurfing in absolute paradise. The school to learn was just up the beach from The Ritz Carlton so we were able to watch kite surfers all day long from our beach chairs.  It looked very thrilling and is also something that I hope to be able to learn the next time we visit. 

Horseback riding

Horseback riding on the beach at sunset just sounds so magical and peaceful to me. This is something that we sadly did not get to do on this trip but it’s already on the list for our return trip. There are a few companies that offer horseback riding at different times throughout the day. 

 

Where to stay while visiting Aruba 

The Ritz Carlton Aruba

Located on one of the most beautiful beaches in Aruba, The Ritz Carlton Aruba has it all. If you’re looking for the ultimate luxury in Aruba, this is it!  Phenomenal views, impeccable service, gorgeous rooms and delicious food and drinks (don’t miss out on the fish tacos at madero pool bar). What more could you ask for? The grounds of this hotel are also beyond stunning and the staff is so accommodating. Ritz Carlton resorts all over the world are known for their high level of service and attention to detail but The Ritz Carlton Aruba went above and beyond. For instance, they deliver your drinks and food on segways right to your beach chair or cabana. In short, while I’m typically more of boutique hotel girl, I’m not sure if I will ever be able to stay anywhere else when visiting Aruba. 

Manchebo Beach Resort & Spa

This is one of the most top rated hotels by travelers in all of Aruba.  After staying there this past spring, it’s easy to see why. Manchebo Beach Resort is located on the stunning Eagle Beach section of Aruba. This full service wellness retreat is a solid choice if you’re looking for a more secluded and quiet experience in Aruba. The beach is far less crowded than that of the Ritz Carlton providing you with a more intimate oceanfront experience. The resort offers complementary yoga and pilates each morning. The rooms are lovely and staff very kind and welcoming. Manchebo is also home to, in our opinion, one of the best restaurants on the island, Ike’s Bistro. 

Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort

If you’re looking for a romantic resort option, look no further. Bucuti & Tara is an adult only resort located right next to Manchebo Beach Resort on Eagle Beach. They are known for crafting stays that center around romance and wellness. The team here offers tailored wellness programs for your stay that include working directly with wellness specialists, daily “healthy hour” and options for a variety of mindfulness activities. 

Boardwalk Small Hotel 

If you’re looking for a more low-key boutique option in Aruba, The Boardwalk Hotel should not be overlooked. I hoped to check this place out but they were unfortunately booked for our travel dates. This colorful and beautiful hotel is located across the street from the beach but guests have full beach access through the Ritz Carlton.

 

Where to eat while visiting Aruba

I feel like I need to explain myself here before you dive deep into this section. I never in a million years expected to love the food in Aruba as much as I did. I feel like I’m sharing with you about almost every meal that we had, but that’s because they were all so good I literally couldn’t leave anything out. 

Zeerovers

Zeerovers is a casual local favorite and there is no doubt why. I’m pretty sure this was my favorite meal of the trip. The menu here is quite simple. They offer their fresh catch of the day, shrimp and sides of your choice. Everything is deliciously seasoned and lightly fried. We had mahi mahi and shrimp with a side of fries and plantains. Like I said, easily one of the best meals of the trip. There is typically a long line at this restaurant but I promise you that it’s worth the wait.

Ike’s Bistro

Ike’s Bistro is one of the restaurants at Manchebo Beach Resort. Even if you’re not planning to stay at Manchebo, I highly recommend making a dinner reservation here. The food was some of the most creative and delicious plates we’ve had in a long time. We started with their goat cheese and watermelon and duo of shrimp and scallops.  Both of these blew us away. After that, we had the seafood chowder and red snapper and finished with creme brulee (anyone who knows me knows that if this is on the dessert menu it’s like my eyes can’t see anything else). 

Wilhelmina

Another stand out restaurant in Aruba is Wilhelmina. You sit outside in what feels like a tropical paradise with the most beautiful candles everywhere. It was truly the most perfect setup paired with phenomenal food and lovely service. We started with the scallop and watermelon which was perfect. Then, Jon had the catch of the day and I had the Gamberetti pasta. Highly recommend both of those dishes. Although, I’m sure that you can’t go wrong with anything on their menu. 

Linda’s Dutch Pancake House

You can’t visit Aruba without experiencing some of the authentic dutch pancakes.  I had a brie, walnuts and honey pancake and Jon opted for the mango, papaya and pineapple.  Both were delicious and I wish we would have eaten here more than once! Linda’s is a cozy little spot that you do not want to miss. 

Eduardo’s Beach Shack

We loved Eduardo’s so much we ate there for like three days in a row – multiple meals. This is the cutest little beach shack right on the main area of hotels on Palm Beach. They serve the best acai bowls on the island. They also serve up a variety of delicious juices and healthy plates like avocado toast and poke bowls. Eduardo’s was about a 20 minute walk from The Ritz.

The Flying Fishbone

The Flying Fishbone restaurant is definitely more about the experience than the food. While the food was good, it’s really the atmosphere that makes this place so magical. You can choose to make a reservation IN the water. Yes, in the water. They have built the restaurant so that as the tide comes in you can dine with your feet in the ocean. I would definitely recommend this place as a romantic option. Most importantly, we caught the most amazing sunset here during our dinner and it sounds like this is a regular occurence.

Other restaurants that are totally worth checking out while visiting Aruba: 

Divi Sushi Bar and Lounge (at the Ritz)

Madero Pool Bar and Grille (do not miss out on the fish tacos here!)

Dushi Bagels

 

Add Aruba to your bucket list

To sum it up, Aruba is a true paradise. Have I convinced you that it’s time to book a trip to Aruba yet? I promise you that you will not be disappointed. 

Questions about visiting Aruba? Drop them in the comments below and we can chat about your trip.