Aruba, often referred to as One Happy Island, is a Caribbean paradise known for its year-round sunshine, turquoise waters, and friendly local culture. While many visitors mainly visit Aruba for its beaches, Aruba offers so much more than that — from desert landscapes and hidden natural pools to vibrant snorkeling spots filled with sea life. Below, I’ve outlined my 7-day Aruba itinerary to help you experience the island’s best beaches, adventures, and local gems all in one trip.
Aruba Weather
The best times to visit Aruba are generally between December and April. During these months, the island enjoys consistent sunshine, minimal rainfall, and slightly cooler temperatures. However, because Aruba’s climate is so steady year-round, the “actual” best times depend more on your tolerance for heat and desire for fewer tourists. I would argue that the ideal windows are January to March for optimal weather and May to early June if you’re willing to trade a little more heat for lower prices and fewer crowds.
Rainfall is very low most of the year, but the “wet season” runs from around late September through December, with November being the peak. I went during this so-called “wet season” (October) and had the best weather, so if you’re looking for off-season prices, going between September to December would be better for the wallet.
Where to Stay in Aruba
Resort Style:
The most popular area to stay in is Palm Beach, which is at the beginning of the hotel zone. The hotel zone in Aruba refers primarily to the Palm Beach and Eagle Beach area on the island’s northwest coast. This stretch is lined with most of the island’s major resorts, divided into two categories:
- Low-Rise Hotel Area (Eagle Beach/Druif Beach): Located just south of Palm Beach, this area features smaller boutique resorts, timeshares, and a more relaxed vibe. It’s quieter, with wider beaches and fewer crowds.
- High-Rise Hotel Area (Palm Beach): Home to large, luxury resorts like the Marriott, Ritz-Carlton, Hyatt Regency, and Hilton. This area is lively and walkable, with beach bars, shopping malls, restaurants, casinos, and water sports all along the shoreline.
If you’re looking to enjoy all-inclusive resorts, avoid renting a car, and be walking distance to shops, restaurants, and beaches, the hotel zone will be ideal for you.
Non Resort Style (Where We Stayed in Aruba):
We opted to stay in Savaneta, a more residential town located not far from Mangel Halto Beach. We liked this area because it was quiet and more centrally located to all the things we wanted to do around the island. My only caveat about this Airbnb/Savaneta in general is that because it is much quieter, you won’t have super easy access to restaurants. We did a grocery run at the beginning of our trip to stock up on snacks in case we needed them throughout the week!
You can find our Airbnb linked here.
Transportation in Aruba
Aruba has a bus system (called Arubus) that goes between downtown Oranjestad to the Hotel Zone, meaning you can see Aruba’s capital city and a few additional beaches like Arashi Beach and Tres Trapi. Aruba bus routes cover almost the entire island and stop at all hotels. You can find all Arubus bus routes on their site here. Depending on which line, there is bus service every 15 minutes from 5:45 a.m. until 6 p.m, and then every 40 minutes until 11:30 p.m.
I would recommend a bus if you’re staying in the hotel zone and have easy walking access to restaurants. Otherwise, I think dealing with a bus is inconvenient and will slow you down while exploring your trip.
Renting a Car
Renting a car will give you a lot more freedom to explore the island on your own time, and this is also how we were able to pack so much into our trip! Having a car also allowed us to go to more tricky spots, like Arikok National Park.
We booked our car in advance through Hertz, and picked it up after we landed at Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA).
Helpful Tips for Visiting Aruba
Currency
The local currency in Aruba is the Aruban florin (AWG), but US dollars are widely accepted. For the most part, we paid in US dollars, though we did exchange a few hundred in florins just in case. Spoiler alert, we didn’t really need to use it except for at local grocery stores outside the main tourist areas.
Duration
We spent around 5 full days on Aruba, with two other days as travel days. Altogether, 7 days in Aruba was more than enough, and I even packed in one flex day in our itinerary in case we wanted to return to any spots or last minute add any activities.
What to Bring
There isn’t much you could forget that you couldn’t buy in Aruba, though it’s likely to be cheaper to buy some of these things ahead of time rather than when you get there. Below are a list of things I was glad to have brought with me:
- Water shoes – for the rockier beaches/snorkling spots, like Tres Trapi Beach
- Goggles – you’ll be snorkeling a lot! It’s good to have goggles on you for any chance to see sea life.
- Bathing suit – obvious reasoning here
- Underwater phone case – this is not necessary (and also not sponsored). I ordered this phone case from Amazon, and it surprisingly held up so well. Just a fun tool to have to capture even more memories (and to hopefully take a picture of a sea turtle or two)!
Our Itinerary – 7 Day Aruba Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrive in Aruba & Catch a Sunset
Mangel Halto Beach
Mangel Halto Beach is one of the only beaches in Aruba surrounded by mangroves, making it one of the more unique beaches on the island. The beach is located on Aruba’s southeastern coast and is known for its calm, shallow waters. It’s a favorite spot for snorkeling (though we didn’t see a ton of fish) and is also a beautiful spot for an early morning swim or to enjoy the sunset. Since Mangel Halto Beach was right next to our Airbnb, we made this the first stop on our 7-day Aruba itinerary and enjoyed the sunset here once we settled in.
Blue Staircase
The blue staircase on Mangel Halto Beach is a vibrantly blue painted staircase that leads into the water on Mangel Halto. It’s a popular photo spot, due to its uniqueness, but you’ll also see tons of people using the staircase to enter the water.
Day 2 – Antilla Shipwreck Snorkeling Cruise & Boat Day
We started our second day of our Aruba itinerary with breakfast at The Dutch Pancake House and a boat tour to Antilla Shipwreck. I recommend arriving to the Dutch Pancake House early as there will be a wait.
The boat tour we did was Aruba: Snorkel Cruise with Open Bar and Light Lunch and I have to say, this was so worth it. Aside from having an amazing time snorkeling, the boat was equipped with a slide and a rope swing, which guests could use towards the end of the tour. Drinks were included, and lunch was quite light — but I don’t think any of us were really concerned with having a true meal on this boat. We paid $69pp for the tour, which lasted about 3 hours.
Antilla Shipwreck
The Antilla Shipwreck is one of the largest shipwrecks in the Caribbean and lies just off the coast of Aruba. During World War II, this German ship was deliberately sunk in 1940 to prevent Dutch authorities from seizing it after Germany invaded the Netherlands. Nowadays, the ship is covered in coral and teeming with colorful fish, making it a dream spot for snorkelers and divers.
I wasn’t quite sure what to expect once the boat stopped just over the shipwreck. I thought we’d get to see some of it, but not all. Truly, the ship is huge, (approx. 400 feet long and about 55 feet wide), and seeing it in person was more impressive. And yes, there were plenty of fish swiming about! For $69pp, I thought this activity was well worth the price.
Day 3 – Day Trip to Renaissance Island
Another great spot to add to your Aruba itinerary is Renaissance Island. Just a short boat ride off the coast of Oranjestad, this privately owned island offers powdery white sands, turquoise water, and its most famous residents: pink flamingos that roam freely around the island. The island has two beaches: Flamingo Beach (which is adults only) and Iguana Beach, the family-friendly side where kids are welcome.
There are 3 ways to get to Renaissance Island:
- Stay overnight at the Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort – being a guest gives you complimentary access to the island (~$600 per night)
- Purchase a day pass (what we did) – non-hotel guests can buy a pass to board the complimentary water taxi and spend the day on the island ($125 per person)
- Book a spa treatment at the resort’s Spa Cove on the island (what I wish we did!) – this gives you access as part of the spa package (depending on the treatment booked, average massage costs ~$200)
We tried our luck with booking a day pass, which was no issue since we were visiting during off season. Buying passes is a little tricky, however. Passes open for purchase only 1 week in advance and can be purchased every Saturday starting 9am EST (between 9am to 10am). The hotel is limited to max 10-30 passes per day, to not overcrowd the island and prioritize guests.
You can purchase your pass here: www.renarubaislandpasses.com
I felt like Renaissance Island provided a resort day experience without having to commit to an entire resort trip, which I felt was well worth the $125 pass. Transportation to and from the island was included, and the island had everything you needed to enjoy a perfect resort-like beach day. The staff was attentive and routinely came by our beach chairs, and we were even given free pool floaties/accessories to enjoy in the water.
Day 4 – Snorkel with Sea Turtles, California Lighthouse, Arashi Beach
Tres Trapi Beach & Snorkeling with Sea Turtles
If I were to recommend one place when thinking of where to swim with sea turtles in Aruba, it would be Tres Trapi Beach. Out of everything on our Aruba itinerary, this was the activity I was most excited for. This small, rocky cove sits along Aruba’s northwestern coast between Boca Catalina and Malmok Beach and is famous for its crystal-clear turquoise water and thriving marine life. Tres Trapi has become known as one of the island’s most magical snorkeling spots, particularly for those hoping to see green sea turtles feeding on the seabed.
Hot tip: this is one of the spots where I was glad to bring my water shoes, as the entry is rocky and may cut your feet!
Tips to See the Turtles
To visit the turtles, I recommend coming early in the morning, when the water is calmest and visibility is at its best. Arrive anywhere between 5am and 7am, and you’ll likely find the turtles peacefully feeding on the sea grass.
You can swim all the way out to the rope, though if you go just a little past it, you’ll likely see more turtles. We were able to see a total of 5 turtles while we were there, and they were all mainly concetrated near or past the rope!
California Lighthouse
The California Lighthouse is one of Aruba’s most iconic landmarks. Built in 1916, it was named after the S.S. California, a ship that wrecked offshore, and served as a crucial guide for sailors navigating the island’s rocky waters. Today, visitors can climb to the top for panoramic views of the island, which is especially stunning at sunset. We only came here as a quick stop mid day though, and made our way to Arashi Beach right after.
Arashi Beach
Arashi Beach, located at the northern tip of Aruba near the California Lighthouse, is a serene stretch of white sand framed by calm, crystal-clear waters. The beach has some small waves (nothing to surf, but fun to float in) making it ideal for swimming. Arashi is less crowded than the more popular beaches like Baby Beach and Eagle Beach, so for that, I actually rate Arashi as my favorite beach in Aruba. Definitely a must-go if you’re looking for a classic, relaxing beach day!
Day 5 – Flex Day – Beach Activities, Beach Hopping
I really encourage building 1 free day into your itinerary in case you want to return to any of your favorite places or potentially do any last-minute activities. You may also just need a rest day, especially since this itinerary specifically is pretty packed!
We spent our flex day cafe hopping in the morning and going to Eagle Beach to book a banana boating activity. I can’t say I recommend Eagle Beach after spending a day there, especially after enjoying the quiet of Mangel Halto and Arashi Beach in the days before. We made the most of our time though and stopped at Eduardo’s Beach Shack for acai bowls.
Day 6 – Baby Beach & Arikok National Park
Jeep Tour in Arikok National Park
Arikok National Park is a must-visit for anyone wanting to experience Aruba’s wild, natural side beyond the beaches. Covering nearly 20% of the island, it’s home to dramatic desert landscapes, cacti-covered hills, and hidden limestone caves. We took a Jeep Guided Tour, and I can’t recommend doing a tour with a driver enough. There is no way we could’ve driven those roads ourselves, guided ATV tour or not. Having a driver navigate the very bumpy, winding roads made for a much more enjoyable time.
The Jeep tour we booked was this Aruba Jeep Tour: Natural Pool, Caves and Baby Beach Adventure with Viator, which took us through a small art mural tour of San Nicolas, a quick swim at Baby Beach, Quadirikiki Cave and Conchi Natural Pool in Arikok National Park. All in all, it was a 4-hour tour and cost $92 per person.
Baby Beach
Baby Beach is one of Aruba’s most famous beaches, but it also is one of the most out of the way. If you already have a packed itinerary, its a little hard to include Baby Beach since it’s located at the very southern tip of the island. Having it included in this tour was not only a plus, but efficient too. We spent about 45 minutes swimming in the baby blue waters.
Conchi Natural Pool
The Conchi Natural Pool is one of Aruba’s most unique natural wonders, and was hands down the most unique thing we did on this trip (tied with sea turtles at Tres Trapi and snorkeling Antilla Shipwreck of course!) Formed by volcanic rock that shields it from the crashing waves of the Caribbean Sea, this secluded pool makes for a perfect place to snorkel and swim. Getting there is difficult though, and I won’t lie, the ride there was extremely bumpy. While you could drive there yourself with a 4×4 vehicle or ATV, I recommend going with a driver. Once you enter the park, you lose phone service, so it would be difficult to navigate even without the winding, bumpy roads.
Hot tip: this is one of the spots where you’ll need water shoes as well, as you’ll need to climb through some larger rocks to get to the pool.
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