Bon bini — welcome to Aruba
Every day is a beach day.
Beaches, food, events, places to stay and things to do across the island — everything you need to plan your Aruba days, in one place.
Start exploring
What kind of day is it?
Beaches
From calm Eagle Beach to secluded Arashi.
The region
Oranjestad, Noord, Arikok and San Nicolas.
Sights
Lighthouses, chapels, caves and rock formations.
Activities
Snorkel, dive, kitesurf, hike or ride a jeep.
Food & drink
Keshi yena, pastechi and seafood by the sea.
Events
Carnival, festivals and weekly island nights.
Stay
Resorts, boutique hotels and apartments.
Plan your trip
Flights, weather, money and getting around.
Beaches
White sand, every coast
Calm turquoise water on the west and south, wild surf on the north. Pick the beach that fits your day.
Arashi Beach
Calm, shallow north-west beach below the California Lighthouse, with free palapas, easy snorkelling on the left side and west-facing sunsets.
Baby Beach
Sheltered, waist-deep lagoon at Aruba's south-east tip: the island's best beach for small children, with free huts and snorkelling near the inlet.
Eagle Beach
Aruba's widest beach: soft white sand, calm west-coast water, public palapas, the famous fofoti trees and most of the island's turtle nests.
Palm Beach
Aruba's liveliest beach: 3.2 km of white sand in front of the high-rise hotels, calm water, piers, beach bars and most of the island's water sports.
The region
Small island, big contrasts
In under an hour's drive you go from the resort strip of Palm Beach to the cactus hills of Arikok National Park and the street murals of San Nicolas.
Events
What's on in Aruba
Dande (New Year serenades)
Island-wide (homes, community gatherings, hotels) · New Year — from 1 January, traditionally until 6 January
Betico Croes Day
Plaza Betico Croes (Oranjestad) & island-wide · 25 January (public holiday)
Aruba Carnival
Oranjestad & San Nicolas · January to February — ends before Ash Wednesday (season opens 11 November)Food & drink
A taste of Aruba
Dutch, Caribbean, Latin and Indonesian flavours meet on one plate. Start with these local favourites.
Keshi yena
Often called Aruba's national dish: spiced chicken or beef with olives and raisins, baked inside a crust of Gouda or Edam cheese.
Pastechi
Aruba's favourite snack: a crescent of fried pastry filled with cheese, beef, chicken, tuna or Indonesian-style chop suey, eaten at breakfast or on the go.
Pan bati
'Beaten bread': a slightly sweet, fluffy flatbread of cornmeal and wheat flour, somewhere between a pancake and a flatbread, served with stoba, soup or fish.
Funchi
Aruba's cornmeal staple, similar to polenta: served creamy, grilled or fried — as funchi fries it is the island's answer to French fries.
Stay
Where to stay
Secrets Baby Beach Aruba
Adults-only all-inclusive resort by Baby Beach
Aruba Ocean Villas
Adults-only overwater villas in the fishing village of Savaneta
Amsterdam Manor Beach Resort
Dutch-gabled boutique resort facing Eagle Beach
Activities
On the water, on the trail
Hiking in Arikok
Trails through Arikok National Park, from the easy Cunucu Arikok loop to Jamanota, Aruba's 188 m high point, with ranger-led hikes, the park pass and heat advice.
Horseback riding
Guided rides through Aruba's cactus country and along the rugged north coast, including routes to the Natural Pool in Arikok, mostly on gaited Paso Fino horses.
Island highlights drive
A self-drive day loop around Aruba: California Lighthouse, Alto Vista Chapel, the Bushiribana gold mill, Ayo and Casibari rocks, Hooiberg, Arikok and Baby Beach.
Jeep & UTV tours
Exploring Aruba's rugged north and east coasts by 4×4: where jeeps may drive, why ATVs and UTVs are banned from protected nature areas, and the Arikok park rules.
Kayak & paddleboard
Paddling Aruba's calm south and west coasts: the mangroves and reef of Mangel Halto, the protected Spaans Lagoen wetland, and the flat water off Palm Beach and Malmok.
