Location: Palm Beach
Day 1 - 8 Jul 2018
Palm Beach
Content: After a stopover in Amsterdam and a 11 hours flight we finally arrived in Aruba! The following morning we were ready to explore this beautiful Caribbean island! Aruba is one of the Lesser Antilles islands together with Curacao and Bonaire, located in the Southern Caribbean Sea. The island is located miles off the coast of Venezuela and it’s south of the hurricane belt, making direct hits from hurricanes rare! So this island is perfect to visit in every season! We spent the first day in Palm beach, a long white beach with turquoise water, perfect to relax and enjoy the sun!
Location: Noord
Day 1 - 8 Jul 2018
Hotel Riu Palace Aruba
Content: We stayed at “Riu Palace Aruba”, directly on Palm Beach! This 5 stars hotel is really beautiful, we had a very nice room with a huge terrace overlooking the beach and the palm trees, everything was just perfect during our stay!
Location: Divi Divi Beach
Day 2 - 9 Jul 2018
Divi Beach
Content: Near the beautiful Eagle Beach there is a spot with several Divi- Divi trees; the famous Divi Divi (Watapana) tree is Aruba's natural compass, always pointing in a southwestern direction due to the trade winds that blow across the island from the north-east. Aruba's trademark: the Divi Divi or Watapana tree. These curious trees growing on the beach are one of the main characteristics of the island!
Location: Eagle Beach
Day 2 - 9 Jul 2018
Eagle Beach
Content: With a short walk you can reach the third best beach in the world according to Tripadvisor! It’s not difficult to see why.. it is the widest beach of Aruba with soft white sand and crystal clear water! Just a tropical dream!
Location: Noord
Day 2 - 9 Jul 2018
The Butterfly Farm Aruba N.V.
Content: If you come to Aruba, you can’t miss the Butterfly Farm near Oranjestad! Personable, knowledgeable tour guides walk with you through the enclosed area, pointing out the dozens of species of butterflies. You can observe the life cycle of these fascinating animals from egg to caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly in a well maintained, lush, tropical garden, flush with brilliant flowers. It was such an incredible experience! Super recommended!
Location: Baby beach
Day 3 - 10 Jul 2018
Baby Beach
Content: The third day we rented a car to explore the whole island.. first stop is Baby beach in the southern part of Aruba, close to San Nicolas: as you can see, it’s a true Caribbean beach paradise! About a 45 minutes drive from Palm Beach, this gorgeous half-moon sandy expanse in a calm lagoon with crystal clear water! Where the bay opens out to the ocean, Baby Beach also offers the perfect location for snorkeling!
Location: Sint Nicolas
Day 3 - 10 Jul 2018
Sint Nicolas
Content: Then a quick stop in the colorful town of San Nicolas! It’s called “Sunrise City” and is a creative hub best known for the larger-than-life murals blanketing its downtown area. This city is full of dualities. San Nicolas is both old and new, strong and traditional yet constantly evolving.
Location: Sunset in Palm Beach
Day 3 - 10 Jul 2018
Palm Beach
Content: We came back to Palm Beach just in time to watch this amazing sunset, so magical, isn’t it?
Location: Noord
Day 4 - 11 Jul 2018
Arashi Beach
Content: Arashi Beach is probably the best beach for snorkeling in Aruba. It’s a white sand beach north of Malmok Beach, just off the road to the California Lighthouse, offering beach huts, a fun bar and large parking area. When entering the ocean on the left side of this beach you will reach an excellent snorkeling area with a rich underwater life. Don’t miss it!
Location: Oranjestad
Day 4 - 11 Jul 2018
Oranjestad
Content: The colorful capital city of Aruba definitely worth a visit! Oranjestad is located on the southern coast near the western end of the island country. This town has brightly coloured buildings, fine residential sections and beautiful jewerly stores! Make sure to take a walk there during your trip to Aruba!
Location: Nights in Palm Beach
Day 4 - 11 Jul 2018
Palm Beach
Content: We spent the night wandering around the lively streets of Palm Beach, the atmosphere there was very festive and happy.. did you know that Aruba is also called “One Happy Island”? Well, amazing tropical beaches, colorful cities and friendly people.. I think it’s the perfect nickname for this island!
Location: Unknown
Day 5 - 12 Jul 2018
Mangel Halto
Content: When in Aruba go out on adventure and discover Mangel Halto, offering some of Aruba's best snorkeling, kayaking and paddle boarding. This beach is like no other on the island. It is a great snorkeling spot adorned with beautiful mangroves with calm and shallow waters rich in sea life! Mangel Halto Beach also serves as an excellent shore diving site in Aruba. It is possible to walk out to the edge of the reef to behold such fish as parrot fish, yellowtail snapper, sergeant majors and blue tangs as well as deep water gorgonians, sponges and anemones. The reef plunges to depths of 110’ where octopi, morays and barracuda abound. Just a tropical paradise!
Location: Savaneta
Day 5 - 12 Jul 2018
Saliña Savaneta
Content: You can enter the water at three different spots. There is a little dock with a ladder down into the water in the corner of the bay. The ladder leads to a sandy bottom in shallow water. Walk in the water out the sandy trail a good ways until you reach deeper water. Then you can slip your fins on and swim. You can also walk down the path through the mangroves, to a beach area. From there you can walk out the shallows along the reef edge to the right. For this walk you will need footwear as the bottom is rocky. The last snorkeling Mangel Halto water entrance option takes advantage of the currents in the area; you enter at Puerto Chiquito and exit at either the dock or mangrove area at Mangel Halto.
Location: San Nicolas
Day 5 - 12 Jul 2018
Baby Beach
Content: We ended this day going back to Baby Beach and just relax after a day of snorkelling! I’ll never get tired of these heavenly beaches!
Location: Renaissance Island
Day 6 - 13 Jul 2018
Flamingo beach (Renaissance Hotel)
Content: Renaissance island: paradise found! You can reach this island with private boats (a day here costs 125$ per person if you’re not staying at the Renaissance Resort, but it’s totally worth the visit). However, do note that day passes to Renaissance Island are available for purchase only on days that the hotel is below 80% occupancy and unfortunately, day passes cannot be pre-booked. Here you can find the famous Flamingo Beach, a private beach on Renaissance Island where a handful of pink flamingos roam the sugary white sands and turqouise waters of the Dutch Caribbean. It’s the only place in Aruba where you can be so up close and personal with flamingos! However, as flamingos are sensitive creatures and space is limited on Flamingo Beach, meeting your new pink friends requires a bit of careful planning. In spite of all the bad things lately about this place (Cut and tweezed wings of the flamingos) this is not true. They are cared for and pampered, no wing has been stapled or cut, they are simply flamingos from the nearby island of Bonaire, cured and fed and now habituated to human presence. On the island there is specialized staff that takes care of them every day and make sure no one hurts them!
Renaissance Island
Content: Flamingo Beach offers privacy, quietness, and a spectacular view of the pink flamingos looking for food in the shallow waters. Just sit back, relax, and watch the world go by. As the birds casually walk around the beach, the only sound you mostly hear is the wind going through the leaves of the swaying palm trees. The beach offers good protection from the trade winds too.. nothing better to relax in heaven!
Location: Paradise island
Day 6 - 13 Jul 2018
Renaissance Island
Content: On the island you can also find several friendly and curious iguanas! An experience you will remember forever!
Location: Noord
Day 7 - 14 Jul 2018
California Lighthouse
Content: The next day we decided to explore the northern part of the island. You can have the best 360 degree views of the island from the famous California Lighthouse. It’s located at Hudishibana near Arashi Beach on the northwest tip of Aruba and it’s open everyday from 9:00 am - 7:00 pm, $5 admission fee no reservations required.
Location: Santa Cruz
Day 7 - 14 Jul 2018
parco nazionale di Arikok
Content: Then we visited the Arikok National Park. It takes up approximately 18 percent of the island of Aruba and includes three primary geological formations: the Aruba lava formation, a quartz diorite formation, and a limestone formation that extends inward from the coast. These formations have directly influenced Aruba's human settlement, as well as its natural wonders. Inside the park there are also some of the island's oldest Arawak paintings, and has since drawn attention from the government. It’s characterized by rugged terrain, desert-like hills filled with tall cacti, a breathtaking coastline and protected local flora and fauna. As you can see the landscapes here are very different from the white beaches of the west coast!
Location: Boca Catalina
Day 7 - 14 Jul 2018
Boca Catalina Beach
Content: We ended the day visiting this little windy beach famous for its parasailing!
Location: Hadicurari Beach
Day 8 - 15 Jul 2018
Hadicurari Beach
Content: The next day we discovered by chance this gorgeous deserted beach near Palm Beach! I mean.. Isn’t it a paradise? Probably one of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen!! And just for us!! Nothing better!
Location: Malmok
Day 8 - 15 Jul 2018
Malmok Beach
Content: We then walked up to Malmok.. There is a very little beach here, it is almost all rocks! But look at the water! So blue and crystal clear.. Wouldn’t you like to take a bath?
Location: Noord
Day 8 - 15 Jul 2018
Bugaloe
Content: Then we had a drink at the famous “Bugaloe” in Palm Beach! This place is so colorful and typical, perfect for an happy hour at sunset time!
Location: Palm Beach
Day 9 - 16 Jul 2018
Palm Beach
Content: The last day we just enjoyed the beach in front of our Hotel and just relaxed before the long journey ahead! Every beach in Aruba is just one more beautiful than the other.. a real paradise island for sure!
Location: Noord
Day 9 - 16 Jul 2018
Hotel Riu Palace Aruba
Content:
Location: Last Sunset
Day 9 - 16 Jul 2018
Palm Beach
Content: We watched the last amazing sunset here and we went back to the hotel to start packing for the next day! I suggest everyone to come to Aruba.. it’s just a breathtaking island with nice people, incredible sunsets and beautiful beaches! I can’t wait to be back one day!!