If Aruba isn’t on your places to visit, you need to add it ASAP! I’ll admit, Aruba wasn’t on my radar. We won this trip by chance and I was along for the ride. After spending 7 days in Aruba, I can tell you it’s been one of our favorite vacations to date. There is so much to do and see in Aruba. Aruba also has so much history and if you didn’t know is owned by the Netherlands. While English is the main language spoken, there are a total of 5 languages spoken in Aruba (Dutch, English, Spanish, Papiamento, and French). Aruba is also considered one of the safest Caribbean islands. We rented a car for a few days and had no issues with driving the local roads–but be mindful, there are many roundabouts and they’re much different than the ones in the US. If you’re not brave enough to drive, taxis are easily accessible or many of the excursions you book offer hotel pickup. Aruba also has consistent weather. It only rained one day while we were there and it wasn’t for a long period of time. While at times it may feel extremely hot, there is often a breeze. If I haven’t convinced you yet, check out my top 4 things we did in Aruba below—

1. Visit Flamingo Beach

If you’ve ever wanted to hand feed flamingos and walk alongside them, then you’ll want to go to Flamingo Beach! Here’s the catch though, Flamingo Beach is located on Renaissance Island which can only be visit by guests of the Renaissance hotels or by purchasing a day pass. I believe a day pass is $125/person. We opted to stay at the Renaissance for two nights so that we could enjoy downtown, as well. The Renaissance provides a water taxi that will take you the island. When we were there, it never felt over crowded. There are multiple beaches to enjoy, as well, as a fitness center and tennis courts. You also have access to complimentary floats and snorkels.

2. Snorkeling

We booked a snorkel cruise with Pelican Adventures and highly recommend them! Our snorkel included a light breakfast, 3 snorkel stops, alcohol, lunch, and snorkel gear. One of our snorkel stops including seeing the SS Antilla Shipwreck. The shipwreck is in deeper waters and the waters can be rough. You do have a flotation device though and it’s neat to see even if you just hop in the water for 10 minutes. The other two stops are in more shallow waters where you’ll be able to see a plethora of fish.

3. Book a Jeep Tour

There are so many things to see on the island of Aruba and booking a jeep tour is one of the best ways to see a lot of it. If you’re feeling extra adventurous, you can also book UTV tours in which you’ll do the driving. Our tour was with De Palm Tours. It included snorkeling at the natural pool (Arikok National Park) plus 6 other stops. We were able to see the California Light House, Natural Bridges, Alto Vista Chapel, Bushiribana Gold Smelter, and more. The drive to and from Arikok is not a smooth ride. You’ll definitely need to hold on tight as you off road to some of the prettiest sights on the island. Our tour guides were awesome and used our time wisely. We definitely recommend snorkeling in the natural pool–it’s not included in every tour so make sure to check before booking!

4. Eat!

I know sometimes people take a vacation and want to buy groceries to cook to potentially save money, BUT Aruba has so many wonderful dining options. We were never disappointed with any service or meals we received. One couple on our trip mentioned they ate two meals a day–breakfast and dinner. I think if you want to save some money somewhere, they is a great option. We typically did the same thing by having an early dinner and eating snacks around lunch time. Check out our favorite places to eat in Aruba, here!

You can also view my Aruba story highlight on my Instagram!

Discover more things to do in Aruba