Things to do in Aruba
by Lise - an avid cruiser
There are plenty of things to do in Aruba and so far, we've enjoyed snorkeling, rode on the bus to great beaches, and rented a jeep to drive around and discover the natural wonders of this Caribbean island.
A Divi-Divi tree
What I like about Aruba
- Has beautiful beaches
- Has great snorkeling
- It's outside the hurrican belt
- Unusual divi-divi trees shaped by the wind
- Natural wonders
- Getting around is so easy by bus, car rental or taxis
- The island's tap water is pure and safe to drink and is distilled in the world's second largest saltwater desalination plant
Last time I was there, I got a map of the island to show you the lay of the land before you go. Ask for one at the information booth located at the pier, they're free.
Since I'm the one in charge of finding things to do once we're off the ship, I've already set my mind that we will be joining otherJolly Pirates... From what I read on the Cruise Critic forums, this is indeed a blast! Their moto is: Sail, Snorkel, Swim and Swing. Ok so next time, I want to try the swinging rope...humm wonder if they have an age limit?
Explore the island on an ATV or on a horse
I don't like horseback riding but I know lots of people do, especially when they have a chance to do it on a beach.
Just google Aruba and tours and you should find plenty of tour operators and check on Cruise Critic's forums for some referrals.
When we drove around Aruba, we saw plenty of groups on their ATV's. It is a great island to explore this way because it is very flat and parts of it has no roads, so it's perfect for this kind of transportation.
Explore the underwater with Atlantis Choose between the Atlantis Submarine or the The Seaworld Explorer, a semi-submarine. You'll see 2 sunken wrecks and spectacular coral reefs from the comfort of your air-conditioned observatory.
Find a beach
And work on your tan or try parasailing. Take a taxi - rates are set by the government and are based on destination, not mileage.
Or take the bus like we did, it's fun, relaxing,costs about $2.00 round trip and runs about every 20 minutes. Just walk off the pier, cross the street and the terminal is just behind the main street, can't miss it (see on map). Hotel beaches are 20 minutes away.
Best Snorkeling: we found by pure luck Boca Catalina/Malmok Beach where the snorkeling was the best off the beach. Read more here . We also booked a snorkeling excursion once that sailed to the spot of the sunken "Antilla".
Rent a car
Aruba is one island I can recommend renting a car. We did and loved it.
We had time for sightseeing, snorkeling and even came back to the ship for lunch since we had the jeep for the whole day.
Of course, there is also Shopping...I can hear the husbands groan now! It's part of what you need to do in Aruba. It's everywhere as you get out of the cruise terminal, turn right. But there are also more shops on the side streets, like Haven Street. Look at the downtown map here.
I would like to mention one more thing to do in Aruba: De Palm Island which is a short ferry ride from the mainland. But you cannot buy a ferry ticket by itself. De Palm tours is the only company selling this tour and they won't let you book it directly if you are from a cruise ship, because they have an agreement with the cruise lines. So you have to book the tour through the ship.
