Aruba has always been a popular beach vacation destination, mostly because of its location, the perfect weather year-round, and its suitability for all types of travelers - solo travelers, couples, families, and groups of friends. But because the island is open for tourism and has COVID safety precautions in place, Aruba is gaining more traction and quickly becoming a top place to travel to in 2021. Almost all restaurants, parks, tourist sites, and water activities are open and taking appropriate measures to protect against COVID. Riddhish and I were fortunate enough to visit in March 2021, and we highly recommend it! Here is my perfect 6-day Aruba itinerary.

• Day 1 - Beach Day (Eagle or Palm Beach)

• Day 2 - Hooiberg Hike & Aloe Factory Tour

  • Alternative to Hooiberg Hike: Tres Trapi Snorkeling

• Day 3 - Arikok National Park (Quadirikiri & Fontein Caves, Boca Prins Beach, Conchi Natural Pool)

• Day 4 - San Nicolaas Murals & Mangel Halto

  • Alternative to Mangel Halto: Baby Beach

• Day 5 - Renaissance Island, Flamingo Beach & Oranjestad

• Day 6 - Beach Day

Day 1 - Beach Day (Eagle or Palm Beach)

Aruba has a ton of beautiful beaches to visit, including Eagle, Palm, Mangel Halto, Baby, Arashi, and more, which makes it the perfect activity for Day 1 of your stay. Eagle and Palm are two of the most popular beaches to visit as all of the major hotels are lined up along these two. Both are known for their incredibly soft, white sand and crystal clear, turquoise waters. Eagle Beach has been rated one of the best beaches in the world and truly lives up to that reputation so make sure to visit during your stay!

Day 2 - Hooiberg (or Tres Trapi) & Aloe Factory Tour

Day 2 is split between two options for an active activity and then one relaxing activity. For Day 2, start your day off with either the Hooiberg hike or snorkeling at Tres Trapi. Hooiberg is one of the tallest peaks in Aruba where you get a 360 view of the island. The hike is made up of 900 steps all the way to the top and took us about an hour to complete after taking in the view and snapping some photos at the top. You can even see Venezuela from the top on a clear day! For those who prefer the water, snorkeling at Tres Trapi is highly rated due to the clear waters and underwater life, including sea turtles, starfish, and a variety of other fishes!

Then, once you’ve washed up, rested, and had some lunch, check out the Aloe Factory. Aloe is one of Aruba’s top exports, and its significance is denoted by its position on the Aruban crest. Take this quick and free tour to learn about the history of aloe in Aruba, watch how aloe is fileted and processed into various products, learn about the benefits of aloe in ingested and topical forms, and take a stroll through the aloe farm consisting of over 30,000 aloe plants. You can also stop by the gift shop to indulge in aloe lotions, ointments, serums, lip balms, bath products, and more!

Day 3 - Arikok National Park

Day 3 is packed with adventure at the Arikok National Park. You can book a tour or rent a jeep / 4x4 vehicle to explore on your own. The most popular sites to see include: 

• Quadirikiri Cave - Popular for its two-chamber cave with magical sunbeams that come through holes in the cave ceiling; there is also a third chamber with bats!

• Fontein Cave - Limestone cave with historical pictographs and graffiti 

• Boca Prins Beach - Remote and beautiful beach with white sand, clear water, and picturesque cliffs

• Conchi Natural Pool - Natural emerald swimming pool surrounded by rock formations

Day 4 - San Nicolaas Murals & Mangel Halto (or Baby Beach)

On Day 4, spend the day exploring Aruba’s artsy and cultured city, San Nicolaas. San Nicolaas is most known for its abundance of colorful island murals and street art as well as cute craft shops and boutiques. Once you’ve had your fill of the city, cool down and watch the remarkable sunset at either Mangel Halto Beach or Baby Beach before heading back to your hotel.  

Day 5 - Renaissance Island, Flamingo Beach & Oranjestad

Day 5 is for frolicking with flamingos! Though flamingos are not native to Aruba, there are two places in Aruba where you can see them - De Palm Island and Renaissance Island. My experience was at Renaissance Island. You can access Renaissance Private Island for free if you are a guest at the Renaissance hotel, or non-guests can purchase a day pass ($125) for the Island, which can be done online a few days in advance. It’s pricey but a unique and fun experience. The day pass includes the quick boat ride from Oranjestad to the private island and back, and lunch with one drink at the Island’s main restaurant. The private island has a spa called Spa Cove, two places to eat - Papagayo Bar & Grill and Mangrove Beach Bar, and two beaches - Flamingo Beach and Iguana Beach. Iguana Beach offers water activities, and in my experience, both beaches had the flamingos, not just Flamingo Beach. Make sure to bring some U.S. quarters with you so you can buy flamingo food from the dispensers and get up close and personal while feeding the flamingos! 

Once the boat brings you back, you’ll be right at Renaissance Marketplace in Oranjestad so grab a bite to eat at the famous Cuba’s Cookin’ or the Dutch Pancake House for some delicious, post-frolicking nourishment.

Day 6 - Beach Day

There is no such thing as too much beach time in Aruba. Spend your last day lounging at Eagle or Palm Beach once again or explore some of the island’s other magnificent beaches. 

Additional places to visit in Aruba: 

• Alto Vista Chapel

• Aruba Natural Bridge 

• Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins

• Donkey Sanctuary

• Ostrich Farm