Aruba activities and attractions are geared toward almost every interest. There are many things to do in Aruba, from golf and shopping to gambling and nightlife. Many of the best Aruba attractions are outdoors, but this is expected—few places on earth can compare to the pure beauty of the Caribbean Islands.
Water Activities
Given that this is an island surrounded by the Caribbean
Sea, it’s no wonder that water activities are popular
Aruba activities. The entire Caribbean is perfect for
both scuba and snorkeling, but Aruba, like St.
Martin and parts of the Virgin
Islands, is known for quality snorkeling. Water sports
such as kayaking, windsurfing, water skiing, and wakeboarding
are also great Aruba attractions. Many hotels have equipment
for rent, but if yours doesn’t there are many companies
located near the beaches with
equipment as well.
The steady sunny days of the Caribbean make this region
perfect for golf year round. The Half Moon Resort in Jamaica
is one of the most popular, but Aruba attractions also
include golf courses. Tierra del Sol on the northwest
tip of the island is a world-class course designed by
Robert Trent Jones II, and includes a golf clinic for
both beginners and experienced players.
Shop
If you have any shopping tendencies at all, the best Aruba tourist attractions for you are the stores. While hotels and minimalls all over the island offer opportunities to drop some cash, the finest shopping experience is found in the capital city Oranjestad. Specifically, check out the Royal Plaza Mall, Seaport Village Mall, and Seaport Marketplace.
Due to the variety of deep sea fish in the area, chartering
a boat and going on a fishing excursion is one of the
popular things to do in Aruba. Hiring a local fisherman
to take you out is usually not difficult, but if you want
to charter your own boat it’s wise to reserve one
in advance. Sailfish, shark, barracuda, and tuna are just
some of the fish located in the warm waters around the
island.
If spending an extended period of time seeing Aruba
attractions is not important to you, Caribbean cruises
are always popular and allow you to combine a number of
island destinations into one trip.
Like Las Vegas, gambling is one of the prime Aruba activities.
Glitzy and glamorous casinos
are found near or in many resorts,
especially in Oranjestad. Unlike Vegas,
not all of the casinos are open 24 hours a day. More often,
slots open at 11 a.m. and table games throughout the morning
up to 1 p.m.
Seeing Aruba via a guided tour can be much more active
here than what you might expect. Hike, kayak, or quad
your way through the scenery. Go on a sailing tour and
see the island from the water, or explore the past on
an archaeological or geological tour of the island.
Museums
If your time in Aruba includes Oranjestad, there are a few museums in the capital worth seeing. The Historical Museum explores the island’s distant past up through its Dutch and Spanish periods, while the Archaelogical Museum goes back to Aruba’s original natives. The Numismatic Museum looks at a collection of 30,000 coins from Aruba and the world.
Sailing, Boating, or Submarining
For sailors or boat lovers of any sort, most things to do in Aruba will pale in comparison to boating here. With crystal blue waters and warm trade winds, taking a moment or your entire stay on the water is highly enjoyable. Charter your own boat or climb aboard a tour. Guided tours cater experiences to different tastes, including a sunset cocktail sail or romantic moonlit voyage. Atlantis Submarine offers a dive to see the reefs near Aruba in a truly unique way.
