My fiance and I are headed to warm, sunny Aruba in early May for our honeymoon. We're both active, outdoorsy people and, though travel guides are helpful, we're hoping those who have been there can offer some ideas for activities and sights to see. Everything's fair game - nothing is too mellow or extreme.

If website references are available, please include them with your post. Thanks!

Come on guys - can no-one help Josh?

MuyLinda - where are you ?????

I was pregnant and nauseous when we were there, but apparently my husband and brother-in-law rented a little 4 wheeler and explored the back roads. I guess the roads just sort of disappear on the back side of the island and you can drive over boulders and all sorts of things. They had a blast. Bring a compass with you since nothing is marked and I don't think the rental car companies had one. I think they found the hidden pool or whatever it is called that way. Definitly spring for the 4 wheel drive, even if it is just a little thing like theirs. They laughed at a lot of tourists stuck in various locations as they drove on by.

Oh, and the rental car companies sell old license plates for like $5. They can make great little souveniers for kids back home.

We have been researching our trip to Aruba in Sept.

So far, we've picked The Butterfly Farm, Kukoo Kunken Bus, Mi Dushi Snorkle Tour, the Carberet Showroom at the Wyndham, De Palm's Beach Express, Red Sail Sport Dinner Cruise, and ABC Aruba Jeef Safari Tour.

I used various sites and message boards for info. Try:

www.eltours.com
www.abc-aruba.com
www.depalmtours.com
www.wixtours.com
www.pelican-aruba.com
www.octopusaruba.com
www.arubaadventures.com
www.kukookunuku.com

www.arubaexperience.com
www.arubabound.com
www.visitaruba.com
www.aruba-bb.com
www.aruba.com
www.tripadvisor.com

We also purchased Frommer's Portable Aruba Guide, which has some really good info.

Where are you staying? We are staying 7 nights at the Holiday Inn. Non-AI.

Congradualations on your honeymoon. I will be interested to hear about your trip when you return. We will be in cold Alaska on a cruise in May and will be looking forward to some sun come Sept.

Do you like to ride horses? If so, make sure you go to Ponderosa Ranch. If you book it yourself when you get to Aruba, you will save a few bucks versus booking it through the hotel. Also, make sure you DON'T ride on the day the Cruise ship is in port. If you call a day or two before you want to ride, ask how many are going out. You will be able to canter on the beach if it is a small group. I went and there were just two other people that could also ride, so the guide was very flexible with us. The views are spectacular. Make sure you wear long pants and have shoes on. The horse are gaited, so all you have to do is just sit and enjoy. Don't worry if you are not an experienced rider, but be sure to tell them so they match you with an appropriate horse. Take your camera and have a blast! I did!

I have not yet been to Aruba - but am leaving on Monday for 10 days there. I'm sure you'll get plenty of ideas from the other posts here for water sports (I did!), but I've had to dig a little to find out about land activities. A friend who's family has a timeshare on Aruba also highly recommended the horseback riding. I'm interested in checking out the mountain bike rentals; the bike company also does guided tours.

I also want to mention that I picked up an "adventure" focused travel guide at Borders bookstore that looks pretty good: Hunter Travel Guides Aventure Guide to Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao. I have to admit that I haven't gotten very far in it yet (plan to read on the plane), but it seems to offer more active things to do.

I'm anticipating writing a trip report, so I'll have to let you know how we fare!

I'm kind of late here and not much in to land activities (we are total beach bums on vacation). Others have provided great links: my personal favorites for all things Aruba are aruba-bb.com and tripadvisor. Great people very knowledgeable and willing to help.

Our favorite things to do revolve around snorkeling. Last year we did a great 6-hour snorkeling trip on the Tranquilo. The snorkeling was good but the boat ride was the highlight of the trip for me. It's fun and beautiful to see the island and hotels from the ocean back to the shoreline.

To those of you visiting Aruba soon, have a wonderful time and I look forward to reading your trip reports.

I'd do a jeep tour - especially one that goes out to Natural Pool.

Do the drift snorkle with the Tranquilo.
http://www.visitaruba.com/tranquilo/

If you rent a jeep/car places to see are the rock formations, the donkey preserve and the Ostrich Farm.

If you want island food try Nos Cunucu and Gasparito.

An alternative to casinos in the evening is Garufa's, downtown.