11 Best Sights in Aruba

Located just outside of San Nicolas, this semicircular beach borders a placid bay of turquoise water that's about as shallow as a wading pool—perfect for families with little ones. A small coral reef basin at the sea's edge offers superb snorkeling, but do not pass the barrier—the current is extremely strong outside the rocks. JADS Dive Center offers snorkel equipment rentals, and this is a popular place to see and swim with sea turtles, too. Rum Reef on one end is a unique adults-only bar and infinity pool overlooking the beach, and below it is a family-friendly beach and snack bar. Food trucks park nearby regularly. On the other end, you can rent clamshell shade tents and lounges on the beach from Big Mama Grill. Amenities: food and drink; parking (free); showers; toilets. Best for: snorkeling; swimming.

This delightful private-island experience encompasses all ages, even toddlers, but it has numerous adult-oriented enclaves with premium seating, beach cabanas, and big luxe cabana rentals with VIP service and private bars. They also have two flocks of flamingos in protected areas, one of which is family-friendly. All-inclusive packages include all food and drink, access to a colorful kids' water park, adult body-drop waterslides, banana boat rides, snorkel equipment, guided snorkel tours, and fun activities like salsa lessons. Additional add-ons include their signature Seatrek experience, an underwater air-helmet walk, as well as SNUBA deep-dive snorkeling, and spa services. The water taxi to the island is free, and hotel pickup and drop-off options are available. The island is completely accessible, including the water taxi, and they offer a complimentary amphibious wheelchair. The reef is home to huge, neon-blue, ever-smiling parrotfish, so bring an underwater camera!

Take a free tour of the island's only donkey sanctuary where volunteers help abandoned and sometimes ill wild animals enjoy a happy forever home. This is a nonprofit organization and can always use help, whether financially or with chores. You can donate there or on their website, and you can even adopt a donkey—your donation goes to its annual feed and care. There is also a great donkey-theme gift shop. It's a great family outing for all ages. Bring apples and carrots if you want to make fast friends with the residents. For any donation, you can have a one-on-one hugging session with a donkey for 30 minutes. It’s a great stress reliever.

Plaza Turismo, off Surfside Beach, is the anchor of Linear Park which, when completed, will connect both main tourist beaches along the coast by boardwalks and walking paths. The first leg is a smooth paved biking and jogging trail that runs from Downtown Oranjestad along the sea all the way to the airport. There are many cafés, bars, and snack stops along the way, and there are also fitness pit stops with free-to-use public fitness equipment. It's a popular stretch for local fun runs and fitness initiatives. The second leg begins at the Ritz-Carlton Aruba and runs toward the Malmok area all the way to Arashi Beach. Both stretches have become popular treks for electric scooter riders; there are many new app-operated rental spots. When complete, Linear Park will be the longest of its kind in the entire Caribbean.

This nonprofit exotic animal rescue and rehabilitation foundation is a wonderful child-friendly attraction you'll find just off the beaten track up in Noord. Each guest is given a bag of treats for the animal residents, which include monkeys, peacocks, an emu, an ocelot, an alpaca, and many other types of creatures you're not likely to see elsewhere on Aruba. There's a large playground and ranch so little ones can run freely; the grounds are wheelchair accessible, too.

At the park's main entrance, Arikok Visitor Center houses offices, restrooms, and food facilities. All visitors must stop here upon entering so that officials can manage the traffic flow and hand out information on park rules. This is the meeting place to begin a guided hike with Aruba Conservation Foundation's Experience Rangers.

Fine white sand and fairly calm water make this beach a great choice for sunbathing and swimming. It's the base beach for the Divi collection of all-inclusive resorts, so amenities are reserved for guests, but the locals like it, too, and often camp out here with their own chairs and coolers. The beach is accessible by bus, rental car, or taxi, and it's within easy walking distance to many stores for food and drinks. The Beach Bar—owned by Divi Resorts but not part of the all-inclusive plan—is open to the public and is a superb spot to have lunch or early dinner, swim, and watch the sunset. Amenities: food and drink; parking (free); toilets; water sports. Best for: partiers; swimming.

This is the park's most popular cave as it's the only one with drawings by Arawak Indians on its ceilings. The caves are accessible during park hours, and rangers are stationed outside the cave and can provide tours that explain the history of the cave drawings as well as discuss the resident stalagmites and stalactites. The cave floor is uneven, and there can be creepy crawlies underfoot, so closed-toe shoes are encouraged. Ask the ranger where the little pool is nearby if you want a free fish pedicure! If you have time, check out the two-chambered Quadirikiri Cave; sunlight pouring through holes in the cave's roof lights the space.

This 40-acre tropical oasis is accessible only to guests of the Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort unless you buy a day pass (which are only available when resorts are not at full capacity). Free boat shuttles pick up nonresort guests in the lower lobby of the marina resort. Iguana Beach is family-friendly, while Flamingo Beach is limited to adults and hosts half a dozen resident flamingos. (Children may visit the flamingos for a photo op daily 9–10 am but must have an adult present.) The waters are clear and full of colorful fish; swimming/snorkeling is in a protected area, and there’s a full-service restaurant, beach bars, and waiter service on the beach. Rent a full-service cabana for more luxuries. Nonguests can book a treatment at their Okeanos Spa and gain access to the island afterward for free. Amenities: food and drink; showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: snorkeling; swimming.

The complex beside the Oranjestad marina and the park around it is the place where you're most likely to happen upon some great free entertainment, including pop-up festivals. Although there's live entertainment every night at the far end in the common area bandstand, many of the bars and cafés also have their own music. You'll also find small shops, a casino, movie theaters, a modern arcade, and virtual sports simulator suites that are all open late. Occasionally, there's a big gala music festival, and every Friday night there's a local artisans' market from 7–10 pm. It's a wonderful spot to explore in the evening to experience a truly enchanting tropical night full of colorful lights and sounds along the water. Look for the statue of giant flamingos to find it.

Right behind Plaza Turismo and accessible by public bus, car, or taxi, this little urban beach just outside Downtown Oranjestad has two distinctly different beach bars, one for casual surf-side fun and the other more upscale, with its own pool and high-end food and drink that's open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It's easily accessible via the paved Linear Park as well, making it an ideal spot to stop for a dip when cycling or jogging along the bike path or strolling around the town. Plane-spotting is a given, since it's only 2 minutes from the airport. Amenities: food and drink; parking (free); toilets; water sports. Best for: partiers; sunset; swimming.