We all love to devour yummy local delicacies & sugar loaded cocktails while on holiday yet wish to keep that holiday weight at bay. So if you are someone who likes to maintain their discipline and fitness regime even while on a vacation, then here are the unique things to do in Aruba to spice up and bring a change in your workout routine. In this blog we also share some cool spots around the island to break a sweat, some high up and some on the flat powdery beaches in front of Aruba’s world class beach resorts. So let’s begin!
Unique things to do in Aruba
Take a scenic walk:
If you are in the high or low-rise areas the best thing you could do is walk on the footpaths along the palm tree lined roads, or simply walk/jog/run on the beach with the powdery sand beneath you massaging your feet, and the tradewinds and sea breeze keeping you cool. If you are in the downtown area, our favorite place for a walk/run is the Linear park. From where you can also watch the planes land and take off and witness some stunning sunsets.
Besides our other favorite activities to bring about a change of scenery and routine to your regime are as follows:
Sunrise & Sunset swims:
Swimming if the best full body workout and Aruba has no shortage of that beautiful Caribbean Sea to get your laps in.
If you are looking for empty beaches, palapas and pin drop silence with nothing but the sound of crashing waves, we’d recommend you to go for an early morning sunrise swim. You can pick any, but for this we like to go out to Palm Beach, the stretch in front of the Divi Aruba Phoenix Beach Resort & Hotel Riu Palace Antillas. We go a bit before sunrise and sit out at the pier in front of Divi Aruba Phoenix to just meditate or relax and then head down a bit in the direction of the Riu Palace Antillas for that first dip of the day.
Also along with a good full body workout it is just so therapeutic to swim in the rising sun’s glow while the moon is still up coexisting for a while.
Also this stretch is not so deep and an interesting spot for some free snorkeling.
Another of our favorite and unique things to do in Aruba is to go for sunset swims! Nothing like melting in the ocean along with the sun as it sets, turning that turquoise water to red and orange with it’s light. Aruba has no shortage of beautiful beaches so you could enjoy a sunset swim anywhere you like, but in you are wondering this particular fiery one is at one of the best beaches in Aruba called the Eagle Beach.
Besides, these two times are also perfect to avoid getting sun burnt. However, we recommend you still put on your sunscreen at all times even during a cloudy day.
Yoga:
Aruba is also perfect for yogis and people looking to give yoga a try. There are several yoga centres and resorts offering beach yoga session. There is everything from Vinyasa, Ashtanga to full moon beach yoga sessions.
We loved the full moon yoga session offered by Island Yoga at Arashi beach. Besides, resorts like Manchebo also offer full moon yoga sessions with some live music out on their beach.
Now a beach front yoga studio is great but imagine a floating one! Yes you read that right a FLOATING YOGA STUDIO aka SUP Yoga (Stand up Paddle board yoga).
Nothing more relaxing and calming than doing yoga completely surrounded by nature. Sky above you, Sea beneath you, the sea breeze keeping you cool while the warmth of the sun combined with those yoga postures and breaths fill your soul up with positive vibes.
So far sounds like a relaxing sweat sesh. Now if you want to challenge yourself a bit more you could plan to:
Hike Hooiberg (Haystack in Dutch):
A volcanic formation that is the second highest point of the island at 165 meters above the sea level. There are about 587 concrete steps to get to the top and half way through there is a gazebo as a rest point.
Once you reach the top you can enjoy scenic view of the island and on clear days you can even see Venezuela on the south.
We’d recommend to carry a bottle of water, flashlight and go during the sunrise or sunset hours to avoid massive heat. Also know that there are no restrooms. Carry/use sunblock either ways. That’s highly recommended throughout your stay in Aruba.
After all this hard work and sticking to your discipline it is only fair to have a little well deserved fun and indulge in the plethora of activities/experiences Aruba has to offer. Check out the links below for more such unique things to do in Aruba:
- Retail: After keeping that holiday weight at bay click here to treat yourself to some flowy beach dresses, colorful sarongs and much more.
- Honeymoon/Babymooners/R&R: Couple workouts are always fun but check out 6 other fun things you can indulge in for a memorable trip.
- Culinary: After all that workout you do deserve some scrumptious treats. Click for some yummy must try delicacies.
- Adventure: Cardio sure got your heart pumping. Click here to find out what other activities around the island can get that heart racing.
- Art, Culture & History: Sure you enjoyed those colors of nature on your walks. Click here to walk around some more to discover colorful murals by local & international artists.
- Bonus: Just like holding a plank for an extra minute feels like a bonus & you love it, click here to read our bonus points for your itinerary & we are sure you will love it equally, if not more.
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One of my favorite things to do whenever i go to beaches is do a quick morning jog before breakfast. A beach front yoga session is also not a bad idea. Adding Aruba to my bucket list.
A quick jog is a great idea Paolo! We hope you make it to Aruba soon, you will love the jogs here alongside the beach! And yes, we highly recommend indulging in a breezy beachside yoga session, it’s so refreshing!
HI
The visuals are breathtaking, and the suggestion of a predawn swim is indeed so tempting. You have highlighted the positive aspect of how it is an excellent full-body workout as well a therapeutic and I have to agree to this. Yoga surrounded by nature and as mentioned by you with water as the main medium, all-around must be a different experience from what is offered in India. This unique side of Aruba bought out by you in this post which focuses on the inner strengthing of the mind and body is refreshing.
We are so glad you enjoyed reading this post Sumit! 🙂 Indeed, yoga and nature when combined can do wonders for your mind, body and soul. We love how this tropical getaway can also be so therapeutic. Besides, you are right nothing like practising yoga floating over the beautiful sea. In fact India, to be precise Goa, has SUP yoga too, you can read more about it in our post on Fun things to do in Palolem beach, South Goa
Perhaps something for your next getaway 😉
Such beautiful and dramatic sky scapes. I’m not much of an early riser, but I think I’d make an exception for a sunrise swim in Aruba. I’m sure I’d enjoy the serenity and beauty of the ocean at that time in the morning.
The sky here is so different each day and only keeps getting better! We aren’t early risers ourselves, but trust us, a sunrise swim in Aruba is so worth waking up early. Incredibly peaceful and everything is so still and beautiful! We were hooked to waking up early here! Plus, it also helps with securing a good front row palapa before the crowd sets in.
I would love to swim during sunset and sunrise in this beautiful scenery. Aruba seems to be a paradise. Hike Hooiberg looks like a fantastic experience too. The Fitness regime during holidays is not easy for me, but I try my best to avoid cocktails and focus on exercise.
Swimming here during sunrise and sunset hours is just so magical, plus helps with avoiding sunburn. Aruba is so scenic which makes it easier to work out here, plus the beaches are so good you would want to keep swimming! That way you make workout fun and don’t have to miss out on the yummy cocktails 😉
Yes it is so important to keep the right balance while holidaying because I tend to try out new dishes which ultimately add up to a lot of calories. An evening swim for me is a perfect way to not only enjoy the water but also to exercise the entire body. Be it outdoors or if not a sea destination, in the hotel pool if there is one available. The other activity that we do is to explore a lot though walks. Aruba looks like a fantastic destination.
The food in Aruba is so good that you need to keep making space for more 😉 Besides staying active gets all the more easy when the views are so stunning. We love using the pool too for a full body workout in non sea destinations! Also we completely agree with you, walking is indeed a great way to explore a place and its surroundings.
The more I read your posts about Aruba, the more I want to be there right now. The pictures look stunning and it definitely looks like a place of dreams.
It’s a perfect island escape! 🙂 Besides we are so glad you are enjoying reading through our Aruba posts. It’s always been our intention to stir up the wanderlust of our readers and glad these posts are doing just that!
First, I have to check if my Philippine passport is on the list having free travel visa access to Aruba. The beaches are incredible, and that sunset experience looks romantic. Ohh I can’t wait to travel again.
Sunsets in Aruba are indeed super romantic and magical! You can check out the link in this particular blog post to verify if you need a visa and the process for the same 🙂
Here you go: Discover Aruba: Your visa to Aruba
Fantastic photos. Sunset on the beach my favorite as well!!!
Thank you so much 🙂 and beach sunsets are forever magical!
I am getting soaked in your Aruba blogs now. Loving the place! Great to know the place from angle of fitness and yoga. Full moon yoga session seems so cool.
So glad you are slowly falling in love with Aruba, always our intention while writing about destinations 🙂 Oh yes the full moon sessions are pure bliss and combined with sounds of singing bowls they are just magical!
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