Aruba Excursions- An Adventure Lovers Guide

This blog is dedicated to the adventure junkies looking for that adrenaline rush while on a vacation to this tropical island of Aruba. This ones’ also for all those who love outdoor activities and like to remain active while on vacation. We have divided these excursions in Aruba on the theme of elements of nature: Land (Earth), Water & Air. From ATV tours across Arikok National Park to snorkelling and diving around WWII shipwrecks, or just swaying in the air alongside those clouds, we have it covered to get that brave heart of yours pumping.

So brace yourself for all that thrill that’s about to come your way in the following paragraphs.

Aruba Land Excursions

Off-roading

Sit tight in your seat and strap on your seat-belts, for the best way to explore the island’s landscape and to satiate that adrenaline rush is going on off-roading excursions in Aruba in a 4×4 or an ATV. Wobble through the rocky paths and walk through the sand dunes to reach some of the natural gems along the windward coast of the island. Prepare to get sweaty, get that heart racing, and get dirty, but hey that’s part of the fun, right?

Here are some of our top favorite sights from our off-roading excursions in Aruba. Plus, the super bumpy ride to these points is a major thrill in itself.

• Arikok National Park:

Located in the north-eastern part of the island, Arikok National park comprises of 18-20% of Aruba’s land, offering an informative and visual peak into the island’s history, culture, flora & fauna. This is the ultimate destination for excursions in Aruba, which contains something for everyone. The opening hours of the park are from Monday-Sunday from 8:00am until 4:00pm with ticket sales closing at 3:30pm.

The entrance fee is about $11 per person and if you have plans to visit the island and the park more than once during the year you can also opt for a yearly pass for $28 USD. Also, children under 17 years can enter for free.

You can pay the fee at the info/visitor desk and get wristbands that will grant you access by the park rangers. Also, don’t forget to pick up a map from the visitor center for ease in exploring the park.  Attached one for you for ease beforehand.

Here are some of our favorite sights within the Arikok National Park:

1. Natural pool:

On the rugged north eastern coast, with strong winds and crashing waves and rocky cacti filled terrain, lies another one of nature’s wonder. Among the various excursions offered in Aruba, this was by far our favorite. Encircled by massive volcanic rocks and pounding waves, lies an emerald colored swim hole called Conchi in the local language or simply Natural pool. This is definitely a must visit natural wonder of the island, more so for you adventure lovers.

Getting to the Natural pool in Aruba:

Getting to the pool itself is half the fun. And it is only accessible by a 4×4. The Natural pool is located inside Arikok National Park and you can either drive or hike to it. Either ways you choose once you arrive at the location there are a flight of well-maintained stairs that take you down to the pool.

The Natural Pool itself is sectioned into two parts, the below one is the main pool and the second upper one is a smaller version and a shallow pool that can accommodate few people at a time. The main lower pool is quite deep and is for swimming and hardly has few spots that are shallow where you can stand but that depends on the tide. You can even do a mini cliff jump into the lower pool due to the depth of the pool.

We recommend you having your water shoes on and carry your own snorkeling set and a bathing suit. A word of caution, getting in and out of the rocks can be challenging as they are quite slippery, also please be careful once you are in and shifting between upper and lower pool, or just sitting on the rocks. Do not stand or spend time on the rocks on the side of the ocean specifically, as the waves that come crashing in are quite harsh and can cause you to bump into the rocks lining the pool. And please do not swim outside of the protected pool as the tides are quite powerful. Also, leave your valuables somewhere safe in the car and carry a waterproof camera and waterproof covers for your phone as the splashing waves can get these valuables wet.

Watch out for the crabs hanging around on the rocks and carry and apply plenty of sunscreen as there is no shade here. For the rest, enjoy this non-chlorine natural pool that is truly nature’s wonderful gift to the island and a treat for you adventure lovers.

Word of advice: If you are not doing this as part of a guided tour and instead have rented a 4×4 to explore this at your own pace, we recommend you consult and clarify with the rental company about taking the vehicle to this point as there are some rental companies who do not allow going there with their vehicles.

Also know that if the tides are too strong and the wind too rough the pool does close down for safety reasons.  You can always go and visit the pool but on bad weather days going inside the pool for a swim will be prohibited.

2. Fontein & Quadirikiri caves:

Located inside Arikok National Park are these two caves showcasing history, nature’s artwork and adventure as you duck and slide through the darkness and dodging bats, to be rewarded with intriguing sights in the form of centuries old rock formations and artwork.

These caves home to friendly fruit bats are damp and dark, but a phone’s flashlight is sufficient to navigate through these tunnels. So those of you who are claustrophobic we recommend you skip these two sights. Since exploring these two caves doesn’t take long, do explore it thoroughly and make it a quick yet enriching stop on your off-roading trip. Also we definitely do recommend having sturdy shoes on.

Fontein Caves: The only caves that give you a visual insight into Aruba’s history. Witness with your own eyes, paintings of the Arawak Indians dating back to centuries. Another interesting thing to see are the natural formed interiors of this cave that add even more charm through various shapes and sizes of Stalactites: tapering rock structures hanging from the ceiling and stalagmites: tapering rock formations rising from the floor both formed due to calcium salts deposited from dripping water.

Quadirikiri caves: This cave is great for some unique photo opportunities. It has two open chambers through which rays of the sun enter in, brightening up that little area of the cave. It is a beautiful sight to watch and a great spot to take in that filtered natural light. Also note that these caves are accessible during the opening hours of the national park.

3. Boca Prins:

If all day of driving around on rocky roads and seeing the rough terrain filled with rocks, cacti, and harsh winds makes you miss white sand beaches of Aruba then this is a must visit spot on your Aruba excursions day trip. Boca Prins, a pristine bay flanked on both sides by massive rock walls, nestled in rough and desert like landscape is surely a treat to the eyes.

There is also a huge rock in this inlet where strong waves crash up and around it, making for a great wallpaper like photo-op. Despite soft white sand and turquoise water, swimming is prohibited here, unlike the west coast beaches, due to the strong undertow. However, it is a great spot for a quick little picnic and to take a break to grab a bite and drinks from your picnic boxes/bags and also perfect for some stunning photo opportunities.

You can enjoy the beauty of this beautiful spot from two places. You can either sit out on the rocky terrain that walls this cove and feel the raw energy of this endless ocean and hear the waves crashing against the shore, and these rocks. Or there is a flight of stairs that goes down directly onto the white sand and the beach for an even more up-close view. Either of the viewpoints will leave you in awe of this contrasting landscape.

Ps. There is no shade on this beach so don’t forget your sunscreen.

4. Wind Farm/Vader Piet:

This is another one of great spots for photos and also to take a moment to appreciate the island’s efforts in reducing its carbon footprints. On the windward east coast of the island, making use of the strong winds, anchored in the limestone rocks, are 10 giant turbines standing tall providing electricity and aiding the island in their efforts to moving towards renewable energy sources.

Following along the windmill lined road is also where you can exit the Arikok National Park at the end of these and head on to one of our favorite beach also home to a resident turtle. At least we have had the pleasure to swim with this fella on each of our visit to the Baby Beach.

• Natural Bridge in Aruba:

This marvelous geological formation on the island, was both created and destroyed by the force of mother nature. This 100 feet long coral limestone formation that rose 23-25 feet above sea level was the result of years of erosion from the mighty pounding ocean waves and strong tradewinds.

Then due to mother nature’s wrath on 2^nd September 2005, the bridge collapsed and Aruba lost one of its unique attractions & natural wonders.

Why we think it’s still worth a visit is, for several reasons: from here you can enjoy the island’s beautiful northern coast with rugged landscapes, crashing waves and strong winds that contrast from the soothing waves on powdery sand beaches of the west coast. Also standing here makes you realize and witness the beauty and power that nature holds to create and destroy something. Last but not the least, there is a “Baby natural bridge” in Aruba besides the broken one and even though it’s not as grand as the main one it’s worth the visit and great for some photo opportunities.

Ps. There is no entrance fee or any charge to see what’s left of this Natural Bridge in Aruba and to marvel at the Baby natural bridges, there is a restaurant where you can pay and purchase refreshments, and also a restroom for that pit stop in your off-roading trip that charges around $1.

• Bushiribana Gold Mill ruins:

This is one of those Aruba excursions that will appeal to both history buffs as well as adventurers. For history buffs, it is interesting to discover as it is tied to a precious piece of history of the island, and for adventure buffs, it is a great place to explore and climb the top to take in the 360 degree views of the northern coast of the island.

This site is what is remaining of a gold smelter established in the 19^th century. It is said that gold was discovered and mined in Aruba for which this smelter was built and back then over the years more than 3 million pounds of this treasure had been extracted.

This site is free to explore and if you are going part of a tour then this stop is included in most of the tours and companies you decide to go with.

However, we recommend going here early on before the rays of the sun get too strong, because nothing beats watching this ruin glow in the rays of the early sun, adding all the more charm to it.

If you plan on climbing up and exploring it from the inside, we recommend you wear sturdy shoes. And maybe with all that exploring you might get lucky too and find some of that precious ore? Who knows? So, good luck and have fun exploring!

Furthermore, in the area across from the ruins by the ocean there are several set of rocks piled up on top of each other that serve as wishing rocks. You can even wish for something and stack up your own rocks too. And with that we hope all your wishes comes true!

• Blackstone beach

As the name suggests, there is absolutely no white sand here but thousands of black stones and pebbles. This is why we like this spot & the beach because it is so contrasting to the powdery white sand beaches that Aruba is most famous for and ranks top in. Blackstone beach is a good scenic change and a great way to discover and appreciate the landscape variation that this island offers. However, please note that this beach is not safe to swim as the waves are rough, nor is it somewhere you can lounge as there isn’t any shade. Also, please have shoes on as a lot of the rocks have rounded and softened by the crashing waves however still leaving around some pointy ones at the shore too.

Here is Blackstone beach on the map for you to easily reach to. This beach on the eastern coast of the island is about a little less than 30 minutes from the high rise hotels and about 20 minutes from Oranjestad (downtown).

Aruba Water Excursions

• Diving & Snorkeling trips

Aruba’s underwater scenes are as pretty as its landscape and beaches. Dive in, to be mesmerized by the sites and the beautiful marine life you will get to witness.

From a sunken airplane to a World War II German Freighter (one of the largest shipwrecks in the Caribbean). From a school of colorful fish, huge parrot fish, sea stars to friendly turtles and colorful corals. Aruba has something for everyone.

The best part is that Aruba is great for diving and snorkeling excursions all year round. Being out of the hurricane belt, there isn’t much difference in the temperature during the dry and the wet seasons and the visibility is great throughout the year.

Aruba is a great place to go diving or even take up a diving course as you get to experience several wreck sites around the island, some resulting from accidents whereas some placed as part of an artificial reef program. From exploring freighters from the WWII to sunken airplanes, Aruba is a divers paradise.

Our personal favourite was just snorkeling around this WWII Antilla shipwreck, the visibility is so great you can see plenty of marine life in and around this wreck and mainly be blown away by the sheer scale of this World War II German Freighter.

There are several tour companies you can sign up with, such as Aruba Watersports Center, DePalm Tours Aruba, Red Sail Sports Aruba, Pelican Adventures to name a few. You can find the one that best suits you and has the availability.

Also, there are a few boat trips that offer freestyle rope swing jump from the boat which we found to be so thrilling and a must do! Just imagine jumping into those deep blue hues in the middle of the Caribbean Sea! Definitely one for an adventure junkies bucket list!

• Watersports:

Now that you have enjoyed the underwater beauty of this Caribbean Sea and also enjoyed laying on the soft white sand, it is time to play on the water and through the waves. Imagine speeding through and bumping along the shades of blue with sun shining over you! Hop on a jet ski and zip through the water, or jump in a tube and this time not to float in peace but get your heart pumping as you twist and turn and bump on the waves. Be prepared to scream and fall off but that’s part of the fun and what fuels your adventurous soul right?

Another fun watersport we love that we find thrilling yet so relaxing is going Parasailing. This is a perfect activity to partake in, to get that bird’s eye view of the island, shades of the shimmering blue sea, stretches of white sand beaches and on a clear day, even witnessing iconic landmarks such as the Lighthouse, Hooiberg etc, all this while being gently swayed by the tradewinds.

Tip of caution: You can carry your camera up there to take videos/pictures but in such cases we always recommend having a waterproof camera. Many parasailing trips end with a dip in the water however if you don’t want to be dipped in, inform the desk and the boat crew prior to taking off, we did so for my mom.

Also, don’t expect to go single, at times you will have to go doubles and all that depends on your weight and even the wind conditions that day. You can confirm that while purchasing your tickets.

Aruba Air Excursions

We told you Aruba has no shortage of activities to indulge in. If the above list still doesn’t boost your adrenaline and if you are looking to challenge yourself further, Aruba even has sky diving for all you dare devils. We haven’t tried it ourselves yet as it is something we are still building up courage for but if that’s something you are up for, go for it and share your experiences down below! It will help us in the courage building process.

Also, be sure to check out the links below to add more experiences and excursions while in Aruba for that active soul of yours.

• Culinary: We are sure a day full of activities has got your hungry, click here for some scrumptious treats to satiate your growling stomachs.
• Art & History: To know more about the island you just fell in love with click here & uncover even more shades of Aruba.
• Fitness/Wellness: To partake in such adventurous activities one must keep fit. Click here for some scenic workout options/activities you are sure to love.
• Retail therapy: It is only fair to take back some memorabilia in the form of souvenirs to remind you of this adventurous getaway. Click to find out.
• Honeymoon/Babymooners/R&R: Sure this day of adventure has got you super tired & some R&R is all you need to recover. Click for 6 relaxing activities perfect for a relaxing time.
• Bonus: Still craving for some more adventure? Then you will love this Bonus point, click to find out.

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