Aruba Holidays

See a different side of the Caribbean on Aruba, with its idyllic palm-fringed beaches, picturesque Dutch colonial-style architecture and appealingly multicultural culinary scene.

Pristine beaches of pillowy white sand, a brightly painted capital with a distinctly Dutch appearance and a starkly dramatic interior: Aruba is the Caribbean with a characterful twist. This tropical island just off the coast of Venezuela is below the hurricane belt, with a paltry 18 inches of rain a year – and it shows. Instead of lush, humid rainforest, Aruba’s interior is strikingly arid, the ancient rocky landscapes of what is now a national park punctuated by sculptural cactuses and hardy succulents. There are no rivers to speak of, just a sparse spider’s web of streams, which helps to keep the reef-edged ocean around it crystal-clear for epic snorkelling and diving adventures.

With cloudless skies almost every day of the year, there’s never a bad time to come to Aruba, even if all you want to do is soak up the sun on a coral-built beach in reach of sleek bars and boutiques or a tucked-away cove on wilder shores. But that benign climate is also an invitation to explore. Wander around the streets of the charming capital to admire the pastel-hued historic architecture, browse designer stores and lively flea markets, and discover upmarket eateries and local food trucks. Hike or ride the trails through protected landscapes in search of cave paintings and unique wildlife, and finish at a natural pool that’s all but inaccessible any other way.

Call us today and let us help you build your dream Aruba holiday, from the perfect place to stay to the experiences that will immerse you in island life.

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Aruba Hotels

Our recommendations for the best places to stay in Aruba

Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort Aruba

Set your watch to island time for an adults-only sandy-footed luxe escape.

Manchebo Beach Resort & Spa

This small slice of heaven on Aruba’s most coveted beach pulls in a stylish crowd looking for pea...

Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort, Palm Beach

A spectacular stretch of sand. A multi-million-dollar renovation. Casual Caribbean luxury. This z...

Divi Aruba All Inclusive

When you want relaxation combined with plenty of activities and a choice of places to eat and dri...

Tamarijn Aruba All Inclusive

Warm breezes gently rustle the lofty palms that watch over a pristine, white-sand beach dotted wi...

Aruba Snorkelling Cruise

Explore the beautiful waters of Aruba on a half-day snorkelling trip aboard the Palm Pleasure, a 70-foot catamaran. You’ll stop at the Antilla shipwreck, Boca Catalina, and Arashi Reef to spot sea life and colourful coral reefs beneath the surface. Relax and enjoy the views while sipping a refreshing drink from the open bar when sailing between locations.

• Duration: half day
• Time: 9am to 1pm
• Daily departures\ • Operates year-round
• Group experience

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UTV Adventure

Experience the wild beauty of Aruba with a professionally guided off-road adventure in a UTV vehicle. Visit the hidden Blackstone Beach and other popular stops like Three Bridges Formation, Baby Natural Bridge, Alto Vista Chapel, and California Lighthouse. The adventure also includes passing by the Andicuri Trail, Ayo Rock Formation, and Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins while learning about Aruba's natural wonders and history from knowledgeable guides.

• Duration: half day
• Time: 9.30am to 1pm or 2.15pm to 5.45pm
• Daily departures
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

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Discover Aruba

See Aruba through the eyes of a local on a full-day island tour. Take a ride in an open-air off-road vehicle, seeing everything from the rocky north shore to beautiful Baby Beach.

• Duration: full day
• Time: 9.30am to 4.30pm
• Daily departures\ • Operates year-round
• Group experience

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Aruba's Underwater Discovery

For those looking for an unforgettable adventure in Aruba, a trip in a submarine offers a remarkable opportunity to experience the island's mesmerising marine environment. You’ll board one of a fleet of state-of-the-art submarines, the largest passenger fleet in the world, approved by the U.S. Coast Guard. With the capacity to reach impressive depths, this experience will leave a lasting impression.

• Duration: 1 hour
• Start time: 11am, midday or 1pm
• Daily departures\ • Operates year-round
• Group experience

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Get to know Aruba and those important practicalities when planning your perfect holiday.

Capital
TIME DIFFERENCE

GMT -5 hours

CURRENCY

Aruba florin/guilder

FLYING TIME TO DESTINATION

12¼ hours

RELIGION

Aruba has no official religion but the majority of people are Roman Catholic

LANGUAGE

Papiamento and Dutch

Where is Aruba?
The island of Aruba lies in the southern Caribbean Sea, about 18 miles from the north coast of Venezuela. Curacao and Bonaire, the other members of the ABC Islands as they’re known, lie to the east. This far-flung part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is just 20 miles long and six miles wide, and well-maintained roads make it easy to explore by hire car, taxi, bicycle or even public transport. The international airport just outside the capital Oranjestad has regular services from the UK (with a short pause in Antigua), as well as from North and South America and the nearby islands.

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Oranjestad
Aruba’s vibrant waterfront capital is brimming with high-end restaurants, designer shops and sleek malls, but its scenic palm-edged streets also provide an intriguing insight into this compact harbour city’s past. Walk down streets lined with fabulously gabled colonial-era houses that could have come straight from the Netherlands – apart from the colourful shades they’ve been painted. Stop off at Fort Zoutman, the island’s oldest surviving building; explore the next-door historical museum; and head further back in time at the fascinating National Archaeological Museum. For a dash of popular culture, you can haggle for everything from Aruban cigars to local crafts at one of the two bustling flea markets, the busier of which overlooks the harbour.

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Beaches
The island’s most popular beaches are concentrated towards the north on the sunset-facing side. At the northernmost of these, Arashi, the gentle swell and powder-soft sand attract local and visiting families, and there’s excellent snorkelling right offshore. To the south, Hadicurari is a magnet for wind and kite surfers, with several schools where you can take a lesson. Nearby Palm Beach, backed by glossy resorts and equally glossy boutiques and restaurants, has almost two miles of pristine sand, calm water and watersports galore; neighbouring Eagle Beach is a little quieter, gloriously photogenic and a nesting site for several species of sea turtle. Escape the crowds on Baby Beach, at the southernmost point of Aruba, a half-moon stretch of sand sheltered by an almost circular bay.

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Arikok National Park
Covering around a fifth of the island, Arikok National Park protects some of Aruba’s most extraordinary landscapes. Venture through rugged hills studded with candelabra cactus, past mysterious rocky outcrops, to the windswept coast where the waves have carved out spectacular cave systems and deep sand-edged bays from the coral limestone. Its most celebrated attraction is Conchi, a natural coastal pool only reachable by 4x4, on foot or on horseback. Other sites, such as Fontein Cave – decorated with pictographs by previous Arawak inhabitants – offer a dash of history with the geology. The park’s varied habitats and microclimates provide a haven for a surprising range of flora and fauna, some found nowhere else. Look out for Aruban burrowing owls, colourful indigenous iguanas and the wonderfully named Hummelinck’s vesper mouse.

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Eating & drinking
From its traditional cuisine’s melting pot of influences from Holland, South America and the Caribbean to the international delights brought by more recent visitors, Aruba is a food lover’s dream. There are an estimated 250 places to eat crammed into its 69 square miles, ranging from fine-dining restaurants in restored historic houses to relaxed waterfront cafés and rustic shacks where street-food favourites are served up in brown paper bags. Thanks to the kaleidoscope of global options, you could start the day with breakfast tacos or Dutch pancakes, graze on sushi at lunchtime and round it off with sublime southern Italian creations. Be sure to try local specialities such as the richly flavoured stoba stews, hearty fish chowder and fudge-like cocada made with coconut and lime.

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Aruba Weather

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