Our April 2015 trip to Aruba was by far one of our favorite vacations ever.
What began as a spur-of-the-moment decision led us to discover one of our most cherished vacation destinations. Originally planning a trip to Florida, fate intervened, guiding us to the sun-kissed shores of Aruba. With Southwest Airlines offering irresistible deals, we seized the opportunity and embarked on a journey that exceeded all expectations.
Two weeks later, we had our toes in the water and booty’s in the sand, beach’n in the Caribbean, and exploring Aruba.
Our trip to Aruba
We stayed at Tropicana Aruba at Eagle Beach, ranked as one of the top 10 beaches in the world. It’s easy to see why!
We spent very little time at the hotel. Instead, we spent our days at the beach and exploring all the island had to offer. I’m glad we didn’t choose an all-inclusive resort option, because I wouldn’t have wanted to spend most of our time in one place. It’s so easy to get around Aruba and there are so many amazing restaurants to try out. There’s also a great grocery store to stock up on things like beach snacks.
The people of the island were very friendly. Though English is not the native language of Aruba, everyone that we interacted with on our trip spoke fluent English, including the native residents.
What We Loved About Aruba
1. Amazing weather
Aruba has AMAZING weather year round. You don’t have to worry about a hurricane ruining your trip – the island is outside of the hurricane belt. We had so much sunshine, perfect temperatures in the mid eighties, and a constant light breeze from the trade winds to keep us cool…. every day. It rained only for a few minutes early one morning before we woke up. Sunblock is a necessity, and lots of it! The sun can be intense.
2. Simplicity of getting around the island
It was easy to get around and see all of Aruba. They have a great and convenient transportation system. From the airport, we took a taxi to our hotel. From our hotel, we walked across the street to Super Food – a large grocery store. We took a taxi to dinner on a couple occasions, and also had one drop us off at rental car company where we rented Jeeps for exploring on our own terms.
3. Pristine beaches
Ah the beaches! We visited a lot of beaches on Aruba, and not a single one could disappoint. Aruba’s beaches have been ranked amongst the cleanest, widest, most picturesque and loved in all of the Caribbean. Here are the beaches we visited:
Eagle Beach: The sand is like white powder. It’s super clean and not at all overly crowded. Also, it’s one of the top beaches for sea turtle nesting! In the final days of our trip, there were several markings on Eagle Beach where sea turtles had laid eggs overnight.
Palm Beach: This beautiful white sand beach has the most entertainment, and the most hotels and resorts. There are lots of stores, restaurants, and bars.
Baby Beach: Baby Beach sits on a lagoon, making it very calm, shallow, and ideal for families with small children. It’s on the southern part of the island.
Malmok Beach: Just north of Palm Beach. Not the greatest for laying out and beach going, but the waters and coves of Malmok Beach are awesome for snorkeling! On the drive to Malmok Beach, you’ll get a nice view of the sprawling houses overlooking the sea.
Arashi Beach: Just north of Malmok Beach (and south of the California Lighthouse). Another really great one for snorkeling! It has a large parking area, making it a convenient stop on the way to or from the lighthouse.
4. Amazing food & entertainment
There are so many wonderful restaurants in Aruba. There’s also a large Super Food grocery store in the Eagle Beach area which we visited a few times to stock up on beach and road trip snacks.
Some of favorite places we visited (in 2015) included Gianni’s Restaurant (Palm Beach), Smokey Joe’s Island Grill (Palm Beach), Sopranos Piano Bar (Palm Beach), Passions On The Beach (Eagle Beach).
5. Endless adventures
Aruba offers a plethora of opportunities for adventures under the sun. Here are some of our favorite adventurous experiences exploring Aruba:
Exploring Arikok National Park: One of the funnest things we did on Aruba was drive along the rigid desert east coast of Arikok National Park in our rented Jeeps. There are lots of trails you can take here with an off-road vehicle, some being more treacherous than others, and all with amazing sights! There’s an awesome gold mine ruin in this national park, and a natural pool for swimming.
Visiting the California Lighthouse: On the northern point of Aruba is the popular tourist attraction the California Lighthouse. Not only will you see gorgeous views at the lighthouse, but the drive there offers beautiful sights as well. At the site of the lighthouse, there was a food trailer offering refreshments, including fresh smoothies – with or without rum. 🥥
Aruba is one happy island indeed. If it’s not already on there, add it to your bucket list! There’s so much to love about this charming island. For more information on the island and planning your trip to Aruba, check out Aruba Travel Guide 2024: The Up-to-Date Guide with Detailed Itineraries, Cultural Insights, and Sustainable Travel Practices to Experience Aruba Like Never Before.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Some of the links above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services that I believe will add value to my readers.