| Day | Plan | Hours and price |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive, Oranjestad, sunset | Fort Zoutman area free; Octopus sunset sail $89.99 |
| 2 | Island jeep safari | About 8 hours |
| 3 | Palm Beach champagne brunch and aqua safari and Eagle Beach | About 3 hours |
| 4 | North coast: lighthouse, chapel, Arashi | Lighthouse $5, 9:00 am to 7:00 pm |
| 5 | Arikok caves and the east | Park 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, $22 per non-resident adult |
Day 1: arrive and see the capital
Keep the first day light. A taxi from the airport is $26 to Oranjestad, $37 to Eagle Beach and $41 to Palm Beach, per taxi for up to four passengers. Oranjestad has Fort Zoutman (1798), the Willem III Tower (1868) and two museums within a short walk; the Bon Bini Festival is held there on Tuesdays at 6:30 pm (see Oranjestad). End the day with a sunset catamaran: the Octopus is two hours, 5:00 to 7:00 pm, with an open bar (see Aruba sunset cruises).
Day 2: the island safari
The safari leaves at 8:30 am and includes the Natural Pool, Baby Beach and a barbecue lunch. The Natural Pool is inside Arikok National Park, where ordinary cars cannot go past the checkpoints, so a guided jeep tour is the practical way (see Aruba's Natural Pool). Swimming is safe only when the sea is calm.
Day 3: a sail and a beach afternoon
Take the Palm Beach champagne brunch and aqua safari in the morning or afternoon, then spend the rest of the day on a public beach. Eagle Beach is wide, with low-rise hotels; Palm Beach has the piers and restaurants (see Eagle Beach and Palm Beach). For the wreck from a boat, read the Antilla shipwreck.
Day 4: the north coast
The California Lighthouse is open every day from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm and costs $5; the tourism board recommends sunset for the green flash. On the same road are Malmok Beach, Arashi Beach and, a short drive away, Alto Vista Chapel (see California Lighthouse, Malmok Beach and Alto Vista Chapel). Without a car, the EL Tours Explore Aruba bus tour covers the same area for $59 per person in 4.5 hours.
Day 5: Arikok caves and the east
Arikok National Park is open daily 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. Fontein Cave has Arawak pictographs and Quadirikiri has daylight through holes in its roof; both need the park ticket (see Fontein Cave, Quadirikiri Cave and Arikok National Park). The Donkey Sanctuary in the southeast is free and open daily 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, so it fits the same day.
What to swap
- Add De Palm Island on day 3 instead of the sail: open daily 10:00 to 17:00, from $129, ticket sales close at 2:00 pm (see De Palm Island).
- A rainy day: use the museums and the submarine in Aruba rainy day activities.
- Shorter: drop day 5 for 4 days in Aruba; longer: 7 days in Aruba.
Typical mistakes
- Putting the Natural Pool on the last day: calm seas decide whether you can swim, and a spare day gives you room.
- Planning Arikok after 3:00 pm: the park closes at 4:00 pm.
- Forgetting that taxis cost $5 more on Sundays, holidays and between 11 pm and 7 am.
FAQ
Is 5 days too long for Aruba?
No: it fits the main sights at an easy pace, and four to seven days is the range most plans use.
Can I do the island without a car?
Yes, with the island safari, the EL Tours bus tour ($59) and taxis; see getting around Aruba.
Which day should be the beach day?
Day 3 or whichever day the weather is best; January to April is the driest stretch (see the best time to visit Aruba).
What does it cost for one adult?
Paid items on this plan: the two GetYourGuide tours (the price depends on date and group size), $5 for the lighthouse, $22 for the park and about $90 for the sunset sail, before the hotel and meals.
Aruba Authority editorial team, 7 November 2026.
