Days 1 and 2: beach and town

Arrive, check in and spend the first day on your hotel beach: Eagle Beach is wide and low-rise, Palm Beach has the high-rise resorts and the restaurant strip (see where to stay in Aruba). On day 2 take the capital: Fort Zoutman (1798), the Willem III Tower, the Historical Museum between them and the Archeological Museum in the Ecury house, plus the Tuesday Bon Bini Festival at 6:30 pm (see Oranjestad). The walking tour is 2.5 hours and runs Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9:15 am.

Days 3 and 4: interior and sea

Put the island safari early in the week (day 3 here) so that if the Natural Pool is too rough you can move it; the pool is safe to swim only in calm seas, and it sits in Arikok National Park, which ordinary cars cannot enter beyond the checkpoints (see Aruba's Natural Pool). On day 4, take the snorkel sail, or the Atlantis Submarine if you prefer to stay dry (on Viator; see the submarine tour).

Day 5: the north coast

The California Lighthouse opens daily 9:00 am to 7:00 pm for $5 and is the natural end of the day at sunset. On the way, Malmok has shallow snorkeling water and Arashi has a west-facing beach and free shade huts that go quickly (see Malmok Beach, Arashi Beach and California Lighthouse). Add Alto Vista Chapel on the hilltop in Noord.

Day 6: De Palm Island

The ticket includes the ferry, lunch, an open bar, snorkel gear and a kids' water park according to the island's help center; ferries run every 15 minutes and check-in closes at 2:00 pm (see De Palm Island).

Day 7: the southeast or a free day

The southeast has Baby Beach, the San Nicolas murals and the Donkey Sanctuary (see San Nicolas and Donkey Sanctuary). If you want Arikok instead, the park is open 8:00 am to 4:00 pm and the caves are covered in Fontein Cave. Keep this day open for a rescheduled tour.

Typical mistakes

  • Scheduling every day with a booking: keep one open day for a tour that is moved by weather.
  • Putting De Palm Island on the departure day: check-in closes at 2:00 pm and the island closes at 5:00 pm.
  • Booking the walking tour for a day it does not run.

FAQ

Is a week too long in Aruba?

No. The island is small, but a week fits tours, beach days and one open day without rushing.

What if the Natural Pool is closed to swimming?

Move the safari to the spare day, or swim at Baby Beach, which the tourism board calls the calmest water on the island.

How much do the paid items cost?

For one adult, the three GetYourGuide tours depend on the date and group size; add $5 for the lighthouse and $129 for De Palm Island.

Do I need a car for a week?

Not necessarily: tours, taxis and the bus cover this plan; a rental car from about €88 a day helps on days 5 and 7 (see renting a car).

Aruba Authority editorial team, 7 November 2026.