| Day | Plan | Offer read 6 Nov 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive, check in, Oranjestad on foot (walking tour Monday, Wednesday or Friday, 9:15 am), then a sunset sail | Walking tour, 2.5 hours; Noord happy hour sunset cruise |
| 2 | Interior and coast: Arikok park, Natural Pool, Baby Beach, California Lighthouse | Island jeep safari |
| 3 | A day on the water | Palm Beach champagne brunch and aqua safari |
Ratings on GetYourGuide; prices depend on the date and group size.
How to adapt it
- Arrival day: the taxi to Eagle Beach is $37 and to Palm Beach $41; see airport transfers and where to stay. The walking tour only runs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, so swap days 1 and 3 if you land on another day.
- Two days: keep day 2 (the island safari) and day 3 (the snorkel sail); skip the walking tour.
- One day: the island safari is the single best use of a day; or the 4.5-hour half-day jeep safari if you also want an afternoon at the beach.
- Four days or more: add De Palm Island (open 10:00 to 17:00, check-in closes at 2:00 pm).
- Budget and timing: the cost of a trip; when to go.
Related: a first-time guide to Aruba.
Arrival: the entry fee and the first evening
Arriving by air, you pay a sustainability fee of $20 per visitor (children under 8 are exempt), paid online with the ED card before you travel. See the cost of a trip. Then take the fixed-fare taxi: $37 to Eagle Beach or $41 to Palm Beach, per taxi for up to 4 people (see airport transfers).
Day by day
Day 1: Oranjestad and the sunset. The walking tour starts at 9:15 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and lasts 2.5 hours. The historic center is easy on foot in half a day: Fort Zoutman, built in 1798, is the oldest building on the island, and the Willem III Tower beside it dates from 1868. In the evening, the sunset catamaran lasts 2 hours and leaves at 5:30 p.m.
Day 2: the interior and the west coast. The island jeep safari starts at 8:30 a.m. and lasts about 8 hours. Its route covers Arikok National Park, the Natural Pool and Baby Beach, with a barbecue lunch. The park is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and the Natural Pool can be reached only in a 4x4. Swim there only in calm seas. End the day at the California Lighthouse, which is open from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and costs $5 to enter. Stay for sunset, when the green flash can appear.
Day 3: a day on the water. The snorkel sail lasts about 3 hours and goes to the Antilla wreck, a 400-foot German freighter about 60 feet down off Malmok Beach. Snorkelers can see the hull from the surface. The sail leaves from the Palm Beach strip.
Day 4, if you have one more day: De Palm Island. The island is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and check-in closes at 2:00 p.m. The day pass includes the ferry, a buffet, an open bar, snorkeling and a water park. The official site lists the entry from $129. See De Palm Island for details.
What to book ahead
- The jeep safari and the walking tour: book at least a few days ahead, since the walking tour runs only three days a week.
- The sunset catamaran and the snorkel sail: book the day before, as departures fill up on busy days.
- De Palm Island: book the day before, and arrive at check-in before 2:00 p.m.
FAQ
How many days do I need in Aruba?
Three days cover the town, the interior and the sea. Two days cover the interior and the sea; one day is enough for the island safari only.
Which day should I do the Natural Pool?
Day 2 in this route, as part of the island safari. The pool is only safe for swimming in calm seas, so keep a spare day in case your guide advises against it; see the Natural Pool.
Do I need a car for this itinerary?
No: the tours are guided and the safari offers hotel pickup. Taxis are fixed-fare, see getting around.
Aruba Authority editorial team, 6 November 2026.
