May 1, 2017

One Happy Island

mdoutofoffice Aruba, Travel ABC, Aruba, Onehappyisland, Travelcouple

GETTING LOST IN ARUBA

Aruba also called the “One Happy Island” stays true to its name with its beautiful weather, gorgeous beaches, amazing food and so much to do. Aruba is just under 70 square miles in area and is not your typical tropical island. Well, first of all, because it’s not tropical at all. It is arid, semi-barren and full of surprising contrasts. The south side of the island you see white sand with turquoise transparent waters and o the north side you will find a stormy fusion of dark blue waves crashing violently against the rocks. Welcome to our guide of how to see Aruba in 6 days.

GETTING AROUND THE ISLAND

As mentioned earlier, the island is pretty small and we were told you could drive around the whole island in less than 4 hours. So we decided to rent a car to tour the island. Besides based on our research we also found that renting a taxi could get expensive if we wanted to get to one place to another. There are several companies that offer car rentals however we decided to go with a local business called More4Less, Aruba Top Drive. These guys carry a range of cars to fit your budget.

In Aruba, adventure begins when the road ends. Don’t let the road limit the adventures in you, go off roading. Most of the north of the Island is only accessible by a Jeep or a 4×4. To explore this side of the island, we highly recommend splurging a little and renting one for a day to explore this side of the island.

Not comfortable driving on your own…worry not!!! There are several tour companies that can take you here and give you the experience without the hassle.

WHERE WE STAYED

Boardwalk Hotel: We wanted a good mixture of adventure and relaxations. So for the first three days we decided to stay at a boutique hotel where we could go out and explore local restaurants and bars. The rooms were absolutely adorable and spacious and the hotel was an excellent balance between modern and tropical which offered an intimate, peaceful and relaxing setting.

Riu Palace: For the last 3 days of our stay we decided to indulge in an all inclusive resort to end of our vacation relaxing in a pool or by the beach enjoying while sipping on some margaritas. Riu Palace was the perfect place to do this as it had all the things we had hoped for to have a hassle free vacation.

Be sure to check out our stays for full details of our stay in ARUBA!!!

HAPPY BELLY

Flying Fishbone

This place gives the romantic dinner by the beach a whole new meaning. Located a little in the east of the island, this restaurant is located in Savaneta. The dining tables here are literally placed in water and your toes are in the sand while you are dining here. With tiki torches and table lanterns, the ambiance is set just right for a lovely dinner. The pleasant atmosphere was enhanced with food that was not only fresh but also flavorful.

For those who don’t want to get their feet wet, there is also an option to be seated in the intimate open-air dining area where you can also enjoy the sunset.

Screaming Eagle

If you want to stay within the downtown area of Aruba and enjoy a chic- classy dining experience with your better half, this is the place to be. This place is a good mix of lounge, bar and restaurant but the most unique concept this place boats is its “dinner-in bed” experience. Yes!! this place has nice comfortable lounge beds which can easily fit you and your partner for a nice relaxing meal. The chef here sure knows his way around the kitchen. The restaurant has a diverse menu which included a wide selection of options. From the very first bite to our last bite, the flavors were just perfect and we wanted to savor every bite of our food.

TOP 5 THINGS TO SEE IN ARUBA

Apart from the beaches, Aruba has a lot to offer. Here is our list of things to see while in Aruba:

Underwater Reef: Aruba is home to some of the best snorkelling in the Caribbean. So if you are a fan of exploring the underwater world with a pair of fins and mask, we highly suggest hoping onto a sailing cruise which will take you right in the middle of it all to explore the open sea. We decided to book with Monfore Cruise to get a good balance between luxury and adventure. They are unique when compared to other snorkeling + sailing tours as they take you to the Spanish Lagoon at Mango Halto located on the west coast of the island as suppose to the east coast which can get crowded with tourists. The ship was also very spacious and they limit the number of people they book to 30, so it does not feel cramped. Above all, the crew was amazing, the food was exceptional and the drinks were unlimited. This was definitely the highlight of our trip in Aruba.

Tip: If you are on a budget, there are several other companies that can take you for a shorter trip just for the snorkeling experience.

Hike to Conchi: If you loving hiking and don’t mind getting up early, we highly recommend doing a hike to conchi / natural pool. On the hike towards conchi, you will be able to take in the colors of the various landscapes including sand dunes and rocky mountains. The best way to do this would be to drive to Daimari and park at the horse ranch and make your way on foot to Daimari beach. From there it is about an hour hike along the shore to the natural pool. When you are there, you’ll be ready for a swim!!

Tip: If the hike is a lot, you can also opt for a horseback riding tour that can take you to the natural pool through the daimari beach. There are no amenities here, just a lot of natural beauty, so make sure to carry a lot of water and some snacks.

Rock Wish Garden: If you decide to rent a 4×4/UTV or ATV and venture to the north side of the island, you will find an entire mile of the countless stacks of rocks lying on the beach. This is the wishing rock garden, where you can leave a trace of yourself and your visit behind by stacking numerous rocks in a pile. Each rock in the pile represents a wish you have.

California Lighthouse: Located a quick 30 minute drive from the hotel strip is a must visit. We were told it was one of the best places to see the sunset and it did not disappoint. For $8, you could go all the way up to the lighthouse and witness the amazing views.

Tip: La Trattoria is an italian restaurant located right next to the lighthouse where you can enjoy a meal with the amazing sunset views.

Arikok National Park: Located in the north of the island, is Arikok national Park where you can spend your entire day enjoying dramatic landscapes of limestone cliffs, desert and stunning wildlife. There is a small fee of $11 to enter but it is well worth it as the park has a lot of to see including the Guardiriki and Fontein Caves.

Tip: IF you like guided tours, there are several companies like De Palm tours you can take to explore the island with a guided travel guide.