Day trips · Aruba
4 best day trips from Aruba
Where to go when you want a day away from Aruba, and how long it really takes.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Aruba Paradise Photos, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
The classic day trip from Aruba is Southeast coast: Savaneta, San Nicolas and Baby Beach (About 40 minutes by car from Palm Beach). The closest option is De Palm Island, about 15 km away.
Key facts
- Day trips in this guide
- 4
- Closest
- De Palm Island (15 km)
- Most popular
- Southeast coast: Savaneta, San Nicolas and Baby Beach
Day trips compared
| Destination | Distance | Travel time | How | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southeast coast: Savaneta, San Nicolas and Baby Beach | 30 km | About 40 minutes by car from Palm Beach | Rental car or Arubus to San Nicolas | Families, Food lovers, Culture |
| Arikok and the east coast by jeep | 20 km | About 30 minutes to the park entrance from Palm Beach | Guided jeep or UTV tour, or a rented 4x4 | First-timers, Families, Solo travellers |
| De Palm Island | 15 km | About 25 minutes by road, then a short ferry | Hotel pick-up included in day passes, then ferry from the De Palm pier | Families, First-timers |
| Curaçao | 120 km | About 30 minutes by plane | Short regional flight to Curaçao International Airport | Culture, Couples |
The day trips
30 km · About 40 minutes by car from Palm Beach
1.Southeast coast: Savaneta, San Nicolas and Baby Beach
Drive down the south coast for snorkelling at Mangel Halto, a fried-fish lunch at Zeerovers in Savaneta, the murals of San Nicolas and an afternoon swim in the shallow lagoon at Baby Beach. It shows a quieter, more local side of the island than the hotel coast.
- Getting there
- Rental car or Arubus to San Nicolas
- Best for
- Families, Food lovers, Culture
20 km · About 30 minutes to the park entrance from Palm Beach
2.Arikok and the east coast by jeep
Most jeep tours loop through Arikok National Park to the Conchi natural pool, the caves at Fontein and Quadirikiri, and the dunes at Boca Prins, often returning past the Bushiribana ruins and the California Lighthouse. Expect a bumpy, dusty but rewarding day.
- Getting there
- Guided jeep or UTV tour, or a rented 4x4
- Best for
- First-timers, Families, Solo travellers
15 km · About 25 minutes by road, then a short ferry
3.De Palm Island
A small private island off the south coast operated as an all-inclusive day resort, with snorkelling among blue parrotfish, a children's water park and optional activities such as underwater sea walks. It suits families wanting a full day of organised activities.
- Getting there
- Hotel pick-up included in day passes, then ferry from the De Palm pier
- Best for
- Families, First-timers
120 km · About 30 minutes by plane
4.Curaçao
The neighbouring ABC island has the colourful waterfront of Willemstad, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Queen Emma pontoon bridge and coves along its west coast. A day trip is possible by plane, though an overnight stay makes more sense.
- Getting there
- Short regional flight to Curaçao International Airport
- Best for
- Culture, Couples
Day-trip tips
- Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
- Buses on the hotel route are frequent during the day; services thin out in the evening, so check the last bus before heading out.
- For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best day trip from Aruba?
Southeast coast: Savaneta, San Nicolas and Baby Beach. Drive down the south coast for snorkelling at Mangel Halto, a fried-fish lunch at Zeerovers in Savaneta, the murals of San Nicolas and an afternoon swim in the shallow lagoon at Baby Beach.
+How long does it take to get from Aruba to Southeast coast: Savaneta, San Nicolas and Baby Beach?
About 40 minutes by car from Palm Beach — Rental car or Arubus to San Nicolas, about 30 km.
+How long does it take to get from Aruba to Arikok and the east coast by jeep?
About 30 minutes to the park entrance from Palm Beach — Guided jeep or UTV tour, or a rented 4x4, about 20 km.