Outdoors · Aruba
8 best outdoor things to do in Aruba
Parks, viewpoints and open-air sights for the dry, bright days.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Natalie Liao Jen, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Quick answer
Start with Arikok National Park, Conchi natural pool and Fontein and Quadirikiri caves. Together the 8 picks below take roughly 17–22 hours across 6 areas; 3 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 8
- Free entry
- 3
- Time to see them all
- 17–22 hours
- Areas
- Northeast coast, Arikok National Park and San Nicolas
Outdoors in Aruba
Nature · Northeast coast
1.Arikok National Park
Go early in the morning with plenty of water; there is very little shade and the midday sun is fierce.
- Time needed
- Half a day to a full day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Active
- Photo spot
- Iconic
Nature · Arikok National Park
2.Conchi natural pool
Wear water shoes for the rocks, and do not swim if waves are breaking strongly over the edge.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours including the drive
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Nature
- Active
- Outdoors
Nature · Arikok National Park
3.Fontein and Quadirikiri caves
Visit Quadirikiri late in the morning, when light beams through the roof openings are strongest.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- History
- Nature
- Photo spot
Beach · San Nicolas
4.Baby Beach
Stay inside the lagoon when snorkelling; strong currents run beyond the mouth of the bay.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Kids
- Free
- Outdoors
Beach · Malmok and Arashi
5.Boca Catalina and Tres Trapi
Bring your own snorkel gear and come before 10am, when catamaran groups start to arrive.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Kids
Experience · Malmok and Arashi
6.Antilla shipwreck
Catamaran snorkel cruises from Palm Beach often combine the Antilla with Boca Catalina; morning trips usually have calmer water.
- Time needed
- Half a day by boat
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Active
- History
- Nature
Nature · Savaneta
7.Mangel Halto
Stay inside the reef unless you are a strong swimmer; currents increase beyond it.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Active
Garden · Palm Beach
8.Butterfly Farm
Go in the morning, when butterflies are most active; wearing bright colours attracts them.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Nature
- Photo spot
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Northeast coast | Arikok National Park | Half a day to a full day |
| Arikok National Park | Conchi natural pool and Fontein and Quadirikiri caves | 2–3 hours including the drive + 1 hour |
| San Nicolas | Baby Beach | Half a day |
| Malmok and Arashi | Boca Catalina and Tres Trapi and Antilla shipwreck | 2 hours + Half a day by boat |
| Savaneta | Mangel Halto | 2–3 hours |
| Palm Beach | Butterfly Farm | 1 hour |
Booking and timing
Of these 8, 3 free, 2 low cost, 3 mid-priced. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Arikok National Park; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 6 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Northeast coast): Arikok National Park, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Arikok National Park): Conchi natural pool → Fontein and Quadirikiri caves, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 3 (San Nicolas): Baby Beach, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 4 (Malmok and Arashi): Boca Catalina and Tres Trapi, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 5 (Malmok and Arashi): Antilla shipwreck, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 6 (Savaneta and Palm Beach): Mangel Halto → Butterfly Farm, at least 3 hours.
The best months to be outside
- May: highs of 32°C (90°F), about 1 rainy days, moderate crowds. Hot, dry and noticeably quieter, with lower hotel rates after the winter season.
- March: highs of 31°C (88°F), about 2 rainy days, very busy crowds. Very dry and sunny; spring-break and Easter crowds keep prices high.
- April: highs of 31°C (88°F), about 2 rainy days, busy crowds. Still dry and breezy; prices start to ease after Easter.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Palm Beach — High-rise resorts, watersports piers and the island's densest strip of bars and restaurants
- Malmok and Arashi — Villas, snorkelling coves and the northern tip near the California Lighthouse
- Savaneta — Old fishing village on the south coast with mangrove lagoons and the Zeerovers fish shack
- San Nicolas — Former refinery town covered in large street murals, near Baby Beach
More of Aruba
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Aruba?
Arikok National Park. The national park protects about a fifth of the island: cactus-covered hills, the sand dunes at Boca Prins, the small sheltered bay of Dos Playa and caves with Arawak rock drawings.
+Which of these are free in Aruba?
Baby Beach, Boca Catalina and Tres Trapi and Mangel Halto.