Aruba Day Trips: Islands, Park, South Coast

October 30, 2026

Day Trips on a Small Island

Aruba measures about 32 km by 10 km, so a day trip here means a full day built around one area, not a long journey. There is no passenger ferry to Curacao or Bonaire; those islands are reached by plane only. The options that work well are the two resort islands off the coast, Arikok National Park, and a loop through the south. Prices are in US dollars.

De Palm Island

A ferry leaves from Port De Palm in Balashi for this private island. Entry starts from $129 and covers food and drinks, the water park, a snorkel tour, a banana boat ride and the flamingos. Packages that include transport from your hotel cost more, from about $183. Sea Trek and SNUBA add-ons start from $55 for ages 8 and up. Private cabanas start from $299 and beach cabanas from $449. The splash park has a minimum height of 112 cm, children under 10 need supervision, and life jackets are required. Check the ferry times and opening hours with the island when you book.

Renaissance Island

This is a resort island, and non-guests can buy a day pass only when occupancy allows. Passes are sold online only, in limited numbers, and often sell out. Adult prices run roughly $125 to $150. There are no walk-up tickets, so confirm availability on the resort’s booking page. Flamingo Beach on the island is adults-only, while Iguana Beach suits families.

Arikok National Park

Plan a morning in the park, then cool off elsewhere. The day pass is $22 for adults, under-17s are free, and the gates are open from 8:00 to 16:00 each day. The Natural Pool (Conchi) is a highlight, reachable by 4x4, guided Jeep, horseback or a roughly 7.7 km round-trip walk from the visitor center. Rangers can close swimming in high surf. ATVs and UTVs are not allowed in the park.

A South Coast Loop

Drive south to San Nicolas to see its street murals, then stop at Charlie’s Bar, open since 1941. Continue to Seroe Colorado and Baby Beach, a shallow, sheltered lagoon. Keep children inside the lagoon and away from the open channel, where currents are strong. Baby Beach is outside Arikok, and nearby Mangel Halto is a beach for shore snorkeling, not an island.

Getting Around

Arubus public buses cost $2.60 for a single ride and $15 for a day pass. Taxis are not metered, with a $10 minimum fare. Rental cars give the most freedom on a loop day, and 4x4s are needed only for the park’s rougher tracks.

Practical Notes

Leave nothing valuable in a parked car, and expect afternoon heat with little shade. Hurricane season runs June to November.

Tours that bundle several of these stops are listed on Viator . Park details are on the conservation foundation site , and the De Palm Island site lists add-ons.