Most first-timers plan an Aruba trip around one stretch of resort beach, and miss half the island. The best things to do in Aruba are split between the calm, developed west coast and a rough, cactus-covered east side that feels like a different country.
There's also a mandatory fee to pay before you fly, and it catches people out. Prices below are in US dollars and current as of September 17, 2026.
Before you go: the $20 fee and the ED card
Every visitor flying into Aruba has to complete an online Embarkation and Disembarkation card, known as the ED card, before travel. Since July 1, 2024, the same system also collects a $20 Sustainability Fee per person, which Aruba says funds sewage treatment upgrades and infrastructure.
Children under 8 are exempt, and so is anyone who has already paid within the same calendar year, which helps if you visit twice. The portal takes only credit cards. Use the official site, edcardaruba.aw. Several third-party sites with similar names offer to file the same form for you.
Beaches: the easiest things to do in Aruba
Aruba's beaches are the reason most people come, and they differ more than the brochures suggest.
Beach | Best for | Coast |
|---|---|---|
Eagle Beach | Wide white sand, fewer crowds than Palm Beach | Northwest |
Palm Beach | Restaurants, water sports, resort buzz | Northwest |
Baby Beach | Shallow, calm lagoon for small children | Southeast |
Mangel Halto | Snorkeling among mangroves | South |
Malmok and Boca Catalina | Snorkeling close to shore | North of Palm Beach |
Eagle Beach is the classic postcard, a long stretch of soft sand with the twisted fofoti trees and nesting sea turtles in season. It's quieter than Palm Beach just to the north, which is where the high-rise hotels, bars and boat operators cluster.
Baby Beach is the pick for families. Aruba's tourism board describes it as a half-moon lagoon with water shallow enough to wade out a long way and still touch bottom. It's at the far southeastern end of the island, so it's a drive from the main hotel area.
For snorkeling, the official list starts with Malmok, Boca Catalina, Mangel Halto and Baby Beach. Mangel Halto is the most interesting of those: calm, shallow water around a network of mangroves, with good kayaking and paddleboarding as well.
Arikok National Park: the other side of Aruba
The most underrated of the things to do in Aruba is heading inland and east. Arikok National Park covers 7,907 acres, nearly a fifth of the island, and it's all desert: cacti, dry riverbeds, limestone caves and a wind-battered coastline.
You need a ticket to enter. Aruba's tourism site doesn't list the price, but several recent visitor guides put adult entry for non-residents at $22, with under-18s free. Check at the gate. The park has two entrances, at San Fuego near Santa Cruz and Vader Piet near San Nicolas, and there's no lighting anywhere inside, so plan to leave before dark.
Inside, the main draws are the caves, which hold rock drawings made by the island's early inhabitants, and remote bays such as Boca Prins and Dos Playa. The east coast faces the open ocean, and the surf here is nothing like the west side's. Treat every beach in the park as a place to look, not swim.
The Natural Pool: worth it, with conditions
The Natural Pool, locally called Conchi, is a ring of volcanic rock on the northeast coast that shelters a pool of seawater from the waves. It's one of the most photographed activities to do in Aruba, and of all the things to do in Aruba, it takes the most planning to reach.
According to Aruba's tourism board, you can get there only by 4x4, on horseback, or on foot, and the hike takes three to four hours round trip. Regular rental cars can't handle the track.
Go on a calm day. The same source warns that swimming is safe only when the sea is calm, that waves can crash over the rocks, and that conditions change quickly. Follow ranger advice, and don't climb out onto the outer rocks for a photo when the ocean is up.
A guided 4x4 or UTV tour is the easiest option for most visitors, since you skip the driving and the park entry is often included. Confirm that before booking.
Flamingo Beach: know the access rules first
The flamingos on Renaissance Island are the best-known photo among things to do in Aruba, and the access rules are widely misunderstood. The island belongs to the Renaissance resort, and Flamingo Beach is reserved mainly for its guests.
Non-guests can sometimes buy a day pass, but availability is limited, passes are released in small batches, and prices vary by date and package. Treat any price you see online as a rough guide and check the resort's own booking page. If flamingos are the main reason you're going, book a stay at the Renaissance rather than counting on a day pass.
What to do in Aruba beyond the beach
Book a snorkel or dive trip. Aruba's tourism board lists snorkeling and scuba diving among its main water activities, and Palm Beach is where most water sports operators are based.
See the capital. Oranjestad has the cruise terminal, shopping and colonial-era buildings in Dutch Caribbean pastels, and it's easy to reach from the hotel strip.
Eat locally. Look for keshi yena, a baked dish of spiced chicken in cheese, and pastechi, the fried pastries sold for breakfast across the island.
Planning your Aruba things to do by trip length
On a three-day trip, the most rewarding things to do in Aruba are on the west coast: Eagle Beach one day, a morning snorkel at Mangel Halto or Boca Catalina, and an evening in Oranjestad or Palm Beach.
With five days or more, add Arikok National Park and a Natural Pool tour on the calmest forecast day, then spend a morning at Baby Beach on the way back.
Common questions about things to do in Aruba
What are the best things to do in Aruba for first-time visitors?
Eagle Beach, a snorkel at Mangel Halto or Boca Catalina, and a guided trip into Arikok National Park give the best mix of the island's two sides.
Do you need a 4x4 in Aruba?
Only for the Natural Pool and rougher parts of Arikok. A regular rental car handles the beaches, Oranjestad and the paved roads.
Which things to do in Aruba suit young children?
Baby Beach first, for its shallow lagoon, then Eagle Beach. Save the Natural Pool and the east coast for when the kids are older and stronger swimmers.
How much does it cost to enter Arikok National Park?
Aruba's official tourism site confirms a ticket is required but doesn't list the price. Recent visitor guides report $22 for adult non-residents and free entry for under-18s.
What activities to do in Aruba are free?
The public beaches, including Eagle Beach, Palm Beach, Baby Beach and Mangel Halto, cost nothing to use. Arikok, the Natural Pool tours and Renaissance Island all cost money.