Few Choices, All Short Aruba is about 32 km long, so there is nowhere to travel to for the day in the usual sense. No passenger ferry joins Aruba to Curacao or Bonaire either, and those islands are a flight away. What the island offers instead is a short list of full-day plans: a private island with a water park, a resort island with a flamingo beach, a day in the national park and a drive along the southeast.

A Sightseeing Plan by Area Aruba’s landmarks sit close together, so a rental car or a few taxi rides will cover them. This page sorts them by part of the island instead of by popularity, so you can string stops into a half-day loop. Prices are in US dollars. Shade is scarce, so save open-air stops for early morning or late afternoon, and carry water. Noord and the North Coast California Lighthouse.

Four Kinds of Walk Aruba has no long trails, but it has four short walks worth planning: a harbor-town stroll in Oranjestad, a mural trail in San Nicolas, a stair climb up Hooiberg and ranger-led hikes in Arikok. The sun is the real limit. Walk at dawn or late in the day, wear a hat and closed shoes, and carry water. Prices are in US dollars. Hooiberg: The Haystack Climb Hooiberg is a volcanic hill in the middle of the island, about 165 m (541 ft) tall.

A Day Built for Two Aruba suits couples because the best moments cluster at the edges of the day. Mornings are calm and cool, evenings turn gold over the west coast, and the trade winds keep the heat bearable. This page follows one day from sunrise to dinner, with the booking details that matter. Prices are in US dollars, and sunset times change through the year, so check them when you plan.

No Overnight Circuits Here Anyone looking for a multi-day trip on Aruba will not find one, and the reason is size. The island is about 32 km by 10 km, and a drive from one end to the other takes under an hour. Nothing requires an overnight stop away from your hotel. Camping is not allowed inside Arikok National Park, so even the wildest part of the island is a day outing.

Planning by Age Family trips go smoother when the day matches the youngest child. Aruba is flat and compact, the west and south beaches are sheltered, and most family stops are a short drive apart. Below, activities are grouped by the age they suit. All prices are in US dollars, and a little cash helps at small places. Babies and Toddlers Baby Beach lagoon. At the southeast tip, in the Seroe Colorado area, a crescent of shallow, protected water suits small children.

Quick Price Guide Attraction Area Adult cost Free Aloe factory tour Hato Free Donkey Sanctuary Santa Cruz Free, donations welcome Philip’s Animal Garden Noord $10 Aruba Ostrich Farm Paradera About $12 to $17 The Butterfly Farm Palm Beach $19 Atlantis Submarines Oranjestad About $99 through resellers All amounts are in US dollars. Hours shift with the season and with cruise-ship traffic, so call or check the venue’s page a day ahead.

Two Coasts, Two Kinds of Day Aruba is a low, dry island, roughly 32 km from tip to tip and 10 km across. What you can do depends on which shore you stand on. The west and south sides sit in the lee of the island, so the sea is flat, clear and warm. The north and east sides meet the open Atlantic, and the shoreline there is jagged rock, big surf and strong currents.