Aruba: Do Dive Drive and Thrive

Do

Like I said, Aruba is tiny. But that doesn't mean there isn't a lot to do. When you think Caribbean, you don't typically think of deserts and rocky cliffs, but Aruba is exactly that. It's a tiny, desert island, and it really does provide a world of opportunity. And it's no wonder why it's called the Happy Island.

Dive

My mom joined us on this trip, and scuba diving has always been on her bucket list. We booked a Discover Scuba Introductory Dive through Viator (go to tours services) which included pickup from the hotel and transport to the Hyatt Regency on Palm Beach. After a 20 minute drive across the island, we got to the Hyatt and waited while the rest of the guests arrived. Some may have complained for waiting an hour, but we made the most of it by walking up and down the beach and sneaking on to the water slide at the Hyatt.

After an hour of waiting, we put on our gear and went to a corner of the pool. Our tour guide was extremely patient in dealing with my lovely mother, who found it difficult to do almost anything he asked correctly the first or second or third try. She was a bit nervous and the tour guide did an overall solid job of keeping her calm and teaching her what she needed to know.

I have dove a few times before in the Virgin Islands, Bora Bora and Catalina, but this was the first shipwreck dive I had done. The guides were not only fun loving and happy, as they are almost required to be if they live on Aruba, but they also were incredibly knowledgeable of the reef and wreck. On just about an 8 meter dive, we saw Eagle rays, moray eels, octopus, and an incredible array of fish. The experience of swimming through a shipwreck in it of its self would have made the dive worth it. The shadow of the wreck looms over you while you explore the intricacies of the ships hull and deck. Suffice to say, it was an amazing experience and my mom came out of it smiling non-stop. I would definitely recommend this dive for both beginners and experts. I promise you'll be thriving while diving.

Jeep

This will make your trip. If you go to Aruba and don't rent your own Jeep, you're missing out on one of the most fun and unique activities there is to do in the Caribbean. Like I said, it's a desert island, so renting a Jeep doesn't mean driving on paved roads. Oh no. Far from it. Very, very far.

We rented the jeep for two days, and it lived up to expectation. Best part was that there was no tour guide dictating our experience as well. But here's a quick description in chronological order of what we did to help you guide yourselves to see what the whole island has to offer in 2 days.

Our beautiful white jeep outside Bushirbana

Day 1 (Northern route)

Hooiberg Lookout: A staircase straight up the mountain, which resembles a large pimple on the otherwise flat island. It's about 45 minutes up to the top of the 650 foot mountain, and the views are totally worth it. But make sure you go early so you don't die from overheating!

Top of Hooiberg (not pictured: excessive sweat)

Casibari Rock Formations: Bit of a tourist trap, but cool nevertheless. Good place to roam around for 15-30 minutes, maybe grab a quick bite to eat and bounce.

Ayo Rock Formations: Less touristy version of Casibari but also not quite as interesting of a formation.

Adicuri Beach: The road begins to change to a dirt road filled with pot holes and puddles, and leads directly to a massive, private beach flanked on both sides by cliffs. This is a great place to post up for a picnic and watch the waves crash on basically your own private beach.

Collapsed Natural Bridge: Obviously check out the collapsed bridge, but be sure to walk down the stairs onto the beach. The collapsed bridge creates small pools which are great to splash around in.

Bushiribana Ruins: The drive from the collapsed bridge up to the ruins takes some time but it's stunning. The ruins are pretty interesting themselves, and there are quite a few photogenic moments climbing around the old gold mining mill. Also be sure to get a drink at the bar "next door", totally refreshing!

Alto Vista Chapel: A cute little chapel towards the northern end of the island, not much else. Cool to see for a few minutes en route though.

Day 2 (Southern route)

Balashi Gold Mill Ruins: Another cool ruins, although less picturesque (sister still managed to post an insta from there). Goats and lizards roam the grounds, which as cool as it is, made the area smell like goat cheese, which wasn't cool.

Mangrove Sanctuary: I made more than a few of my friends think I fully went to Africa while I was here. Super beautiful sanctuary just below the Balashi Ruins, making for a cool place to roam for 30 minutes or so.

Mangrove Sancturary outside Balashi Ruins

Zeerovers: I'll keep this one simple. Best. Seafood. Ever. This is a tourist trap that's beyond worth it. We went early though, around 11, and we had the restaurant to ourselves. I'll talk more about it in the Eat section.

Charlie's Bar: This is a totally cool place in the southern city of San Nicolas with an eclectic collection of random shit. We didn't get anything to drink or eat, because of time constraints, but a beer at Charlie's Bar would be a good time

Baby Beach: The most beautiful public beach. We parked our jeep at the tip of the beach and set up camp for about an hour and a half. Mom and sister had a photo shoot while I snorkeled the bay. Note while snorkeling, the current by the opening of the bay is no joke, so be sure to constantly check where you are. Not too special snorkeling though, a few areas here and there make it worth it though.

Beautiful blues, but beware of the current

Arikok: The Arikok National Park covers 1/5 of the island, and really makes you feel like you're in the middle of the Mojave Desert. We tried to go to the Fontein Caves, but it was closed due to rain. Honestly, just roaming around the park will provide solid sightseeing for a few hours.

Natural Pool: This is a common question. Can you go to the Natural Pool by yourself. The answer proved itself to be simple: if you put your mind to it, you can. More than one time I thought the jeep would tip or lose traction, and it isn't a smooth ride AT ALL. But if you commit yourself and persevere through the rough terrain, you may just reward yourself with a private experience at the Natural Pool.

Beaches

Aruba has two very distinct sides. The west side is scattered with your stereotypical idyllic beaches, white sand, crystal clear water, and whatever else you'd expect from a Caribbean postcard. The east side on the other hand is much rougher. Imposing cliffs, large waves and pebble beaches are the norm, completely juxtaposing the calm nature of the west side.

With that said, the best beach is the only private beach on the island: Renaissance Private Island. As great as Palm Beach and Baby Beach are, they have their downsides. Baby Beach lacks any sort of legitimate development to provide basic needs. Palm Beach is overrun with boats and tourists, taking away from the clarity of the water and prohibiting romantic walks on the beach. Renaissance Private Island has two beaches, two bars, rainforest walks (bring bug spray), tennis courts, a small gym, snorkeling, extraordinarily clear water and a standard amount of people sharing the beach with you. Hanging out with flamingos in crystal clear blue water is a definitely unique experience. Those birds have been on the island for ten years and have become an icon for both the hotel and Aruba. We spent two and a half days roaming and relaxing on the island and could have easily spent a few more days there.

Aruba: Do Dive Drive and Thrive

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