It’s been a few months now since my feet touched the white sandy beaches of Aruba. I am pretty sure I can still hear the waves of the Caribbean sea though and the midnight salsa rhythms of the island. To say that I miss this place is an understatement. What makes Aruba so special? It’s a mixture of many aspects but ultimately I believe it’s the happiness and relaxation people find when they visit Aruba. The One Happy Island offers a range of traditional healing practices, five-star spa treatments and fun activities that will ensure a rejuvenated holiday. Here is a short guide to Aruba’s wellness scene and some tips to help you find the best experiences on the island. Keep on reading to find out how you can win a magical trip for two to Aruba!
First, watch this short video that helps set the scene. Bon bini, you are in paradise!
Ancient healing practices
Most of the holiday visitors seek luxury spa and beauty treatments during their stay in Aruba. However there are some that come to the island to get the help of traditional medicine that relies on ancient practices and natural remedies. With the use of herbs, teas and of course the mighty Aloe, local healers known as “curado” or “curioso” help fight different health problems. These traditional herb recipes are not your usual holiday cocktail but they are known to help with digestive problems, menopause symptoms and even asthma. It’s suspected that some of these healing methods were brought by the Arawak Indians many years ago. So if you need to take care of your health and go beyond the pampering spa experience, Aruba’s ancient pharmacy might have something for you.
Aloe Vera
I can’t not mention Aloe Vera, which is at the centre of Aruba’s wellness scene. I had heard about the history of this plant with the island but to be honest l wasn’t expecting more than the usual mainstream Aloe cosmetics. The truth is that the Aloe beauty products and treatments that are offered across the island are nothing like the ones you have probably tried. I was most impressed with the locally produced Aloe sun cream which I used during my sunny days in Aruba and it’s the first time I didn’t get any burns. I was in the sun all day and my skin was getting a golden brown tan but without any burns. The difference is that they use the real plant (grown in Aruba) and the gel that it produces will not only moisturise and rejuvenate the skin but it can also have amazing healing properties.
Reboot and relax in June
Besides the many Aloe beauty products, which you can take home with you after your holiday, you can experience the benefits of the plant first-hand while in Aruba. All spa studios offer some type of Aloe treatment. During the month of June you will find even more special packages. June is Aruba’s Aloe wellness month and for a third year all participating hotels get together to offer a refreshing Aloe experience to their guests with exclusive deals and treatments. The Ritz-Carlton will also be offering a 15% discount on all Aruba Aloe products this month. Chefs will be taking care of their hungry guests by creating nourishing, wholesome recipes across the restaurants and some of them will include Aloe as an ingredient. Make sure to try the June-special vegan and vegetarian menu at Manchebo Beach Resort & Spa.
On June 9th the island is also celebrating Global Wellness Day with the aim to raise awareness of the importance of self-care and healthy living. You can find more information about June’s deals and offers on the Aruba website.
Land and Sea fun
Baby beach
It’s been scientifically proven that people who live around the beach are happier and healthier. You can be one of those people during your stay in Aruba! Explore the beauty of the island while enjoying a range of activities on land or at sea. Breathtaking yoga spots, not just by the beach but in the sea as well. Have you heard of SUP yoga? It requires very good balance. Alternatively, you can feel the Caribbean breeze while windsurfing or kitesurfing, or go underwater and swim with the local fish. If the water is not your element, there is lots of desert-like land to explore. Arikok National Park is a popular destination for tourists where you can see some of the island’s typical flora and fauna. Check out my post about the top 8 activities to try in Aruba.
Win a luxury trip for 2!
Experience Aruba’s wellness scene yourself! Win a 7 night stay at the luxurious Bucuti and Tara Beach Resort in Aruba! Enter the giveaway on the official Aruba website here for a chance to win an amazing trip with flights included.
So these are some of the secrets of Aruba’s recipe for being a top wellness destination. The constant sunshine, welcoming locals and the vast choice of fun and relaxing experiences will ensure a healthy break from the real world. Check out my complete travel guide to Aruba and learn more about the local food, activities and of course the famous Flamingo beach!
Images licensed and post sponsored by the Aruba Tourism Authority, aruba.com. All opinions are my own.
I’m intrigued with the aloe vera cream! I moved to the Phoenix area not quite a year ago and I have been struggling to keep my skin protected and moisturized – without also looking pasty white, which is my state most of the time. I’d love to be able to get some color while protecting my skin with an all natural plant like what they grow on Aruba. I have many stories about it being a “happy” island, I will have to definitely look into that more!
The cream was amazing, definitely recommend it! Hope you get to visit the happy island. :)
Wow, For how many days you went there?
4-5 days. It was amazing! :)
I’d love to visit Aruba one day, it looks magical! And I’m also a huge fan of aloe vera, it’s so good when in hot temperatures, and very cooling on the skin too. Love the advice and wouldn’t mind winning that luxury trip :)
Exactly, you can use it to cool down your skin after the hot Caribbean sun. :)
Thanks for sharing Monika. I always heard of the benefits of aloe Vera and even planted aloe Vera on our backyard. I’ll try to use it. I’m sure aloe Vera plant is the same effect if you use it from the one on the store. I’m not familiar with Aruba. But as I saw it on your picture, wow! It’s such a nice place.
Oh I have been wanting an aloe plant as well! It sure is great having it available fresh at home. :)
The photos and video look great! I take photography quite seriously and I don’t tell compliments easy. What are those shot with if I may ask?
Thank you! Some of these were licensed by the Aruba Tourism board so they are not my images but the flamingo at the end is a picture I took when I visited and it was shot with a Canon 5D Mark II. :)