Looking for some exciting things to do in Aruba during your stay? Look no further! Just 15 miles north of Venezuela, lies the small paradise island of Aruba. Aruba is a picturesque holiday destination that promises one rejuvenating, relaxing, as well as exciting experience with a unique blend of colonial Dutch architecture and Latin culture. Paradise beaches, crystal clear waters, breathtaking views and warm welcoming locals will ensure a memorable stay. The island offers a huge number of activities so no matter what your dream holiday looks like, there will be something for everyone. Couples can enjoy a range of activities together or separately depending on their interests.

While you can totally spend your holiday relaxing at the beach with your other half, enjoying the views of turquoise waters with a refreshing cocktail in your hand, if you are an active couple like us that enjoys the outdoors, exploring, hiking and keeping busy on a holiday, you will totally love this list of activities. I am just a week away from my trip to Sardinia, but I am already planning my list of activities for Aruba, which promises one adventurous and romantic getaway.

A visit to Aruba will be one unforgettable encounter with nature. The island is a home of wildlife diversity and beauty. My selection of activities will ensure you explore the best parts of the island, as well as allow you to relax and have fun together with your loved one. If you would like to see the full list of activities you can choose from, go to the official Aruba website. Here are the top 8 things to do in Aruba as a couple:

1. Arikok National Park

Arikok National Park spreads across almost 20% of the island’s land area. It’s a well preserved sanctuary for local flora and fauna, where you can spend a whole day experiencing and observing Aruba’s unique nature.

You can explore the island by foot or you can rent a 4×4 if you are not into hiking. The park is also ideal for those that enjoy mountain biking as it offers exciting rough terrains. Regardless of how you decide to move around the park, here are some of the exciting things you can expect to see:

• A desert-like flora, full of cactus and brush plants, as well as the famous divi divi trees. Rare local birds like the Aruban burrowing owl and you may encounter wild donkeys, goats and rabbits casually enjoying their day.
• Secluded, untouched beaches! Daimari Beach, Dos Playa and Boca Prins are the three most popular ones. Swimming is not recommended due to rough waters, but the views are very dramatic and breathtaking.
• There is a unique swimming spot though, so don’t worry – The Natural Pool, or as the locals call it “conchi”. It really is a natural pool formed by the rocks on the coastline and you can certainly take a dip in the clear waters of the Caribbean sea.
• 3 mystical and breathtaking caves – Guadirikiri Cave, Fontein Cave and Huliba Cave (also known as the tunnel of love), each has its own unique feature. The first one is illuminated by the sun as the cave has two chambers revealing the sky. In the second cave you can see real Indian drawings on the walls that will definitely take you back in time. The tunnel of love on the other hand was given this name because of its heart-shaped entrance.

2. Stand Up Paddle Board (SUP) Yoga

Me and my other half love doing yoga together, although for a long time it was just me. The best place for yoga is outdoors, but we rarely get to experience this in London, which is why we always look for travel destinations that offer lots of options for yoga practices. Aruba is the ideal destination for yoga fans with lots of different options, from indoor studios to yoga classes on the beach and the latest trend which I still haven’t tried – SUP Yoga.

SUP Yoga is performed on a Stand Up Paddle board in the water, which is where the name SUP comes from. I bet it creates a whole different experience. Balancing in water will probably be slightly extra challenging, but how amazing would it be to practice yoga in the turquoise waters of the Caribbean sea? It’s the ideal holiday activity for relaxation and a complete escape from the craziness of our daily routines.

Even if you don’t practice yoga on a regular basis, the sound of the sea, the rays of the rising sun and the cooling breeze will totally get you in the mood for the ultimate yoga experience on the beach.

3. Snorkelling!

This is my favourite activity out of all! We absolutely love snorkelling and exploring the underwater world. Aruba is one of the best snorkelling destinations in the Caribbean. The shallow crystal clear waters and the rich sea life create ideal conditions for snorkelling.

You can expect to see lots of colourful fish like parrotfish, butterfly fish, yellowtail snapper and many others. Don’t be surprised if you happen to see some turtles too.

You will need your swimming shoes as some of the beaches have lots of sharp rocks, however once you are inside the water, get ready to meet lots of underwater creatures. You will of course need your snorkelling kit as well! Check out this post to find out which are the 6 top-rated snorkelling beaches in Aruba. Snorkelling should definitely be on your “things to do in Aruba” list.

4. Aloe Wellness Experience

Aruba is THE home of aloe vera and the island is popular with its high quality aloe products that contain this powerful plant, grown on the island itself. Aruba companies were one of the first ones to start using aloe as part of cosmetic products due to the numerous health benefits of the plant’s gel.

If you are lucky to visit Aruba in June, you will have the opportunity to experience a range of activities involving aloe, as the island is celebrating Aloe Wellness Month. For a second year running, selected participating resorts will offer a range of activity sessions involving aloe, like the “Aloe Yourself to be Happy” workshop, which will allow you to make your own scrubs and masks using recipes formulated by local skin specialists.

You will also be able to enjoy relaxing aloe vera treatments at some of the best spa centres on the island, as well as try healthy recipes with aloe across the restaurants in Aruba.

If you are interested in learning even more about aloe, you can visit the Aloe Museum and Factory where you will find out how Aruba became one of the biggest exporters of aloe as well as many other interesting facts about how this plant influenced the island’s history and healing culture.

5. Explore secluded beaches

There is nothing we love more than finding remote, untouched beaches when travelling to a sunny destination. As much as I love the benefits of going to a serviced beach with bars and restaurants, the tranquillity and isolation of the remote beaches is something I daydream about all the time during my everyday life. There are plenty of beaches across Aruba that can offer this type of experience.

Boca Catalina is one prime example. This small paradise beach is located on the northern part of the island and it’s famous for being one of the best swimming spots (picture above).

Savaneta Beach is another picture-perfect beach in the southern part of Aruba. It’s only 50m long and it’s a completely secluded white sandy beach. Those who know the area say that it’s quite possible for you not to see anyone else besides some fishermen, so it’s an ideal spot to have a romantic day just you and your other half, soaking up the sun.

Baby beach & Roger’s beach are two relatively quiet beaches located close to each other. The waters are very shallow, making them perfect for snorkelling as well as relaxing.

Otherwise the three most popular and not-so-secluded beaches are Palm Beach, Eagle beach and Arashi beach. Although they are not so private, they are still truly stunning so they should definitely be on your list!

6. Go Sailing!

One of the best ways to see an island is by boat. It will give you a different perspective of the exotic Aruba and you will get to sail in the clear Caribbean waters. Let the wind blow your hair, admire the picturesque views and relax.

Most of the sailing adventures allow time for snorkelling as well. A popular spot for these type of trips is the World War II Shipwreck, which is now covered with corals and a home to many fish, making it an amazing underwater destination.

7. Pedal Kayaking

For another memorable experience, try pedal kayaking on your Aruba holiday. This is a truly adventurous activity that will take you on a unique trip around the island, showcasing its beauty and nature.

Explore the Spanish Lagoon and the Barcadera reef Island, while going through a tunnel of mangroves. Discover a unique hidden pool between the mangrove trees, where you can also enjoy some snorkelling.

The best thing is that you don’t need any previous kayak experience and you will also get to learn a lot about the island as the guides will give you an insight into its culture.

8. Visit the flamingos on Renaissance island

Renaissance island is an artificially created private island, situated on the west side of Aruba. Unless you are a guest at the famous Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino, you will have to buy a day pass to visit this island.

When you get there, you have to go to Flamingo beach! It’s a beach full of flamingos! How amazing is that? While you enjoy a relaxing day at the beach with your loved one, you will be surrounded by pink flamingos looking for food. The beach is an adult-only beach, I guess because they want to avoid kids stressing the birds, making it a quiet destination, perfect for couples without kids.

Doesn’t get more exotic than this!

So how do you like that list? No wonder the slogan of Aruba is “One Happy Island”. It offers something for everyone and the broad choice of activities will allow you to have fun as well as relax. If you are an active couple like us, you will not be bored!

You can get to Aruba via 16 UK airports that operate several flights per week. There are also many packages offered by the leading UK travel operators so make sure to check them out when planning your next well-deserved holiday.

Finally, follow Aruba’s UK facebook page, because they will soon be launching an exciting competition for a chance to win a trip to Aruba! Have you visited Aruba already? Share your experience below in the comments and tell me about your favourite activity on the island!

Check out some of my other travel posts for more travel inspiration.
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Images licensed and post sponsored by the Aruba Tourism Authority, aruba.com, all opinions are my own.