Day 1 — Catamaran and Palm Beach
Start with a morning swim at Palm Beach to get your bearings. Book the Jolly Pirates afternoon catamaran (departs ~2:30pm) — it includes open bar, rope swings off the mast, snorkelling at the Antilla Shipwreck, and returns at sunset. Evening: dinner at Screaming Eagle or Lucca on Palm Beach.
Day 2 — Island Tour and Baby Beach
Rent a car first thing ($45–65/day) and drive the island yourself. Morning: California Lighthouse and Arashi Beach for snorkelling (sea turtles at Boca Catalina just south). Afternoon: Arikok National Park, Natural Bridge (collapsed, but impressive coast), and Baby Beach at the southern tip — the calmest, clearest swimming lagoon in Aruba. Evening: Zeerovers in Savaneta for fried fish eaten at picnic tables with locals ($10–15).
Day 3 — Oranjestad and Eagle Beach
Morning: wander Oranjestad — the colourful Dutch Colonial capital with no sales tax shopping, the Renaissance Marketplace, and optional flamingo beach (book ahead). Afternoon: Eagle Beach for the fofoti tree photos and a last swim. If timing works, catch the sunset from Eagle Beach with the trees silhouetted against the sky.
Car rental note: You need a 4×4 to reach the Natural Pool — if that’s on your list, swap it into Day 2 and book a jeep tour instead of self-driving Arikok.
5-day itinerary | 7-day itinerary | Car rental guide
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