Private Island Escape Aruba

Looking for a private island in Aruba? This is the one. You board a small boat at a fishermen’s pier in Barcadera, cross a calm stretch of sea, and step onto a reef island that is yours for about seven hours. There is no resort, no day-pass crowd and no music from the bar next door. Instead, you get hammocks in the mangroves, a free-flowing saltwater jacuzzi, clear water for snorkelling and a lunch cooked the local way.

We sell this experience directly on One Happy Island. You reserve online with a 20% payment, and you pay the remaining 80% in cash to the crew on the day. The price covers the whole group, up to five guests, so couples and small groups pay the same. Bigger parties add $100 per extra guest, up to twelve.

Why this private island Aruba day is different

• True seclusion. The island takes a very small number of guests, so your group is not sharing the sand with a boatload of strangers.
• A real island, not a beach club. Mangroves, a reef, a wooden pier and a few shaded decks. It feels like a hideout, because it is one.
• Everything is already there. Lunch, soft drinks, snorkel and swim gear, kayaks, hammocks and the saltwater jacuzzi are included. Bring your own beer or wine, or add the drinks package.
• Two ways to get there. Ride a traditional Aruban wooden boat for the heritage, or the newer fibreglass boat for a quicker, drier crossing.

How the day unfolds

Your day starts at 9:30 AM at the pier in Barcadera, on the south side of Oranjestad. The crew welcomes you, you pick your boat, and you cross to the island in a few minutes. Expect a little spray if the wind is up. On arrival you get a short orientation, and then the island is yours.

From there, the only schedule is the tide. Snorkel the reef, paddle a kayak along the mangroves, float in the jacuzzi, or do nothing at all in a hammock. Lunch is a freshly prepared Aruban dish; ask the captain what is on the menu. Chilled soft drinks are available all day. Around 4:30 PM the boat brings you back to the pier.

What is included

• Boat transfer from Barcadera to the island and back
• Authentic local lunch, freshly prepared on the day
• Unlimited chilled non-alcoholic drinks
• Snorkel and swim gear, kayaks, hammocks and swings
• Use of the saltwater jacuzzi and the shaded decks
• Guides who speak English, Spanish and Dutch

Optional extras

• Drinks package, $100 per person: beer and cocktails all day, added when you book. Prefer not to? Bring your own alcohol, no corkage.
• Extra snacks and food are sold on the island through the day.

Where you meet the boat

The boat leaves from a local fishermen’s pier at Barcadera, a short drive south of Oranjestad and about 10 minutes from the airport. Your confirmation email names the exact pier and tells you where to stand. Please be there by 9:15 AM. There is no public transport nearby, so plan a taxi or a rental car. If you are driving, our Aruba car rental page has cars from the same local partners.

What it costs and how you pay

The private island day is priced per group, not per person. One price covers up to five guests, and each extra guest adds $100, up to twelve guests in total. The calendar shows your exact total before you pay.

Prices are in US dollars. Nothing is added at the checkout: you pay exactly $200 online. There are no booking fees. The drinks package is optional and, if you add it, it goes into the same total. Extra snacks are paid on the island. One Happy Island arranges this experience with a local operator and takes your reservation; the operator runs the boat, the island and the day itself.

Pick your date

Choose a day, set how many guests are coming, and reserve with $200. The calendar closes 24 hours before departure, so the first date you can pick is tomorrow. Dates that are already taken are crossed out.

Good to know before you book

• The boat ride can be bumpy and you may get splashed with seawater. Pack your phone in something dry.
• The island is not wheelchair accessible, and there are no infant seats on the boats.
• The trip is not recommended for guests with back problems or heart conditions.
• Bring a beach towel, reef-safe sunscreen and water shoes. Water shoes make the step from boat to reef much easier.
• Bring the cash balance in US dollars. The crew cannot take cards on the island.
• Groups of more than twelve guests: WhatsApp us first and we will check the day for you.

Cancellations and changes

The operator accepts cancellations and date changes up to one day before the trip. To move or cancel a booking, message us on WhatsApp at +297 567 8664 or reply to your confirmation email at least 24 hours before departure. If the sea is too rough to cross safely, the crew will move your day or we will refund your reservation payment in full.

Private island Aruba: your questions answered

Is this really a private island?

Yes. It is a small reef island off Aruba’s south coast that takes a very limited number of guests each day. You are not sharing it with a resort or a cruise excursion.

How many people can come?

Up to twelve guests on one booking. The $1,000 base price covers five; every extra guest adds $100.

Is lunch included? What about drinks?

Yes. A freshly prepared local lunch and chilled soft drinks are part of the price. For alcohol you have two options: add the drinks package at $100 per person when you book, or bring your own.

Can children join?

Families are welcome, but there are no infant seats on the boats and the crossing can be bumpy. Older children who swim confidently get the most out of the day.

Why do I pay only 20% online?

The reservation payment holds your date. The crew collects the remaining 80% in cash on the day, which keeps the price the same as booking with the operator directly. There is no mark-up and no booking fee.

What happens after I pay?

You get a confirmation email straight away with your booking reference, the meeting point, the time and the cash balance. We pass your details to the crew. The day before, we send a short reminder.

More days on the water

Prefer to stay on a boat? Compare the pontoon charter to Mangel Halto or the private boat charter from Malmok. For a beach day instead, book an umbrella and two chairs on Eagle Beach or Palm Beach. Every direct tour we sell is on the private tours in Aruba page.

Final step: reserve your private island day. Questions first? WhatsApp +297 567 8664 or email aruba@onehappyisland.com.

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