Traveling to Aruba as a family promises an incomparable experience. The well-known “one happy island” offers countless activities for children (and kids at heart) of all ages.
From touring the island in pirate style to learning water sports to exploring the island’s natural wonders, every family will find an activity to suit their tastes.
As always, check for travel guidelines and closures before planning your trip.
Jolly Pirates Cruise
This experience is perfect for adventure-seeking families. Jolly Pirates offers lots of adventure from their pirate-style sailboats, including a rope swing from the deck and snorkeling in the crystal clear waters that surround the island.
Jolly Pirates carries out guided tours around the island where visitors can snorkel sites like Boca Catalina cove and the waters off of Malmok Beach. Plus, they’ll have the opportunity to dive over the famous shipwreck known as El Antilla. It’s recommended to book the morning or afternoon snorkeling tour a couple of days in advance.
The Butterfly Farm
A true butterfly farm with butterflies of all sizes and colors, located steps from Palm Beach in Oranjestad, this tropical garden will be an unforgettable part of your family’s visit to the island.
Hundreds of butterfly and moth species fly freely in this garden, giving visitors the opportunity to observe and learn about the lifecycle of these colorful insects, and even gently handle them with the help of expert guides.
Visit The Butterfly Farm during the morning, since the butterflies are more active in the early hours, and you may see one emerging from a chrysalis (coccoon). The Butterfly Farm has guided tours, and your entrance ticket will allow you to return during your stay as many times as you wish without having to pay again.
Arikok National Park
Ideal for nature-loving families, this national park is known as Aruba’s national treasure, and you can explore it on foot, by bicycle, or by vehicle. The park covers 7,907 acres of the island and offers guided tours that allow you to discover hidden beaches, such as the famous Dos Playa, Moro, and Boca Prins.
Arikok National Park has wonderful landscapes and destinations that will delight any visitor. Immerse yourself in the Aruba Natural Pool, and get to know the striking caves, taking in ancient Indigenous Arawak drawings in Fontein Cave near Boca Prins.
To enter the park, anyone aged 17 and over must pay for an entrance ticket or a guided hike ticket, which allows the protected nature sanctuary to be maintained.
Water Sports
With its crystal-clear waters and favorable winds throughout the year, Aruba is the ideal destination for water sports such as surfing and kitesurfing. There are several surfing and kitesurfing schools on the island where both children and their parents can learn to practice these sports at the hands of boarding experts.
And if you want to learn a sport on a board that is somewhat calmer, try out stand-up paddleboarding (SUPing), so you can navigate quietly while enjoying a landscape like no other.
Practice these sports at Palm Beach, where you can find some of the country’s best kitesurfing, SUPing, and surfing schools in addition to board rentals.
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