Introducing our ILP volunteers' newly discovered vacation destination, Aruba!
Looking for a vacation where relaxation is the priority? Then Aruba is the place for you. With endless white sand beaches, breathtaking turquoise waters, rocky mountains, and a cacti forest, Aruba is unlike anywhere else and might just be the perfect vacation spot for you!
Needing more beach vacation ideas?
Check out the best beaches on Costa Rica's Pacific Coast!
Vacationing to Aruba used to be uncharted waters for our ILP volunteers, but good news: We just got the inside scoop from some of our ILP Trailblazers, and they gave us everything we needed to know about planning a successful vacation there!
Despite being located in the Caribbean (about 15 miles north of Venezuela), the little island of Aruba is actually a Dutch-owned territory. So while you're not technically in Europe ... we won't tell if you want to say you saw a bit of Europe on your vacay. The fact that Aruba is Dutch-owned means the primary languages on this stunning island are Dutch and English.
Now, just because Aruba is technically a European territory, let's not forget that its environment is completely different from the typical EU you probably imagine. Aruba is still an island, but also not quite like you imagine. Despite being tucked in the Caribbean Sea, the foliage isn't as lush as you'd expect. Instead of jungle vines, you get forests of cacti and bright white mountains that accentuate the bright blue waters. It truly is a sight to behold!
Twenty percent of Aruba is a National Park. Filled with caves to explore and beaches to admire, Arikok National Park is definitely a place you will want to check out.
For our ILP volunteers, so far, we have only had our Costa Rican volunteers make the trek, but that doesn't limit this vacation spot to just them! We think Aruba would be a great vacation location for our Peruvian volunteers as well.
Aruba tends to be a popular vacation spot for older couples or newlyweds. Our volunteers described Aruba as a "boujee vacation spot" which they weren't expecting. Aruba is also more of a relaxing vacation spot. Because of that, Aruba doesn't typically attract young solo travelers.
Aruba has one international airport, Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA). It's located in Oranjestad, near the capital of Aruba.
I like using Google's flight search tool for this flight but feel free to check different websites to see if you can find other deals. You could even see what ChatGPT recommends!
If you're an ILP volunteer coming from Costa Rica, you'll want to search for a flight from San Jose, Costa Rica, to Oranjestad, Aruba. You will likely have a layover somewhere, like Panama.
Flight prices may vary depending on the time of year, but we found that $350-$650 is the range you can expect to see. It mostly depends on how long you are willing to have a layover.
Aruba is a small island about 21 miles long and 6 miles wide. Our ILP volunteers found that the taxi system was their favorite way to get around the island. The same company runs all of the taxis within Aruba. This makes getting a ride super easy because every taxi costs about the same, whether you're calling ahead of time or hailing a car.
Once you arrive at the airport, there's a line for taxis that you can jump int to start off your trip. While you are driving, make sure to ask for the taxi company's phone number. That way, when you can't find one to hail, or you want to schedule one, you can talk to them on WhatsApp and get everything squared away. Don't worry; if you forget to catch the phone number, you can always pull a "New York" and hail one down by waving your arm.
Since Aruba is a more "boujee" vacation for people, there are more hotel and Airbnb options to stay at rather than hostels. All three options are great; it just depends on what you're looking for!
Airbnb is where we recommend our volunteers book the most. There are a ton of options in a wide variety of price ranges. Just make sure to check that the location isn't too far out of your way and that the reviews match the description.
Our ILP volunteers decided to stay at an Airbnb the whole time they were in Aruba. This Airbnb is more in the center of Aruba, near Palm Beach. Our volunteers were "super happy" with their stay here. It was close to the grocery store, the Airbnb host was super easy to work with, and it even provided them with snorkeling gear!
Here's where you can book an Airbnb.
If you are looking for the ultimate vacation, hotels or resorts might be your best option. As long as they fit your budget, you are bound to be taken care of.
We found these picture-perfect Bungalows over the water, which you see all over social media from countries like Bali. If you want to bring your Pinterest board to life, these bungalows might just be the place for you.
TripAdvisor is a great place to find highly rated hotels and resorts.
Hostels are our usual recommendation to travelers who want the most affordable housing option. At the time this blog was written, there weren't many hostel options, but new things pop up all the time, so there is no harm in checking!
Hostelworld is our favorite place to book hostels.
If you came here looking for food recommendations, then you came to the right place. Our ILP volunteers quite literally ate up how delicious the food was and wanted to share all of their favorites.
Side note: Don't neglect doing a little grocery shopping if you want to save some extra money, even if it's just buying some PB&J supplies to bring with you to the beach.
Our ILP volunteers came here multiple times and loved every second of it. If you are looking for a cute little shop with delicious pastries, coffee, smoothies, salads, soups, sandwiches, and more, then you must check out this place.
Here's a link to their menu!
Address: Zoutmanstraat 7, Oranjestad Aruba
If you are spending a day at Arashi Beach, don't fret. This Beach Shack is the perfect place to go when you need a little mid-day pick-me-up after burning all of those calories running through the waves and sweating from the sun's rays.
Here's a link to their reviews on TripAdvisor!
Address: L.G. Smith Boulevard 135 Arashi Beach, Westpunt, Aruba, Noord Aruba
Wanting a nice dinner out in the town? Be sure to visit Que Pasa Aruba. This sit-down restaurant is located in Oranjestead and offers plenty of high-quality meals that just the smell of will make your mouth water—especially the seafood! We're talking sushi, shrimp, scallops, grilled salmon, ribs, fillet mignon, and more!
Here's a link to their menu!
Address: Wilhelminastraat 18, Oranjestad, Aruba
This gourmet pancake restaurant is a must-try, especially if you are craving a classic Americanized breakfast. Here, you will find not only pancakes (American and Dutch) with limitless topping options but also waffles, bagels, parfait bowls, eggs, bacon, hashbrowns, toast, and more!
Here's a link to their menu!
Address: J.E. Irausquin Blvd 370, Oranjestad, Noord, Aruba
With a wide variety of different "American" food options and some insane ambiance (right on the beach, live music, and good customer service), you'll definitely want to consider checking this place out. For breakfast, they offer American classics such as omelets, pancakes, and New York-style bagels. For lunch and dinner, you will be greeted with some savory meals such as burgers, nachos, shrimp, quesadillas, and so much more. Yum!
Here's a link to their menu!
Address: J.E. Irausquin Blvd #87, Noord, Aruba
Located on the famous "Palm Beach," this beachfront restaurant serves views and some of your favorite Italian delicacies. They also serve fresh seafood, some of which you can request from their on-site aquarium.
If you like Pizza, shrimp tacos, Caesar salad, or their signature dish, “Spaghetti al Formaggio Parmigiano,” then you'll definitely want to add this restaurant to your itinerary.
Here's a link to their menu!
Address: Playa Linda Beach Resort, J.E. Irausquin Blvd 87, Noord, Aruba
Aruba is a vacation where you will spend most of your time decompressing. This island is full of places to relax, enjoy the scenery, and truly escape from real life. If you are more of a thrill-seeking traveler, you can find some ways to fill your time here (down below), but to our ILP volunteers, take note that lots of the thrilling things Aruba offers aren't ILP-approved.
Luckily, we curated a list of approved activities below that past volunteers loved!
We here at ILP are big advocates for booking tours. Despite occasionally being costly, these tours allow you to see new places, partake in fun activities, and learn about the country you are in with near to no hassle. Tours make your travel day easier!
Here are a few that our ILP volunteers participated in and loved.
Sail across the ocean on a catamaran! What makes catamarans so special is that there are so many places to enjoy the ocean view—whether that's the main deck, in the shade, or the nets that you can lay on that give you a view of the water below. Depending on the time of day you book your tour, you may even get to enjoy the sunset on the water. So fun!
On this tour, you not only get to soak in the sun rays, but while you relax, your captain will take you to a few snorkeling spots that are only accessible by boat. Don't worry—all of the snorkel gear will be provided! The boat also has a rope swing and a water slide that you will be able to play on once you reach your destinations.
Our ILP volunteers loved snorkeling along Catalina Bay and at the Antilla Shipwreck! Expect to see lots of big fish, coral reefs, and, if you're lucky, maybe even some dolphins!
Side Note: Meals will only be provided if you pay extra! So remember to bring lunch!
Here's a link to the tour company our ILP volunteers used.
Right off the shores of Aruba, there is an island made of coral formations that has been transformed into an all-inclusive resort with tons of fun activities! This is a super popular destination for travelers to make a day trip out of due to the variety of activities you can attend here.
Our ILP volunteers purchased the "De Palm Island Day Package," which included snorkeling gear and tours, pools, the chance to admire the "famous" flamingos, yummy food, and access to some pretty awesome water slides. Their favorite slides were the ones where the floor dropped out from under them!
Here's a link to the resort if you want to see this island for yourself!
Did you know that Aruba is more than beaches and yummy food? Behind the glitz and glamour, you might be able to explore Aruba's "rugged" side through off-roading!
This tour includes a 4X4 Land Rover that does not waste time. On this tour, you will be able to take a scenic drive through Arubas Arikok National Park, Snorkel for a few hours at Baby Beach, visit bats when walking through some of the cave systems, stick your feet in a river that houses those little fish that are famous for nibbling at your feet, jump into tide pools (lifeguards provided :)), and more!
This day seriously will be filled to the brim with adventure.
IMPORTANT NOTE: ILP volunteers! A few tours like this are available in Aruba, but not all of them are ILP-approved! Some tours use the bed of a truck for transportation, and that simply won't do.
Here's a link to the tour our ILP volunteers did and loved! (ILP APPROVED).
Aruba is most known for its gorgeous white sand beaches with electric blue water. These beaches seriously feel like they are straight out of a dream. While there are so many to check out, here are a few to get you started.
Palm Beach
Palm Beach was one of our ILP volunteers' favorite beaches because the water was more on the calm side. Don't expect to go surfing on these waves. They also found that this beach was one of the less busy beaches but still had some delicious restaurants nearby and some shopping.
Eagle Beach
Eagle Beach is just barely south of Palm Beach, so it shares many of the same characteristics. However, this beach is a bit closer to the city of Noord, which is a popular destination for shopping, which has made it a tad busier.
Since it is closer to Noord, you will still be able to find lots of delicious places to eat.
Baby Beach
Baby Beach is located in the southern half of Aruba, which gives it a slightly different look. It is near Arikok National Park and is less popular because it is away from the bigger cities.
Our ILP volunteers visited this beach while on their Scenic Truck Tour and described it as "the most blue water they had ever seen in their whole life!"
Here you will find good snorkeling, some areas with bigger waves, and near to none shopping. This isn't much of a "jump in and wade around" type of beach, but you should definitely look into checking it out!
Did you know that Aruba has mountains? It's true! And if you're a hiker, it might just be your lucky day.
Mount Hooriberg is the highest point in Aruba, reaching 560 feet above sea level. Let's remember this is an island, everybody! The most popular hiking trail is the Hooiberg trail.
This hike takes around 30 minutes to complete. From the top, you can see all of Aruba, and on an extra clear day, you may just be lucky enough to spot Venezuela! This is a moderate hike that takes you up 587 stairs. So know that you don't need to be in perfect shape, but this isn't a stroll on the seashore. Keep an eye out for the wild goats!
Find it here: G294+MJC, Oranjestad, Aruba
You are likely to spend a pretty penny while in Aruba, not only because of the exciting tours and delicious food but also because of all the shopping!
Aruba is a popular destination for cruises to port, so due to the high tourism traffic, there's bound to be a lot of shopping. Our ILP volunteers wanted to mention to anybody who wants to vacation here that they will probably spend more money than they expected, especially if they love to shop!
Aruba is a European-owned country, so lots of the souvenirs prove that—especially the chocolate! Our ILP volunteers were also happy to spend some cash on souvenirs like swimsuits, dresses, sweatshirts, and jewelry! Larimar is the national stone of Aruba (the same stone that all our volunteers in the Dominican love to buy for jewelry), and boy, is it beautiful.
International Language Programs (ILP) is a non-profit organization that sends college-aged volunteers around the world to either teach English to kids or volunteer in an orphanage program. If volunteer work PLUS travel sounds amazing, we might be the perfect fit for you!