Awesome Adventures-Aruba Nights

Activities

Activities

Awesome Adventures for All Ages

by Susan Campbell Aruba is one family-friendly island when it comes to activities and attractions.

You’ll never hear little ones saying, “I’m bored,” but you might hear them say, “Can we stay longer?”

Discover cool critters and creatures

No doubt your children will be in awe of Aruba’s endless bounty of friendly iguanas and lizards that make themselves at home all over the island. And don’t be surprised if Aruba’s native sugarbirds try to help themselves to your sweet drinks!

But for a really unique display of wingedwonders, a trip to the The Butterfly Farm is a must. Go in the early morning when they are most active to watch them feed, and that’s when you might witness the miracle of newly formed butterflies emerging from their pupae. Your admission fee is good for repeat visits as long as your stay!

The Butterfly Farm

If your children are avid bird lovers, they will also enjoy a trek at Bubali Bird Sanctuary. This is a popular pit stop for many bird species en route to their migration destinations. Alternately, comical feathered friends can be enjoyed and fed at the Aruba Ostrich Farm. There you can follow the life of these flightless birds from egg to grown adult.

And the Donkey Sanctuary Aruba in Savaneta is always a family favorite. Children can interact with the friendly fourlegged creatures where you can also adopt a donkey (but not bring it home) or adopt one from their website. The sanctuary is purely a non-profit foundation dedicated to the welfare of the animals. Your donations go toward their care and feeding.

Be sure to bring them some apples and carrots to make them “hee-haw” happy!

Donkeys and lots of other animals – 54 species and counting – can also be found at Philip’s Animal Garden up in Noord.

Philip’s Animal Garden

76 Nights

Philip will give you a tour and educate you about his friends, all of which have been rescued from bad situations. He has an eclectic collection including birds, reptiles, deer, alpacas, monkeys, and even an ocelot and a Bengal cat! You’ll receive healthy food to feed them while exploring the grounds as part of your admission.

They also have a large children’s playground at the Animal Garden.

Horseback riding is another enjoyable family fun activity. Aruba has top-notch stables and the horses are descendants of the Spanish conquistador’s favored breed the Paso Fino, which means “fine step.”

Even the most amateur rider is ensured a smooth journey!

You can also get to know a great deal of the island’s indigenous creatures at the modern new visitor center of Arikok National Park. Lots of educational information is to be had with some species on display, and guided tours of the park are available for budding naturalists. They even have full moon guided hikes for nocturnal nature hunters!

JETLEV at Red Sail Sports

Make waves

There’s something for all ages at Aruba’s many watersports operators that you will find all along the most popular beaches.

Parasailing, kayaking, banana-boat rides, paddle boarding, and exciting sailing and Horseback riding at Arikok National Park

Right photo courtesy of Philip’s Animal Garden

snorkel trips for the whole family. Try a snorkel, sunset, or dinner sail aboard the brand new Mi Dushi vessel – a colorful four-deck catamaran that holds up to 70 people!

The Atlantis Adventures submarine tour is a wonderful way to get up close to marvelous marine life without even getting wet! There is also a semi-submarine tour called Seaworld Explorer that showcases Aruba’s reefs and tropical fish.

Windsurfing lessons and kiteboarding lessons are a great pastime for adults and older children alike. You’ll find both at Fisherman’s Huts where the conditions for learning are among the very best in the Caribbean! At Red Sail Sports, older children and parents too can experience the new, cool sport of JETLEV. If you’ve ever dreamt of flying over the ocean in a jetpack like The Jetsons then this is a musttry! They also have hover boards and jet blades that propel you over the waves like a superhero. Those adventures are certainly something to write home about! !

Top photo by Luis Mejia. Bottom right photo courtesy of Seaworld Explorer

Seaworld Explorer

Nights 77

Activities

Activities

Go off the beaten path

Seek out San Nicolas

Jeep safaris into Aruba’s wild, rugged countryside will also delight older children, and some make a stop at the natural pool for a unique snorkel opportunity. The boulders at Casibari are great for climbing, and there are tours to cool caves at Guadirikiri, Fontein, and Huliba that will interest the entire family since they are full of stalagmites, stalactites, and friendly colonies of bats! ABC Tours specializes in land rover off-road adventures to ensure you get to the wildest secret spots in the rugged outback in style and comfort. Or tailor your own adventure with VIP Tours and visit the island sites, attractions, and nature that you want to see most.

Or how about the thrilling sport of blokarting? Aruba’s unique land sailing vessels are powered by the trade winds and operated out by the California Lighthouse.

See Aruba Active Vacations for more information. New to the island are glassbottom kayak snorkel tours through the mangroves, a great way to see the colorful marine life below as you paddle through the beautiful, calm waters.

Aruba’s most popular beaches are all family-friendly, but Baby Beach in San Nicolas is a local favorite for little ones as it is super calm and shallow like a giant wading pool. Snack shacks, facilities, clamshell sunshades, and snorkel equipment rentals will ensure a full day of family fun in all-out comfort. Also, Thursday nights in San Nicolas the entire family can enjoy a colorful carnival show in the streets called the Carubbian Festival. And while you are in that area, seek out the unique Model Trains Museum that also has some rare collectibles of toy cars and planes.

Cliff jumping at Moro Beach with ABC Tours

De Palm Island

More play places

At times you might want to escape the tropical sun and when you do, there are many modern air-conditioned movie cinemas on the island with first-run features.

There’s also Palm Beach Plaza that has a modern food court and two floors of cool stuff for all ages including glow-in-thedark bowling and a huge arcade of virtual reality and video games. In the evening, Paseo Herencia’s beautiful colonial courtyard has a gorgeous waltzing waters show three times a night, plus there is a wonderful old-fashioned carousel for children.

Boulders at Casibari

Delightful De Palm Island

A full or half-day at De Palm’s private island promises to be a memorable one for all ages. From snorkeling with giant neon blue parrotfish to Sea Trek (walking along the ocean floor with an air-helmet), to SNUBA (air supplied snorkeling), to Power Snorkel (an exciting new way to snorkel), you might have to go two days in a row! And there’s a massive waterpark full of fun wet stuff and giant slides, so the kids will have a field day while parents enjoy the beautiful beach and lounges.

And new this year there are also thrilling aerial adventures to enjoy! Fly Wire Zip Line, Extreme Air Jumper, and Rope Quest have all been added to the awesome range of activities available for family fun. Then there are banana-boat rides, and parents will love the cool extras like salsa lessons and an on-site spa. No worries about hunger pangs either, they offer a massive allyou-can-eat-and-drink buffet with fastfood snack bars on-site as well!

More private island fun

Even if you’re not a guest staying at the Renaissance downtown or at their marina resorts, you can still purchase a day pass to their private island which is just min-

utes by boat from Oranjestad. This lush strip is divided into two sections – one for adults and one for families. Snorkeling, kayaking, iguana feeding, posing with the friendly flamingoes, on-site restaurant, and a gorgeous beach with calm, clear waters protected by a manmade breakwater all combine to give the family a great day.

Dedicated children’s clubs

Many of the island’s major resorts have dedicated kids’ clubs or special activities just for children on their properties as well. Kids will really enjoy organized scavenger hunts, nature classes, kite making and flying, sand castle competitions, fun games, arts and crafts, and even cooking classes that will keep them busy while parents take a beach or spa break. (Or maybe even just a nap!) And many resorts also offer baby-sitting services at an additional cost when parents want to dine out or go exploring on their own.

In fact, there are so many wonderful activities to do with your family on Aruba that over-scheduling could become an issue. So, remember to slow down long enough to simply enjoy each other’s company, because childhood flies by far too fast... even in paradise. "

For even more fun things to do with your family while on Aruba, consult our complete activities listing on pages 96-97.

78 Nights

Left photo courtesy of ABC Tours

Photo courtesy of De Palm Island

Nights 79