Search Sun Country Vacation Packages to Oranjestad, Aruba

Aruba is known for its wide, white-sand beaches; picture-perfect weather with an overabundance of sunny days; a plethora of land and water activities; and nighttime diversions ranging from pub crawls, fine dining, and casino action make a vacation to Aruba a favorite of many. In fact, Aruba has the Caribbean’s highest rate of return visitors.

Things to Do in Aruba

• Beaches – Aruba’s beaches include wide expanses, quiet retreats, and busy sunbathing and watersports meccas. Quieter, calmer beaches are on the west side; bigger waves are on the east side. Here are some of the best beaches, in alphabetical order:
  
  
  • Arashi Beach - A quiet narrow stretch of beach that boasts gentle currents and abundant underwater life, making it a perfect spot for snorkeling.
  • Baby Beach – A gorgeous half-moon sandy expanse in a calm lagoon. The waters are shallow, making it a prime beach destination for families with children. It is also a superb site for snorkeling.
  • Boco Grandi - Steady trade winds and challenging waves make this a wonderland for advanced kite surfers and mesmerized spectators.
  • Eagle Beach - One of the most breathtaking beaches on the island and consistently on the list of top beaches in the world. Eagle Beach is also home to two of the most photographed and renowned fofoti (divi-divi) trees in Aruba.
  • Hadiicurari Beach (or Fisherman’s Huts) and Malmok Beach – Highly popular spots for surfing enthusiasts, windsurfers, and kite surfers.
  • Mangel Halto Beach - A perfect sunning and snorkeling spot as it is possible to walk out to the edge of the reef and watch fish such as parrot fish, yellowtail snapper, sergeant majors, and blue tangs, as well as deep water gorgonians, sponges, and anemones.
  • Palm Beach - Renowned two-mile-long beach, fronting the major resorts on the island and dotted with watersports concessions, piers, beach bars, restaurants, and shops.
    
    
• Casinos – Aruba has more than a dozen casinos offering slots, table games, and sports books for plenty of action. Casinos can be found in most of the larger resorts along Palm Beach and you don’t need to be a guest of the hotel to partake.
  
  
• Animal Viewing – While driving around the island, you may see goats and donkeys (either a family’s herd or wild ones roaming about). You can also see donkeys at the highly rated Donkey Sanctuary, where these beloved animals can live out their lives in a protected environment; ostriches at the Aruba Ostrich Farm; and thousands of butterflies at the Butterfly Farm, a tropical garden teeming with butterflies from around the globe. For more animal viewing, head out to Arikok National Park, where you could spot hummingbirds, hawks, and iguanas.
  
  
• Watersports – On the water or below it, Aruba offers some of the best watersports in the Caribbean. World-class conditions for windsurfers and kite surfers attract sports enthusiasts from around the world. Divers will delight as Aruba has some of the best wreck dives in the Caribbean with two WWII ships sitting at 145 feet below the surface, covered in coral formations, and teeming with sea life. If you don’t want to get wet – or don’t dive – you can make the journey in a 66-foot-long, fully pressurized, and air-conditioned submarine.
  
  
• Shopping – Main shopping areas are the mile-long stretch of L.G. Smith Boulevard (“The Strip”), dotted with various shops and cafes; Palm Beach Plaza, a shopping mall near the major resorts with numerous stores, restaurants, bars, and movie theaters; and the capital city of Oranjestad, which is a pleasure to stroll around with its colorful buildings and pretty streets lined with palm trees, designer boutiques, and unique shops. Local items to bring home are aloe vera, Delft china, and hand-painted dominos.
  
  
• Dining – With more than 90 different ethnic groups calling Aruba home, the diversity of cuisine is exceptional. Enjoy tantalizing Indonesian food, comforting Dutch dishes, casual waterside venues serving the freshest of fish, one of the finest dining experiences in the Caribbean, Spanish tapas, Argentine steaks, gourmet French, and so much more. And if you are staying at an all-inclusive hotel (where all meals are included), you’ll still be treated to a world of flavors at the onsite restaurants.
  
  
• Nightlife – Aruba has some of the best nightlife in the Caribbean with casual beachside bars, cocktail lounges, energetic dance clubs, and casinos. There are also unique party buses that will take you to the liveliest nightspots.
  
  

IMPORTANT FACTS Queen Beatrix International Airport Airport Code – AUA Airport Address Oranjestad, Aruba Check-in Information Passengers traveling to and from Aruba are recommended to arrive at the airport three hours before their scheduled departure with proper identification to allow for check-in requirements and security processing. You will pre-clear U.S. Customs in Aruba prior to departure. Ticket Counter Sun Country Ticket Counter Closes one hour prior to flight departure Useful Information Currency Aruban florin (AWG), but U.S. dollars are widely accepted. Prices are often quoted in U.S. dollars, so be sure to verify. Bring small bills for tipping. Electricity – 110V, the same as the U.S. and Canada. Entry requirements U.S. and Canadian citizens must have a passport that is valid upon entry and for the duration of their stay in Aruba. Language The official language is Dutch, but English is spoken just about everywhere. Time zone Atlantic Standard Time year-round. 2 hours later than Central Time during autumn and winter and 1 hour later than Central Time during spring and summer as Aruba does not practice daylight savings time. Transportation For travel outside of your resort, taxis are the best way to get around.