Perfect 5 Day Aruba Itinerary

Looking for to maximize your time in Aruba? This Aruba itinerary will inspire you to explore the island and soak in all of the incredible food, beaches and other activities. This is based on my experiences from traveling to Aruba for 6 days in January of 2024.

Aruba is a stunning island close to the coast of Venezuela. It is the “A” in the ABC islands, which also include Bonaire and Curacao. It is popular for many reasons, including the beautiful sunsets and stunning beaches.

One of the things that makes Aruba different from Caribbean destinations is that it is below the hurricane belt, making it appealing to individuals looking to travel during hurricane season. It is a much safer bet than many other options during that time!

From the calm shores of Eagle Beach and Palm Beach to the rugged beauty of Arikok National Park, Aruba offers a diverse landscape perfect for relaxation and adventure. Visitors can enjoy world-class snorkeling, windsurfing, and diving, along with colorful Dutch-inspired architecture, rich local culture, and a thriving culinary scene. Whether you’re chasing sunsets or simply soaking up island vibes, Aruba truly lives up to its nickname: “One Happy Island.”

How to get to Aruba

To get to Aruba, you’ll fly into Oranjestad (AUA). Quite a few major US cities have direct flights to Aruba, including Minneapolis, Houston, Miami, Boston, New York, Dallas and Charlotte. Additionally, there are direct flights from Toronto, Amsterdam and several other countries. However, some are only available seasonally.

We traveled to Aruba on American Airlines. The flight from Miami was only about 3 hours and we had no issues at all. It is an easy flight for a 4-5 night vacation.

AUA airport is relatively small, with only one terminal and one runway. Food options are pretty limited at the airport, but we found sandwiches and refreshments at a small cafe.

There are also several cruise lines that have stops in Aruba, including ABC island cruises that visit Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao.

Where to stay in Aruba

There are several areas within Aruba that are great options for places to stay. Palm Beach and Eagle Beach are probably the most popular. Palm Beach is a bit busier area with a lot of water activities, while Eagle Beach is more focused on the beach itself and the views. Casinos are very popular in Aruba, you’ll notice many properties also have a casino onsite.

Many people also choose to stay in the capital of Oranjestad. This is great for individuals looking to enjoy more of the history and shopping that Aruba has to offer.

Based on my hotel status and typically traveling on credit card points, Hyatt properties are typically at the top of my list. The Hyatt Regency Aruba is an incredible property and is perfect for families.

Here is a list of some hotel options I’d look at in Aruba:

• Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort (a Marriott property) – Oranjestad downtown property. This elegant hotel is perfect for couples and has access to an adults only beach with flamingoes.
• Holiday Inn Resort Aruba – located in Palm Beach, more affordable family friendly option
• Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort – Located in Palm Beach, easy walking distance to restaurants and activities. Property itself is stunning and a perfect family friendly resort.

Like many locations, there are also great Airbnb options in Aruba. We booked a condo for several nights of our stay that had 3 bedrooms, 3 baths and was perfectly located right near Eagle Beach.

This was a great choice for us as we were traveling with two other couples. Then we had common space to hang out and it was more affordable than booking three hotel rooms.

How to get around in Aruba

I’d highly recommend renting a car in Aruba! Having a car will make it much easier to explore the island and get to some of the unique beaches. If you plan to stay at your resort or Airbnb the entire time and not explore, a car wouldn’t be necessary.

Walking is an excellent option if you are staying near Palm Beach or Eagle Beach. I went out walking most mornings along the pedestrian and bicycle path and it was lovely. There are many restaurants, beaches and shopping all within walking distance.

If you are looking to get around short distances, there are many rentable bikes and scooter options in the popular areas. We rented the bird scooters one day and had a great time exploring around. I did witness one older woman fall off her bike into the street and had to help her get back on her feet. Make sure you are confident riding.

Aruba Itinerary Day 1: Settle in and head to Eagle Beach

I always like to spend the first day on vacation exploring the area around where I’m staying. It helps me discover other activities I’d like to do while I’m there and relax a bit after traveling.

After landing in Oranjestad and making our way to the resort, we got settled and headed down to Eagle Beach. This is one of the most famous beaches in the world for good reason! Stunning white sand and calm, shallow water makes it perfect for relaxing and wading in the water.

Despite there being many resorts near or on the beach, it did not feel very busy while we were there. It is a great beach for walking with the sand between your toes, wading in the water or laying on a beach chair.

I will say – Aruba can be very WINDY! I was not expecting this when I visited, but every day it was very warm but also extremely windy. It didn’t bother me, but make sure to account for this on the beach and weigh down your things! Be prepared for some blowing sand.

Aruba Itinerary Day 2: Baby Beach

It is definitely worth the day trip to Baby Beach in my opinion! If you’re staying in the Palm Beach area, it’s about a 45 minute drive. Hop in your rental car and get there. The roads are pretty good, but can be a little rough in a couple spots.

The beach itself isn’t as beautiful as Eagle Beach in my opinion, but there is good snorkeling that is really easy to access and the shallow, warm water makes it a great spot for families with kids to visit. We didn’t have our kids with, but definitely still enjoyed it.

The area nearby the beach is a bit less appealing. There is a nearby oil refinery that is not that pretty to look at.

I’d aim to get there in the morning hours, as parking can fill up early. The facilities are a bit limited and there is only one restaurant at the beach. We felt like a half day was a sufficient amount of time at Baby Beach.

Aruba Itinerary Day 3: Snorkeling + Sunset Cruise

We loved the sunset cruise we went on!! It was so relaxing and beautiful. After a day of hanging at the resort, it was a perfect way to end a slow paced, relaxation day.

This is the specific tour we went on: 3 Hour Snorkeling + Sunset Tour. It was a small catamaran boat with only about 10 other guests on the trip with us.

The trip started off with some drinks (there is an open bar where you can order just about whatever you want). The crew brought us our drinks directly – no need to get up and wait in line or serve yourself.

While there are drinks, this was not what I would call a party boat. It was more older couples looking to relax, snorkel and enjoy the sunset. We will happy with the vibe, but if you are looking for something a little more lively, this isn’t that tour!

We made a stop for snorkeling in Catalina Bay after about 45 minutes. The water was beautiful and we were able to see many fish at this reef. We also spotted a turtle! I didn’t feel as if we were rushed at all – plenty of time to get in, snorkel for a while and enjoy the experience.

When we got back on the boat we were served delicious grilled cheese sandwiches (more gourmet style grilled cheese than what I make at home). They were gooey and warm and delightful after being in the water. Pair that with a couple more drinks and we were ready to relax and enjoy the sunset.

We spent the remainder of the tour cruising along the coast and soaking in the beauty of a perfect sunset. It was a beautiful end to a relaxing day at the resort. We loved Catalina Bay so much we actually went back via car with to snorkel more and watch another sunset!

Aruba Itinerary Day 4: Scuba Dive or Submarine tour of the Antilla

The SS Antilla is a German freight ship that is now shipwreck off the coast of Aruba. It was intentionally capsized by the captain to prevent being captured by the Dutch during World War II. It is one of the biggest shipwrecks in the Caribbean!

My husband and I did a day of scuba diving at the Antilla wreck. The visibility wasn’t great when we went but it was a really interesting, unique dive. It was really neat to explore close up.

Our friends that were with us for part of the trip are not scuba divers. They were still interested in seeing the wreck, so we booked a tour that takes you to see the wreck via semi-submarine. This is the tour we booked: Aruba Semi-Submarine Tour.

The boat has an open top but the bottom part of the boat is underwater. It has small seats with windows all along the side so everyone is able to see out in the water. We saw a ton of fish and were able to see the Antilla Shipwreck.

The tour took about 90 minutes and our guide was incredibly knowledgeable. It was interesting to learn about the history of the wreck. This tour is a great option for those who aren’t comfortable snorkeling or diving. We enjoyed it, even after scuba diving the wreck.

One note on this tour – we did have a couple people that didn’t feel great on the boat. Be prepared if you are prone to getting seasick!

Aruba Itinerary Day 5: Deep Sea Fishing + spend the evening at Catalina Beach

Getting up early and going out deep sea fishing is a fun way to get out on the ocean and see the island from the water. We booked our trip last minute the day before, so our options were limited. I’d recommend booking a few days in advance! We ended up booking with Teaser Fishing Charters.

Most of the fishing charters go out of the marina down in Oranjestad. It was a short 10 minute drive from our Airbnb in Eagle Beach to get down to the marina.

We had a beautiful sunrise from the boat. There were 4 of us in our group and the boat had plenty of seating and space for us to be comfortable. Our guide was kind of quiet but set up everything for us so we could relax.

Our charter was 4 hours long and there were quite a few rods and reels set up, as well as a line that had weights on it that had to be pulled in by hand. We ended up catching only one fish and it happened to be on the line with the weights that had to be pulled in by hand. It was a fun, unique way of fishing!

They cleaned up the fish for us and we took it back to the Airbnb to grill for a late lunch. Fish doesn’t get much fresher than that and it was definitely a fun experience!

For your last night in Aruba, I’d head to Catalina Beach and enjoy the sunset. We got there late afternoon and it wasn’t too busy. We snorkeled, watched little crabs walk around in the rocks and soaked up the sun. It was a perfect spot to watch the sunset.

Final Thoughts!

You can’t go wrong with a trip to Aruba. My husband and I went with friends and are planning a trip back with our kids. Next trip we will definitely check out the Arikok National Park on the island and do a Jeep tour as well.

With the beautiful beaches and sunsets, fun activities like snorkeling and warm weather year round, it’s a perfect spot for a tropical vacation.

I hope this itinerary has given you inspiration for your trip! Time to get planning!