A guide to Aruba’s hidden gems

As we embarked on our second trip to Aruba, we wanted to do things differently. We asked around- asked residents, bus drivers, chefs, and everything in between about what places to visit, their favorite places to eat and came up with a remarkably more diverse list of things to do in Aruba. Of course as a traveler, sometimes you can’t escape the tourist attractions; we’ve covered most of those in our original post on what to see in Aruba as well as an in depth guide on things to do in Palm Beach. We’ll make things a little bit easier for you as well, if you’re looking for a place to stay in Aruba, we 100% recommend the Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino. 

What we learned

The beach scene is untouchable. There are five beach areas across the island; they are Palm Beach, Eagle Beach, Baby Beach, Arashi Beach and Druif Beach. Each has a personality so to speak. Baby beach is known for having an enclave with shallow water. Palm and Eagle beach are the most popular beaches, with Palm beach taking the credit for it’s bustling commercial strip. Mangel Halto is a more private/secluded beach area best known for its mangroves and decks that lead straight into the water. This area is also renowned for off the beaten path snorkeling!

What to know before going to Aruba

Bring enough cash. US dollars are widely used across the island, but cash is your ticket around. Many places do not accept credit cards due to the infrastructure on the island, so make sure to carry enough cash at all times.

Be aware of the weekends. Many stores and restaurants are closed on Sundays, so plan accordingly and make sure to hit your top food choices throughout the week or early in the weekend.

Understand that Aruba is a major port stop for thousands of cruise ships. That means that the dynamics of the island change when these cruise shops stop and off-load thousands of tourists at a time. This is especially true in Oranjestad – but more on that later.

Alright so what’s there to see as a tourist? Let’s break it down by area.

First, to understand these diverse areas, we have to comprehend the history. And the history speaks for itself; as a Dutch colony there is massive European influence. Yet, another major influence is that of the Arawak people or people indigenous to the Caribbean. Spanish is widely spoken on the island, but so is the local language Papiamento and of course Dutch.

Oranjestad

First up is the downtown area of Oranjestad, being the capital of the Aruban island we understand why some of the most prestigious shopping stores and commodities are here. But also as we mentioned earlier, this is where the port is and the first Aruban encounter for cruise ship travelers – which are off loaded by the thousands several times a day. You’ll notice right away many markets and stalls that are closed for most of the day and only open up when the cruises arrive. Avoid these! These are 100% tourist geared shops and don’t have the same authenticity as many other shops around the island.

What to do in Oranjestad?

Take the local trolley and enjoy a ride through the colonial architecture of downtown. You can read more about the trolley here; this is another one of those things that don’t run on Sundays so beware.

The historic Fort Zoutman, which hides right behind the magnificent Renaissance Hotel & Casino complex, is a humble structure that dates back to 1798. It’s actually not that humble, it’s the oldest standing building in Aruba and operates today as the Historical Museum of Aruba. You’ll notice the Willem III Tower peeking through the museum, but why is this important? Well you can stop by here every Tuesday evening from 7:00pm to 8:30pm and attend a beautifully organized (again very humble) Bon Bini Festival where you can witness local dances, learn a little Papiamento and learn about the island’s history.

Where to eat in Oranjestad?

Here are some favorite snacking stops in downtown for when you need a break from the blistering heat.

Aruba Experience Café – although this patisserie opened recently, it operates out of an old cuncu home or a traditional Aruban style of architecture. It’s quite charming from the outside and they have a nice selection of small plates and coffee.

Bistro de Suikertuin – want authentic Dutch food in Aruba? This is the place. DeSuikertuin means sugar garden, and no this isn’t a dessert only place. The sugar is a reference to the birds that flock their patio looking for sweets to nibble on. Serving dishes that I could not pronounce, the Bistro whips up quite the variety of simple sandwiches to intricate dishes.

Another notable establishment is West Deck, a beachfront open-air restaurant. Next to it is a huge anchor sculpture.

Take the opportunity to walk to West Deck or from here back to the downtown area. You’ll stumble upon quite a few sculptures and monuments. The first thing you see will be the Queen Wilhelmina Park, right in the center is the impressive Queen Wilhelmina memorial honoring the Queen of the Netherlands and thus Aruba from 1890 until 1948. Adjacent to the park is the Marketplace and the Cinema where you’ll find several shops and restaurants. Across the street is another small monument in the Plaza 18 Maart dedicated to Arubans proclamation of independence.

Palm Beach Strip

If you aren’t staying at the Renaissance hotel in Oranjestad, then you’re most likely going to be staying at Palm Beach. & quite frankly you should be, specifically at the Hilton Resort because it’s been the absolute greatest accommodation in Aruba. There isn’t really an in depth guide to this touristy part of town as everything is clumped into two shopping centers.

We have an entire post dedicated to Palm Beach – beachfront restaurants, best places to eat and snack and a guide to the plazas.

Close to the beach strip, only about a 25-minute walk or a few bus stops away is the Butterfly Museum. You can pay to enter once for your entire stay (be it a weekend or a week).  It’s a surreal place with exotic butterflies roaming around in all their forms, you’ll even spot several makeshift chrysalises with tens of cocoons ready to end their journey of metamorphosis. We hadn’t gotten to check it out on our last visit to Aruba, but so happy we made time for it.

Speaking of bus stops, public transport is available from Palm Beach to Oranjestad for $2.60 one way per person. You can discover most of the island using public transportation, although at times you’ll be crammed in small vans so choose wisely.

Around the Island

We go in depth about the best tours to take around the island, namely renting an ATV for a day and hitting many of the sites and attractions that make Aruba unique. Be sure to download Arubiana a wonderful offline map and resource for getting around, as the island’s Internet is sometimes tough to rely on.

You’ll want to check out the Lighthouse, the Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins, Arikok National Park and the Casibari Rock Formations to name a few.

Okay, so maybe I did have quite a bit to say about the touristy part of town. But there are true hidden gems: public beaches, secret snorkeling lagoons and scenic neighborhoods we didn’t know existed. So what else did we get straight from the sources of the land – or island?

San Nicolas

Hands down the greatest discovery of this trip was San Nicolas, an up and coming artistic district in the Southern part of the island. The town is plastered with murals and sculptures; we had heard of the Carubbian Festival that takes place every Thursday from 7 p.m to 10 p.m. but were utterly surprised by the rich dynamics of San Nicolas as a whole.

The festival itself is really an open market for locals and tourists to celebrate the island’s culinary diversity and art. Our favorite stall served local drinks that we had never heard of. There were a bunch; the most interesting were Mauby made from tree bark, cinnamon and cloves, Sea Moss which is literally ground sea moss that tasted like eggnog, and Sorrel that combines blended flower petals and spices.

Straight and center in the downtown area is a large community space run by COSECHA. COSECHA meaning harvest is a community led and organized initiative to support the local artisan community. They sell certified pieces made by 78 local artists. In essence, they celebrate Aruban craft design and heritage, but more so offer a wonderful communal space for locals and tourists to experience an authentic Aruba.

Ask anyone around and they’ll tell you to satisfy your appetite at O’niel’s Caribbean Kitchen which serves a fusion of local and Jamaican recipes but most importantly fresh seafood platters – do not leave without trying the fried Red Snapper! While you’re here, check out “Aruba’s most famous bar” Charlie’s – a hole in the wall plastered with thousands of personal memorabilia from all their visitors.

Around San Nicolas itself are several attractions. The first place that will catch your attention is the Nicolaas Store. Originally built in 1940, this historic building was restored and is now a community museum displaying artifacts and trinkets highlighting Aruba’s rich history.

The grand finale for this post is the best local restaurant in Aruba. This really deserves its own section. Zee Rover’s is a local’s favorite and the only place on the island that only serves local fish. It’s incredibly affordable and totally mouthwatering. Their set menu is only for sides, and the seafood menu depends on what they’ve caught that day. Disclaimer: everything is deep-fried (at least all of the seafood). If you get a chance, try the Red Snapper and the shrimp! The restaurant is on the Southern end of the island, at least 30 minutes from the Palm Beach strip but absolutely worth the drive.

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