Aruba with kids is a great destination, with something for all the family. There are beautiful beaches, safe areas to swim in the crystal clear waters and plenty of child-friendly food.
It’s a really fun destination for a family trip. There’s much more to this island too with a prickly, cactus filled middle and some beautiful deserted beaches and a wonderful national park. We’ve put together our guide based on all of our experiences in Aruba for kids.
You can use the headings below to jump to different sections or read through the whole thing for a big, blast of Aruba with kids inspiration. Â Many resorts also offer all-inclusive vacation packages, making it even easier to plan your perfect family getaway.
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Table of Contents
Our guide to Aruba with kids: About Aruba
Aruba is an intriguing island, 20 miles off the coast of Venezuela. It is a tourist and cruise ship mecca but with enough off the beaten track gems to allow every traveller to feel content.
It has belonged to the Dutch since 1636 and is a heady mix of Netherlands and the Americas with more than a sprinkling of Caribbean magic.
Its coastline is what draws the main crowds and with good reason. The beaches in Aruba are some of the best in the world with beautiful clear seas, tropical fish swimming past at every glance and huge white sandy expanses.
It’s the often overlooked interior which is particularly beguiling. With a prickly forest filled with thick cactus limbs, long and stretching with sharp thorns deterring predators.
Vivid, almost neon turquoise lizards dart across the rocky terrain while large iguanas sun themselves lazily.
Aruba is a feel-good island and while history and culture may not immediately be obvious it will lure you in and bewitch you with its laid back charm.
Our guide to Aruba for kids: Inspiration
Read all about our summer family trip to Aruba and everything we got up to and how we fell in love with this beautiful island.
Aruba’s best sights
Aruba has some great places to visit with kids, or without. Some of our favourites are –
- See the native Arawak Indians cave paintings in the Quadiriki Caves
- Browse the pastel coloured shops of Oranjestad
- Visit the abandoned gold mine of Bushiribana
- Walk the Peace Labyrinth at Alto Vista Chapel
- Head to the California Lighthouse for spectacular views all around
- Take a walk through Arikok National Park
- Go under the sea to find the wreck of SS Antilla, the German boat scuttled in the 1940s.
- Watch turtles swim in the sea off the beautiful Baby Beach
- Try pastechi in Oranjestad
- Enjoy a sunset boat trip, watching the sun set across the sea in Aruba is unforgettable
- Watch butterfly cocoons hatch at The Butterfly Farm
- Eat the best pancakes (what else in a Dutch island) in Oranjestad
Our guide to Aruba with children: Videos
We made a film all about our two week trip
Our guide to Aruba for children: Where to visit
Aruba is a small island and easy navigable. For many the main area from Oranjestad to Noord is where the attraction lays – beautiful beaches abound here along with some good beach restaurants and plenty of hotels. The rest of the island shouldn’t be overlooked though, there’s plenty going on for every type of traveller and some great experiences to be had.
Oranjestad
Aruba’s candy coloured capital is picturesque and easily enjoyed in a day. The main street is packed full of jewellery shops and fun restaurants.
Noord
The main beach district, there is plenty here for those who love watersports, nightclubs and entertainment.
Northern Coast
Head away from the California Lighthouse to a wild coastline with crashing waves, natural pools and bridges, and bucket loads of natural charm.
Arikok National Park
In the centre of the island this growing park is a wonderful place for a hike or cycle. Take a guided tour from the visitor’s centre to learn more about this interesting national park.
Saint Nicolas
Away from Oranjestad and Noord Saint Nicolas is the biggest draw. Another pretty town which is far less tourist driven than Oranjestad. Here it gives way to the beautiful beaches beyond.
The best beaches in Aruba with kids
We really like Palm Beach, in front of and along from the Divi Village Golf & Beach Resort where there are plenty of divi trees to sit under and chairs you can rent.
Eagle Beach is the main tourist beach which is world famous and is popular for a good reason. It’s a gorgeous stretch of white sand with beautiful shallow waters which are perfect for swimming.
My absolute favourite beach in Aruba has to be Baby Beach which has a fraction of the tourists and beautiful water and sand.
Flamingo Beach on Renaissance Island is often asked about when considering trips to Aruba but with their clipped wings these birds are trapped here. Given that children are all but actively discouraged (it’s very expensive to visit and they are only allowed an hour in the morning to see the flamingoes), our suggestion is to give it a miss. There are so many better, real experiences to be had on Aruba. You just need to travel around to see the brightly coloured lizards, beautiful iguanas and maybe even spot a wild turtle as we did in the sea at Baby Beach.
The best Boat trips & water sports to enjoy in Aruba
There are various boat trips to take across Aruba and which one you take depends on what you are looking for.
They vary from lively, fun filled trips to those which are more serene and calm.
You can even go under the sea on a submarine which is great for all ages but especially for kids who aren’t confident swimmers to enjoy the snorkelling.
Read more:
Jolly Pirates boat trip, Aruba
Which inland tours to take in Aruba
A visit to the Arikok national park should be high on any list of places to visit. It’s a main inland tour staple.
Visit the abandoned gold mines of Bushiribana and Balashi and take a trip to the Natural Bridge.
You can take a tour or hire your own car (no need for a 4X4, only if you want to visit the Natural Pool) and head off yourself.
There are also horseriding trips you can take out to see the island from a different vantage point.
Our guide to Aruba with kids: Family friendly things to do
Enjoy the creatures at the Aruba Butterfly Farm
We absolutely love the tranquil space and beautiful sights at the Aruba Butterfly Farm.
Walk amongst the airy plants to see some beautiful butterflies and moths. The cafe here is wonderful so be sure to stop for some homemade lemonade and delicious banana bread.
The gift shop is also a lovely place to pick up some special souvenirs. Once you’ve visited you will be invited back to join one of the early morning groups to watch a hundred or so butterflies emerge from their cocoons.
Read more on their website here.
Visit an abandoned gold mine
Head to the north coast to discover this abandoned gold mine which was originally built to look like a castle to ward off attacking pirates.
Bushiribana Historic Gold Mine is the perfect place for a scramble about the rocks with beautiful views out to sea. There’s a fun snack bar outside to cool off afterwards.
Take to the seas on a Jolly Pirate Boat ride
The Jolly Pirate is a really fun ship packed full of music, jokes (that are still family friendly) and free flowing drinks (my daughter developed a taste for Shirley Temples).
The boat takes you around various sites including the shipwrecked Nazi boat the Antilla where everyone can get off and snorkel.
There’s a lunch on board and then some real fun where you can walk the plank in to the sea or swing on the rope swing and drop in to the water.
Read our full review of the Jolly Pirate Aruba boat trip here or at their website here.
See the beautiful donkeys at a sanctuary
Head in to the island, through the cacti filled landscape to the donkey sanctuary where donkeys are rescued and looked after.
This free to enter refuge is filled with donkeys who will appreciate you spending a few dollars on food to give them a handful of.
There’s a gift shop and small cafe and it’s a good charity to support. We loved stopping off and seeing these gorgeous creatures on the way to Baby Beach (see below).
Find out more about the Donkey Sanctuary here.
Visit the best beach on Aruba
In our opinion the best beach in Aruba is Baby Beach. Helped by the fact it’s about 40 minutes away from the main island’s tourist beaches so distinctly less busy.
Whenever we’ve visited the main beach goers were local families with tourists at a minimum.
The sea here is absolutely beautiful (although don’t head beyond the natural stone sea wall where the current can be strong and unpredictable). And there are free palapas on the sand to take shelter from the sun under.
There’s a cafe and lots of free parking close to the sand. We love our trips to Baby Beach.
Take in the beauty of the Natural Bridge
The Natural Bridge was a surprising hit for us. Expecting an underwhelming experience we actually all loved our time at the Natural Bridge.
It is actually three bridges but two have collapsed and the views along the coastline of crashing waves and craggy rocks are fabulous.
There are lots of columns of balanced stones here too. With a good cafe and a great gift shop this is a really lovely trip out to see a very different side to the island.
Go under the sea – Aruba with kids
Take a submarine trip, or even a semi submarine trip, under the sea to view hundreds of tropical fish. And a really good view of the SS Antilla, the German boat deliberately scuttled by its crew during the second world war.
This is a great trip, especially for kids who are too young to snorkel and we thought it was brilliant.
Top things to do in Aruba with kids – De Palm Island
Not the cheapest day out but there’s no doubting that De Palm Island is fun.
A small private island that you can pay to visit and is packed full of fun from a water park, large zipline, unlimited banana boat rides and all the food and drink you could want. All included in the price.
There are some extras you can pay for. The children really enjoyed the Sea Trek here where you go under the sea with oxygen helmets on and the fish swim past.
The snorkeling here was the best we encountered on Aruba though with a beautiful array of colourful fish. It was like being on a real life version of Finding Nemo.
Find out more at their website here.
See the Casibari Rock Formation
Possibly not one to take a special trip out to but Casibari Rock Formation is a fun place to spend some time on the way to or from the Natural Bridge or the Bushiribana Gold Mine.
The rocks are all wonderful creations. And you can climb right to the top of the largest collection for amazing views across Aruba.
It’s not a trip to take with very young children as the climb up is mildly difficult but our six year old handled it perfectly.
There’s a fun cafe opposite with plenty of play equipment for kids too which is the perfect pit stop for cold drinks afterwards.
Visit the Oranjestad Playground – Aruba with kids
Just next to the wonderful restaurants of Barefoot and Reflexions is a brilliant free playground which is perfect for kids of all ages.
There’s space for kids to run around and burn off some energy. It’s ideal towards the end of the day when the sun is starting to go down but it’s still warm enough to play.
Eat pancakes
Since Aruba is a Dutch Territory it’s the perfect place to try and pancake, or two.
The Dutch Pancake House serves up delicious, authentic pancakes in the heart of Oranjestad. With a huge selection of savoury and sweet pancakes and some delicious poffertjes (mini pancakes), it’s the perfect treat for all the family.
Read our full review of the Dutch Pancake House here or find out more at their website here.
Other ideas – Aruba with kids
For somewhere free and for a different, airy trip out we enjoyed Fantastic Gardens (a garden centre with cafe and playground) between Noord and Oranjestad.
You can hire bikes in Oranjstad really close to the cruise terminal. No need to pre-book, just pick them up and go.
Where to stay in Aruba with kids
There are a number of high end accommodation options on Aruba from the Manchebo to the Marriott.
For those that like all inclusive the highest recommended tend to be the Riu or Divi resorts.
Mid-range accommodation exists with the Holiday Inn Aruba.
If you’re looking for budget accommodation we found Pauline’s apartments to be a wonderful choice.
Where to eat in Aruba with kids
Aruba has an amazing selection of restaurants and we found them to be really family friendly.
If you like upmarket restaurants where kids are still welcome we definitely recommend Que Pasa?, Barefoot and Reflexions.
In the mid range one of our favourite restaurants is Lucy’s Retired Surfers in Oranjestad which is the perfect place to sit by the waterfront and relax.
The Dutch influence is very apparent on Aruba and it’s the perfect place to come to try out some pancakes.
There’s an all you can eat pancake option near Palm Beach Plaza Mall or The Dutch Pancake Restaurant for truly delicious, authentic offerings.
For fast food options we loved the Pizza Hut on LG Smith Blvd which comes with a huge indoor play area that the kids thought was great fun. There’s also Mcdonalds, Taco Bell, Wendy’s and more.
Read more:
A review of Lucy’s Retired Surfers, Aruba
What to buy in Aruba / souvenirs from Aruba
Aruba is known for its Aloe Vera and you can find various shops around the island selling it.
As it’s a Dutch island there are various Dutch treats you can pick up in the supermarket including impressive discs of cheese, spiced biscuits and stroopwaffles.
We really liked The Butterfly Farm for lovely little souvenirs and Oranjestad has some great, large souvenir shops for Aruba treats.
Read more:
Shopping in Aruba – a round up of the best Aruba souvenirs
Our guide to Aruba with kids: Top tips
- We love the supermarkets Superfood and Ling & Sons. Both of which have got lots of food from the US and lots of vegetarian supplies. These are huge supermarkets and will have everything you need.
- Car hire is widely available across the island, we hired our car from Hertz which had a little depot just opposite the airport so really handy.
- Watch out for the high price of the airport tax when you leave Aruba which everyone over the age of two needs to pay and in cash too.
- It’s always good to check out the cruise timetable as some days will be busier than others in port. It might be good to organise around your quiet days in resort.
- The sun is strong in Aruba and the almost constant breeze can make it deceptive so cover up and re-apply lotion regularly.
We hope you’ve enjoyed our guide and are ready to start your trip to Aruba with kids.
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