De Palm Island Aruba – a review of this fun tropical resort perfect for families searching for something different on the Caribbean island of Aruba.
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A five-minute ferry ride south from the island of Aruba lies a long sandy stretch of land which is a true family getaway.
De Palm island is the perfect retreat for families looking for something different to the Aruba resorts and to seek out an experience which really offers something for everyone.
The island opens each morning from 9am and the ferries shuttle back and forth through the day until 5pm when the island closes up.
Here there are activities galore and depending on your energy levels and thrill seeking enthusiasm you can do as much or as little as you like.
Your time is your own to enjoy and there’s plenty here to suit everyone so that you will all have a day packed full of memories.
From the very start of the day you can sit at the water’s edge in the De Palm Island restaurant and enjoy a late breakfast. Filled with fruits, cereals and hot dishes all included in the price of the visit.
We really enjoyed this tranquil beginning to our day on De Palm Island. Aafe in the knowledge that there was no rush and plenty of time stretching ahead to fit in all the activities we wanted to try out.
Table of Contents
Activities
Most of the activities on De Palm Island are included in the price of the visit. These included a good sized kids water park, snorkeling, zip line, banana boat and air jumpers which were like super-powered trampolines.
Also included in the price is all your food and drink for the day. And there’s no extra charges for the beach loungers.
We grabbed a space on the beach loungers next to the sandy cove where the waters gently lapped. There was plenty of space to be a late-comer on the day we visited and take up a sunny or shady spot and watch as your kids raced in and out of the water.
It was lovely to know that you could just come and go as you pleased. And when our little ones wanted a change of scene or wanted to check out the water park area, you knew there would be a lounger ready and waiting.
Snorkeling on De Palm Island Aruba
One of the highlights for all of us was to get out in the coral reef to snorkel.
All of the equipment is provided and if you’re a novice there’s free tuition too.
We set out in to the waters and were almost overwhelmed with the colourful shoals around us.
There were fish everywhere around the reef and it was incredible to see my kids spotting brightly coloured fish including Aruba’s blue parrotfish, as they swam in the waist high waters.
The water here is warm and clear and was the best snorkeling we experienced in Aruba.
Lunch goes on until 4pm and there’s hot food to enjoy from the grills, with burgers, chicken and hot dogs.
There’s plenty for veggies to enjoy too. We loved tucking into the endless supplies of fresh fruit and couldn’t get enough of the delicious watermelon and pineapple.
One of the fun free activities is the salsa lessons. And it wasn’t long before a crowd of participants had gathered.
This was great fun to watch too if you wanted to enjoy lunch instead.
For those seeking a mix of thrills there’s a zip line which stretches over a 130 metres and is 10 metres high.
It’s suitable for six years old up and up and is sure to get the blood pumping.
If you want to get a different view of the island there are unlimited rides on the De Palm Banana Boat rides which takes ten year olds and over on a thrilling inflatable dash around the island pulled behind a speed boat.
Underwater Helmet Walk – De Palm Island
A far more sedate experience, but one really not to be missed is the Sea Trek Underwater Helmet Walk, one of their ‘Signature experiences’.
This is an added extra to the regular ticket but is well worth the cost.
Pulling on a specially designed weighted diving helmet with air constantly being pumped in, you walk down under the water’s surface and walk around on the sea bed with your guides close by and simply watch huge shoals of fish gently drift past.
While some of this hour long activity is a little contrived, such as posing for photos next to a submerged jeep and bus or holding an empty bottle underwater, the experience of being able to see clearly underwater and walking around on the sea bed is one which is really special.
My kids thought this was one of the best things they did in Aruba.
As the afternoon sun started to dip lower, we relaxed on the beach and watched as our children ran in and out of the sea reflecting on what a unique experience De Palm Island is.
It’s a great addition to a visit to Aruba and one which all the family will enjoy.
You can find out more about De Palm Island and book your skip-the-line tickets here.
Read all about our fun family summer trip to Aruba here. Also check out our ultimate guide to Aruba with kids for lots of suggestions of things to do and places to visit.
Top tips for De Palm Island Aruba
- If your budget allows you to book for the whole day do, there’s plenty to enjoy here.
- We found it was much quieter in the afternoon meaning there’s even more space to stretch out and relax and enjoy the activities without queues.
- Bring your own towels and don’t forget your beach shoes. Some of the coral and rocks near the beach can be very sharp.
- Don’t bring any food or snacks, there’s plenty here and it’s on all day so you won’t need anything extra.
- There’s a good shop onsite if you do forget anything.
- The cruise ships do add De Palm Island as an excursion and if you aren’t visiting from a ship then check Aruba’s cruise timetable and choose a day when the boats aren’t in for a quieter experience.
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Oh wow! What an incredible place to explore and the snorkelling looks like a once in a lifetime experience 🙂
I went to Aruba in May. It is a beautiful place and has so much to see and do. De Palm Island looks fantastic. Your photos are fabulous, so many great activities for kids. The underwater helmut walk looks amazing
It looks absolutely amazing. My lot would love that zip line! Kaz
these pictures are amazing, especially the snorkelling ones. I would love to visit, and good to see that there is plenty for kids 🙂
YES Please! This palce looks Amazing! Love the photos and the snorkelling is my kind of activity x
it looks like a great place to visit. I’d like to see Aruba
I love the free salsa class, I’ve always wanted to learn and can see why it would have been popular. It’s great there is a shuttle boat so you can explore as much as you want, and I’m amazed at how much activities are on offer from the water park and snorkelling.
The waterpark looks like great fun – and my eldest is dying to try out snorkelling. Always good to know you can find a sun lounger when you want one too.
The underwater helmet walk, scuba diving, zip lining and salsa dancing are screaming out to me!!! I wanna go so bad!