Bon bini! This is the exact 7-day Aruba itinerary we plan for our own friends — free, printable, and honest. Press Ctrl+P (or Cmd+P) to save it as a PDF for the plane.
The most-booked Aruba tours right now
Day 1 — Land & unwind
Check in, drop the bags, and walk Eagle Beach at golden hour — the fofoti trees are your first photo. Dinner with your toes in the sand, nothing else; you just flew. Tip: buy water and sunscreen at a supermarket tonight, because resort-shop prices sting.
Day 2 — Palm Beach day
Calm water all morning on the high-rise strip. Try a jet ski or parasail if you feel it, then happy hour from late afternoon. Easy, social, zero logistics.
Day 3 — The wild side
Jeep or 4×4 through Arikok National Park to the Natural Pool — dusty, bumpy, unforgettable. Book before you fly, because small groups sell out first: compare the off-road tours here.
Day 4 — Boat day
Catamaran snorkel cruise over the Antilla shipwreck, open bar included. Morning sails mean the calmest sea and best visibility. Our catamaran guide compares every boat.
Day 5 — Go south
Baby Beach morning in the waist-deep lagoon, then San Nicolas street art, then a late lunch at Zeerovers — fried fish straight off the boat. The most local day of the week.
Day 6 — Snorkel small
Mangel Halto or Boca Catalina from shore — bring water shoes. Slow evening after; you have earned it. Entry points are in our beach guide.
Day 7 — The lazy day
No plan. Beach, book, long lunch, long sunset. This is the most Aruban day of them all. Fly home happy.
What to book before you fly
- Day 3 jeep tour: small-group tours to the Natural Pool sell out first. Remember that UTVs cannot enter Arikok National Park, so book a jeep or 4×4. How to pick one.
- Day 4 catamaran: morning sails fill early in high season.
- A car for Days 5 and 6: the south coast and shore-snorkel spots are far easier with your own wheels.
- Flamingos: Renaissance Island day passes are released weekly and go fast; see the day pass guide.
Roughly what this week costs (per person, excluding hotel and flights)
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Jeep tour to the Natural Pool | About $100–150 |
| Catamaran snorkel sail | About $55–110 |
| Arikok National Park entry (if not included) | About $20; under 17 free |
| Car rental for two days | About $60–90 per day, per car |
| Zeerovers lunch | About $15–25 |
| Sunset cruise (optional swap) | About $79–100 |
Prices vary by season and operator, so treat these as planning numbers and check live rates before you book.
Where to stay for this itinerary
Base yourself on Eagle Beach or Palm Beach and every day here works without changing hotels. Eagle Beach is quieter and wider; Palm Beach puts restaurants and the sunset-sail piers on your doorstep. Compare both in our where to stay in Aruba guide.
Adjust it for your trip
Traveling with kids
Swap Day 6 for De Palm Island: water slides, snorkeling and unlimited food in one ticket. Keep Day 3 only if your kids are confident and not too small for a bumpy ride.
Honeymoon or anniversary
Swap Day 7’s lazy evening for a sunset sail or a private beach dinner. We can arrange a private charter, beach dinner or proposal setup for you.
Only five days?
Keep Days 1, 3, 4 and 5, and fold the lazy day into your departure morning.
Three tips that save every trip
- Arrive 3 hours early for US-bound flights — US preclearance is real.
- Tap water is excellent. Refill, do not buy.
- September to November: same island, roughly half the price — see September and October.
Want this plan tuned to your dates? Sign up below and reply to our email — we read everything. Meanwhile, the tours worth booking and where to stay take you deeper.
To make this week real, reserve the catamaran and UTV days ahead — they fill first in high season.
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