You do not have to stay at a resort to spend the day at one. Aruba has more resort day passes than almost any island in the Caribbean, from a $25 pool pass to a full all-inclusive day with unlimited food and drinks. The catch is that they are wildly different products, and the one most people search for first, Renaissance Island and its flamingos, is the hardest to get.
🏖️ Day pass sold out? Plan B
Skip the scramble: book a private beach and Natural Pool day with a local ISLA guide, or stay at the Renaissance and get island access included.
See private toursRenaissance on Expedia
⏰ Get a reminder before passes go on sale
Passes open every Saturday at 9:00 a.m. Aruba time and sell out fast. We email you on Friday evening with the booking link, so you are ready at 9. Free, and you can stop anytime.
This guide sorts every realistic option by what you actually want from the day, with typical prices and how each one is booked. Prices below are typical starting rates and move with the season, so check the live price before you go.
The day pass you can book in advance: De Palm Island
Private island, buffet lunch, open bar, snorkelling and a water park, with free cancellation on most bookings.
Aruba day passes at a glance
| Day pass | Typical price | Best for | How to book |
|---|---|---|---|
| De Palm Island | About $100–$150 per adult | Families, first-timers, anyone who wants a sure thing | Online in advance, often with hotel transfers |
| Renaissance Island (Flamingo / Iguana Beach) | About $125 per adult, $60 ages 6-12 | Flamingo photos (adults only), a calm private-island beach | Online only, released Saturdays at 9 a.m. for the following week |
| All-inclusive resort day (Riu, Barceló) | About $110–$165 per adult | Unlimited food and drinks on Palm Beach | Day-pass resellers, book ahead |
| Pool and beach pass (TRYP, Eagle Aruba, Racquet Club) | About $25–$35 | A cheap pool day near the beach | ResortPass or the resort directly |
| Upscale pool day (JOIA by Iberostar) | About $150 | Quiet, adults-oriented Eagle Beach day | Directly with the resort |
| Spa day pass (Hilton Aruba) | About $95 | Spa, sauna and steam room without a treatment | ResortPass |
Renaissance Island: the famous one, and why most people cannot get it
Renaissance Island is the private island with the flamingos you have seen on Instagram. It has two beaches: Flamingo Beach, which is adults only, and Iguana Beach, the family side. Day passes cost about $125 per adult and about $60 for children aged 6-12 (5 and under free). They include the boat, towels and water-sports gear; food and drinks are extra. Passes go on sale online on Saturdays at 9 a.m. Aruba time for the following week.
The problem is availability. Hotel guests come first, and the resort only releases a small number of passes when occupancy allows, usually about a week ahead. In high season they are often gone within minutes or never released at all. We cover the release timing and tactics in our Renaissance Island day pass guide.
The guaranteed way onto Renaissance Island
Book a night at the Renaissance Wind Creek resort. Island access is included for hotel guests, so even a single night guarantees what a day pass cannot.
Check Renaissance and nearby hotel rates
Even one night includes Renaissance Island access. Compare live rates for your dates.
Search hotels & datesDe Palm Island: the day pass you can actually plan around
If you want a private-island day without gambling on a weekly release, De Palm Island is the answer. It is an all-inclusive island off the south coast with a buffet lunch, open bar, snorkelling, a small water park for kids, banana boat rides and beach games. Most packages run about $100–$150 per adult, and the higher price usually includes round-trip transport from your hotel.
De Palm also has flamingos on the island, though seeing them up close and add-ons like SeaTrek, Snuba and cabanas cost extra. It is busier and more theme-park than Renaissance, but you can book it today and know it will happen. Read our full De Palm Island review for whether it is worth it for your group.
🔥 Most-booked Aruba tours right now
Top-rated group tours with free cancellation on most dates. Prices per person, live on Viator.
Prefer a private guide just for your group? See our private jeep tours.
All-inclusive resort day passes on Palm Beach
An all-inclusive day pass gets you the full resort experience for the day: unlimited food and drinks, pools, the beach and usually non-motorised water sports. They make the most sense if you are staying somewhere without a beach, or you want one big lazy Palm Beach day.
- Riu Palace Antillas: adults only (18+), around $160 per person. The quieter, grown-up Riu.
- Riu Palace Aruba: the family Riu, around $160 per adult with lower child prices. Check it is open on your dates.
- Barceló Aruba: around $110–$115 per adult, with a kids’ club for ages 4–12. Often the best value all-inclusive day.
All three sell out when the hotels are full, especially over spring break, Christmas and New Year, so book as early as you can.
Cheap pool and beach passes
If you just want a pool, a lounger and a towel for a few hours, you do not need to spend $150. Several smaller resorts sell simple pool passes through ResortPass for around $25–$50, with food and drinks paid as you go.
- TRYP by Wyndham: adults-only pool day near Palm Beach from about $25.
- Eagle Aruba Resort: three pools and a waterslide near Eagle Beach, about $25 for adults and less for kids. A strong family pick.
- Aruba Racquet Club: pool, tennis and a playground for about $35.
- Tierra del Sol: inland pool day with a food credit, around $50. No beach.
At the top end, JOIA Aruba by Iberostar on Eagle Beach sells an upscale pool day for around $150, and the Hilton Aruba spa pass gets you the sauna, steam room and cold plunge for about $95.
Which Aruba day pass should you choose?
- You want flamingos and a guaranteed day: book De Palm Island, or a night at the Renaissance.
- Cruise passenger with one day: De Palm Island with transport, or a pool pass close to the port in Oranjestad.
- Family with young kids: De Palm Island, Barceló or Eagle Aruba Resort.
- Couple wanting quiet: Riu Palace Antillas or JOIA.
- On a budget: skip the pass. Every beach in Aruba is public and free. Eagle Beach is one of the best in the Caribbean, and you only pay for an umbrella.
Read the fine print before you pay
Day passes cover the facilities, not a room. Outside food and drink are usually banned, day guests often wear wristbands, and bar service can end earlier for day guests than for hotel guests.
Prefer the water? Top-rated boat days instead
A catamaran snorkel sail costs about the same as a day pass and includes lunch and an open bar.
Aruba day passes: quick answers
Can you buy a Renaissance Island day pass in advance?
What is the best all-inclusive day pass in Aruba?
Is De Palm Island worth it?
What is the cheapest resort day pass in Aruba?
Do cruise passengers have time for a day pass?
Planning the rest of the trip? See our best Aruba tours, the best beaches in Aruba, and where to stay.
