How To Spend 10 Days in Aruba: Ultimate Itinerary and Insider Tips

Are you planning on staying for 10 days in Aruba and have no idea yet what to do? Then you are not alone!

Aruba is a small, tropical island in the Caribbean Sea and part of the ABC Islands group. This year, we were lucky enough to spend 10 days in Aruba as part of a longer trip to the Caribbean.

Aruba has a bit of a reputation as a party island, but we found many other things to do that made the tropical paradise quite romantic and unique.

For everyone who has to spend at least a week in Aruba and does not know how to spend it yet, this post is for you!

Let’s get to it!

10 Days in Aruba Itinerary – at a Glance

🏝️ Day 1: Arrival & Beach Time

🏝️ Day 2: Aruba Snorkel Adventure

🏝️ Day 3: Baby Beach & Rodger’s Beach, San Nicolas

🏝️ Day 4: Arikok National Park

🏝️ Day 5: Renaissance Island

🏝️ Day 6: Oranjestad

🏝️ Day 7: Arashi Beach & California Lighthouse

🏝️ Day 8: Butterfly Farm, Donkey Sanctuary or Aruba Aloe Factory

🏝️ Day 9: Palm Island

🏝️ Day 10: Departure

Day 1: Arrival and Beach Time

On your arrival day in Aruba, you’ll likely be tired from the journey and excited to relax a bit.

Check out one of Aruba’s finest beaches close to your accommodation for some sun, a refreshing dip in the ocean, and a welcome cocktail.

Justin’s tip: check out Eagle Beach or Palm Beach on your first day, they are easy to navigate and have all the amenities

Day 2: Aruba Snorkel Tour

Aruba has amazing marine life, so one of the things you need to do during your 10 days in Aruba is a snorkel tour.

One of our favorite excursions in Aruba was definitely seeing the sunken shipwreck of Aruba we discovered on our snorkel trip.

We booked a snorkel boat tour that took us to three different snorkel spots, one of them being the shipwreck.

The snorkel tour took half a day, we got lunch and breakfast as well as unlimited cocktails (Aruba Ariba, yay!).

The tour was very well organized and we absolutely enjoyed the day trip!

If you don’t like snorkeling, why not consider a Romantic Sunset Sail instead?

Day 3: Baby Beach & Rodger’s Beach, San Nicolas

Baby Beach and Rodger’s Beach

Day 3 of this 10-day itinerary will take us to some off-the-beaten-track places.

We’ll explore the fantastic Baby Beach – a crescent-shaped, stunning beach area. This is an amazing place for some Instagram pictures.

Right next to Baby Beach, you can find Rodger’s Beach – another cool spot that is not so filled with tourists yet.

Both beaches are simply stunning, and you can totally spend a day there.

You’ll need a rental car for this excursion, as there is no great public transport to Baby Beach.

San Nicolas

If you are staying 10 days in Aruba, you need to put San Nicolas on your itinerary.

And this is the perfect day to go there because it is located on the way to Baby Beach.

It is a cute, picturesque town that “is easily 20 years behind in everything”. That’s at least what a local told us.

Apart from the history of the town, it is also famous for its street art. Walk around town and see some fabulous murals.

Day 4: Arikok National Park

Arikok National Park in Aruba covers nearly 20% of the island, offering some diverse landscapes from rugged terrain to coastal views.

On day 4 of this Aruba itinerary, we will visit that magnificent spot.

Highlights of the Arikok National Park include hiking to natural pools, exploring caves like Fontein and Quadirikiri, and spotting interesting plants and cute animals.

The park’s dramatic coastline of Boca Prins offers breathtaking scenery and some great Instagram photo opportunities.

You can either go there by yourself with a 4×4 or book a guided tour. Many great excursions show many great excursions that show you off the beaten tracks in Aruba.

Day 5: Renaissance Island (Flamingo Beach)

Day 5 is my favorite in this 10-day-in-Aruba itinerary.

Aruba is famous for its flamingos, yet there are only very few of them on the island and they are perfectly hard to reach.

I have dedicated an entire blog post on how to make sure to see the flamingos of Aruba, so you can have the best experience.

Essentially, they live on a private island and it is not open to the public, unless you have one of the twenty day passes they give out or you stay at the hotel that owns the island.

I suggest staying a night or two at the Renaissance Aruba Resort, so you get to see them for sure. Day passes are expensive and hard to come by!

Once you’ve made it to Renaissance Island, you can enjoy a beach day with flamingos, delicious drinks and food, and stunning scenery. It is definitely worth the money.

Day 6: Oranjestad

Oranjestad is the colorful little capital city of Aruba. You can easily explore the cute town on foot. There are many shops and luxury stores just waiting for you to explore them.

You can dive into the island’s history at the National Archaeological Museum and Fort Zoutman.

Indulge in some luxury shopping at the Renaissance Mall, or take a leisurely stroll or bike ride along the Caribbean’s longest linear park.

Lastly, for a quieter beach day, head to Surfside Beach. You can sample some local Aruban dishes at the harbor-side restaurants.

I suggest spending at least an evening in Oranjestad, checking out the colorful houses and having dinner by the ocean to see the sunset.

Day 7: Arashi Beach and California Lighthouse

The California lighthouse is something that you should check out during your 10 days in Aruba.

You can easily reach it by car and park there while you take some pictures and take in the scenery.

If you have a solid car, you can also explore off-the-beaten-track Aruba right behind the lighthouse. Even if you only stay for a week in Aruba, I would make sure to see the lighthouse.

Arashi Beach is right next to the lighthouse, and it is famous for having the most crystal-clear water in Aruba. This is an awesome spot for snorkeling as well.

It is also one of the most instagrammable places in Aruba.

Day 8: Butterfly Farm, Donkey Sanctuary, Or ArubaAloe Factory

On day 8, we are diving a bit deeper into the animals and plants that live on Aruba.

There are a couple of great spots where you can learn about the indigenous flora and fauna. Pick one or visit all three of them, the choice is yours.

The Aruba Donkey Sanctuary provides a safe haven for rescued donkeys. You can interact with these gentle creatures and learn about their role in Aruba’s history.

Nearby, the Butterfly Farm is a magical place to wander among colorful butterflies in a tropical garden setting. Make sure to wear something colorful, so they sit down on you.

Lastly, the Aruba Aloe Factory not only teaches the history and benefits of aloe, which has been grown on the island since the 19th century.

It also allows you to see how aloe products are made, from plant to product.

Day 9: Palm Island

Palm Island in Aruba is a small, privately owned island that serves as an all-inclusive day resort. It is a cool place to visit on your last day of this Aruba itinerary.

It is accessible by a short ferry ride. The island has white sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters ideal for snorkeling.

You can also enjoy banana boat rides, water slides, and a zip line for some adrenaline-pumping fun. The island also has buffet-style dining with a variety of options.

How Much Time Do I Need in Aruba?

Based on our personal experience, I would say that you need to spend at least a week in Aruba to take it all in.

Personally, we also wanted a couple of days without activities, just lounging on the beach and enjoying ourselves, so we planned to spend 10 days in Aruba.

The island is relatively small, but there is a lot to see and some great places to explore, so I suggest not rushing it.

If you have the time and the money, you can easily spend two weeks in Aruba without being bored!

Things You Need to Know About Aruba Before You Go

🦩 If you are planning on spending at least a week in Aruba, make sure to get a rental car. Many of the fun places are far off the beaten tracks and can only be reached by car. However, the roads are super bad in some remote places, so make sure to get a 4-by-4!

🦩 Aruba is expensive. Be prepared to spend some serious money on the island – otherwise, I suggest going to Curacao or Bonaire instead. If you can’t decide on where to go, check out this blog post.

🦩 Aruba is extremely safe compared to the other ABC islands. You can happily explore without being too scared in the evenings.

🦩 Make sure to tip well! Aruba is mainly visited by Americans, so the tipping culture in Aruba is pretty good. 20 % are expected if you were satisfied with the service.

🦩 The main language spoken in Aruba is English, although many inhabitants of the island speak Dutch and Spanish as well.

Best Time to Go to Aruba

The best time to visit Aruba is from April to August when the weather is warm, and the tourist crowds are thinner.

During these months, you can enjoy pleasant temperatures averaging around 82°F, perfect for beach activities and exploring the island.

This period follows the busy winter season, so you’ll get more affordable accommodations and fewer visitors, making it easier to fully enjoy Aruba’s attractions.

Conversely, the worst time to visit Aruba is from September to November. This is the off-peak season due to the higher chance of rainfall and slightly stormier weather.

Although Aruba sits outside the main hurricane belt, it can still experience some residual effects from nearby storms.

Those willing to risk occasional showers will benefit from the lowest hotel rates and very few crowds, offering a more secluded and budget-friendly vacation experience.

We visited in September and we were very lucky, the weather was awesome!

Conclusion: 10 Days in Aruba

To sum it up, 10 days is the perfect amount of time in Aruba. If money is no object, maybe two weeks would be even better.

Aruba is filled with amazing beaches, divine restaurants, and stunning natural wonders.

From the Arikok National Park to the Aruba Aloe Factory and the forgotten city of San Nicolaas – there is something to do for everyone in Aruba.

I made sure to add a lot of rest and relaxation into this itinerary, so you’ll have plenty of time to relax on the beach between fun activities.

If you need more info of the island Aruba, keep on reading:

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🇦🇼 25 amazing most instagrammable places in Aruba

🇦🇼 10 days in Aruba – the perfect tropical vacation

🇦🇼 Discover the most romantic beachfront restaurants in Aruba

🇦🇼 Guaranteed way to see the flamingos in Aruba + Is it worth it?

🇦🇼 Best Sunset Cruises in Aruba

🇦🇼 Is Aruba in South America?

🇦🇼 Is Aruba Worth Visiting? An Honest Review

🇦🇼 Is Aruba Expensive to Vacation? The Ultimate Guide