OVERVIEW

Sail along the island’s northwestern coast on a luxury catamaran and enjoy leisurely stops along the way for snorkeling and a barbecue meal. The catamaran is spaciousness so feel free to move around the deck, sit in the shaded cockpit and relax in the netting between the hulls. One of the highlights will be snorkeling the wreck of the Antilla, a German ship that was scuttled off Boca Catalina Beach in 1940. The 400-foot ship is lying on its side and over the decades has become an artificial reef teeming with marine life. Sea turtles are also plentiful, especially at nearby Tres Trapi, where you will have the opportunity to swim with these graceful creatures. A hearty meal from the High Rise Area will follow, after which we will sail the coastline to Nikki Beach, a gorgeous stretch of sand not far from Oranjestad.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Sail through the turquoise waters off Aruba on an elegant catamaran.
• Snorkel a scuttled ship teeming with colorful marine life off Boca Catalina Beach.
• Swim with sea turtles that come to forage on seagrass at Tres Trapi.
• Dine on a delicious barbecue lunch and relax on the catamaran.
• Choice of BBQ Ribs, Chicken, Fish or Vegetarian.
• Open bar cocktails and mixed drinks available.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing with a swimsuit underneath.
• Bring a towel, hat and sunscreen.

OVERVIEW

Elevate your bartending and cooking skills in an entertaining hands-on class, during which you will learn to make a number of classic cocktails and dishes. The venue for this culinary and mixology class will be the family-owned café Taste My Aruba. It occupies an old house known as a cunucu, the word for “country” in the Papiamento language spoken in the Dutch Caribbean. During the mixology portion of the class, you will learn to mix two cocktails step by step using locally sourced seasonal ingredients. One of them might be an Aloe Martina utilizing the island’s main crops - Aloe Vera. The bartending will be a lively social experience much like the cooking class, reflecting the island’s culinary heritage.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Learn to make authentic classic cocktails and small-plate dishes at the café Taste My Aruba.
• Use local and seasonal ingredients to prepare the refreshing cocktails and tasty dishes.
• Enjoy the camaraderie of the class while enjoying your concoctions for lunch.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Ride across the island in an open-air Jeep to a natural pool along the sea and a cave adorned with centuries-old pictographs. You will enjoy uninterrupted views of the gorgeous countryside as you travel through Aruba’s rugged interior, often on roads only accessible in a 4-wheel-drive vehicle. The seaside pool lies within the Arikok National Park, an environmentally protected wonderland that covers nearly 20% of the island. It will be immensely relaxing to ease into the crystal-clear waters of the secluded pool, which fills a bowl-like depression in the volcanically formed shoreline. Nearby, you will explore Fontein Cave, whose limestone walls are covered with reddish-brown drawings – some floor-to-ceiling – that the indigenous Arawaks created long ago. Anthropologists speculate that the artists may have been under the influence of psychedelics. To experience a weird sensation yourself, dip your feet into the freshwater pool nearby and enjoy a fish pedicure of sorts.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Ride through Aruba’s rugged interior, often on roads only suitable for a 4-wheel-drive vehicle.
• Enjoy panoramic views of the volcanically formed terrain, which at times is desert-like.
• Relax in a natural pool along the sea in the Arikok National Park.
• View centuries-old pictographs that the Arawaks drew in the depths of Fontein Cave.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing with a swimsuit underneath.
• Bring a towel and sunscreen.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Go off-road through the rugged desert-like landscape along the island’s north coast on an EZ Raider, an electric vehicle that resembles a four-wheel bike. After a briefing and trial run to make sure that you are comfortable on the EZ Raider, you will ride off caravan-style behind the guide. Being emission-free, the vehicles have minimal impact on the island’s delicate ecosystems. You can expect an exhilarating ride, especially once you head off-road and into the sand dunes, where you will find the ruins of the Bushiribana Gold Mill, which opened during Aruba’s gold rush in the mid-19th century. The majority of the attractions will be natural, including a dramatic cave pool along the shore and a limestone bridge that the pounding surf has carved out of the coastal rocks. The guide will elaborate on the sights and their history during stops at the most scenic places.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy the freedom of riding off-road on an electric four-wheel EZ Raider.
• Appreciate the easy operation and stability of the vehicle, which looks like a four-wheel bike.
• See the windswept remains of a gold mill among the sand dunes.
• Behold Aruba’s coastal beauty at a natural cave pool and at a natural bridge.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable, closed-toe walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Ride horseback through the wilds of Aruba and along the coast for an up-close look at the island’s natural beauty. After being paired with a horse suited to your riding abilities, you will proceed from the stables at Gold Mine Ranch along a winding trail through the sand dunes and arid cactus-dotted countryside. You will ride through an area where gold was discovered nearly the two centuries ago. Along the way, you will see remnants of the resulting gold rush at places such as the windswept ruins of the Bushiribana Gold Mill, which operated until 1914. The guide will describe how this part of Aruba was settled, its cultural significance and the natural features of the desert-like terrain. The highlight will likely be the exhilarating ride along the secluded beach as the waves crash along the shore. Few experiences are quite so pleasurable, especially with a cool breeze blowing off the ocean.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Ride a horse through the sand dunes along the desert-like northeastern coast of Aruba.
• Follow the trail to a pristine beach where your small group will likely be the only visitors.
• Enjoy the thrill of riding along a secluded stretch of sand to the sound of crashing waves.
• See the remains of a gold mill that operated during Aruba’s 19th-century gold rush.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable, closed-toe walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Race through the rugged terrain that marks Aruba’s northern tip in a utility task vehicle made for off-road adventure. After a briefing to ensure that you maximize the experience, you will hop on a two-person UTV and ride off caravan-style behind the guide. The route will take you through the island’s untamed outback, a land of breathtaking beauty. You will pause at some of the most picturesque spots along the way, starting with Blackstone Beach, the only stretch of volcanic black sand on Aruba. A bit farther up the coast, you will stop at Andicuri Beach – which rims a cove known for its dramatic bluffs – and at a natural bridge that the pounding surf carved out of the craggy limestone. Not all the wonders are natural as you will discover at the modest Alto Vista Chapel and at the California Lighthouse, which is named for a ship that sunk before the beacon’s construction.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Tear across Aruba’s northern tip in a utility task vehicle designed for rugged terrain.
• Pause for photos at incredibly dramatic beaches, including Blackstone and Andicuri.
• Stop at a coastal natural bridge that the relentless surf and strong winds created.
• See the freestanding Alto Vista Chapel and a lighthouse that offers 360° views.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing with a swimsuit underneath.
• Bring a towel and sunscreen.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Sail on a catamaran, that’s been specifically designed and built for day cruises and snorkeling. It also features comfortable ladders to provide you with easy access to the water. You’ll see Aruba's beautiful beaches and resort hotels while relaxing on the open decks. The catamaran anchors at the West point of the island for swimming and snorkeling in the crystal clear water where tropical fish may be seen. After a 50 minute stop at the famous Antilla shipwreck, a German WWII freighter that is home to a variety of colorful, tropical fish, you’ll sail to the Pelican Marina to experience Aruba's most famous Palm Beach.

Here on this white sandy beach, you’ll be pampered by crew members serving unlimited drinks. This is a unique opportunity to relax on a beach lounge chair or to take a walk on our famous Palm Beach. The more adventurous can try one of the many water-sports activities available for their recreation. The pier offers Aruba's best and only Seafood Restaurant and Bar located on the water. Your hosts will provide a guided narrated tour of sights along the way. Snorkel equipment and instruction are provided and we recommend that participants wear swim attire and bring a beach towel.

OVERVIEW

Explore some of the natural and cultural landmarks that define Aruba and then relax however you please at a beach that rims a sheltered lagoon. Considering that the island is relatively flat, the cluster of giant boulders at Casibari look especially impressive, rising out of the desert. They were created eons ago when nearby tectonic plates shifted. You will then travel through narrow Frenchman Pass – where you may hear the legend behind its name – and on to San Nicolas, which if not the island’s cultural hub is certainly the capital of street art. You will see all sorts of colorful outdoor murals depicting everything from Aruba’s indigenous people to its marine life. The bright red anchor nearby is a more sobering attraction as it is a memorial to Arubans that have lost their lives at sea. Free time follows at Baby Beach, an idyllic spot whose calm shallow waters invite a refreshing swim.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Marvel at the oddly shaped Casibari rock formations that shifting tectonic plates created.
• Behold Aruba’s creative side while browsing the outdoor murals in San Nicolas.
• Stop at the distinctive red anchor memorial to those that have lost their lives at sea.
• Relax at Baby Beach, a gorgeous stretch of sand along a sheltered lagoon.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing with a swimsuit underneath.
• Bring a towel, hat and sunscreen.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Savor a tasting of premium wines and rum at Aruba’s only winery and distillery and watch the sunset while dining beachside on the island’s westernmost point. Aruba’s desert climate makes agriculture challenging, yet Alto Vista Winery has made the most of its unusual terroir. While touring the vineyard, you will hear how the grapes are cultivated and which ones are best suited to the dry climate. The tasting will confirm that certain grapes can be successfully grown and made into varietals such as a white French Colombard and a red Tempranillo. Alto Vista also produces Red Star Rum, an artisanal spirit named for the symbolic red star on the flag of Aruba. The samples will be thoughtfully paired with a charcuterie board of local delicacies. A more complete meal will follow at Kokoa Restaurant and Bar, a seaside setting on the west coast that is ideal for watching the sun dip below the horizon.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Visit Aruba’s only winery and distillery and tour the vineyards.
• Sample a variety of wines and a white rum that captures the spirit of Aruba.
• Enjoy a charcuterie board at the winery before dining at a seaside restaurant.
• Watch the sunset from the restaurant, which is ideally located on Aruba’s west coast.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Your adventure begins with a short transfer to the submarine aboard the shuttle vessel Subseeker. Board the submarine just off the southeast coast of Aruba for a thrilling dive to either the mysteriously sunken airplane or the retired Danish sailboat Mi Dushi I, together with the newly sunken coaster, the Morgenster. You’ll have the opportunity to get an up-close view of exotic marine life while diving to depths of up to 130 feet. Be amazed by colorful schools of tropical fish, huge sponge gardens and the mystical beauty of the coral fields. An educational and entertaining narration from your experienced, professional, and licensed crew will highlight this unique experience. All of this is in air-conditioned comfort and without getting wet!

Meet your guide for the day and board your comfortable air-conditioned bus and prepare yourself to experience Aruba at its finest. Enjoy your narrated tour while driving through charming Oranjestad with its Dutch Colonial architecture. Your first stop will be the Aloe Factory for a brief overview of the Aloe plantation and a tour of the Aloe Museum.

Then drive through the countryside and discover Aruba’s flora and fauna in route to the Casibari Rock formation – huge diorite boulders found in the center of the island. Board your bus and continue on to the mysterious California Lighthouse for a short stop to enjoy a breathtaking view of the island. A quick stop at the beach for a dip in the spectacular turquoise ocean concludes your tour, before returning to the cruise terminal.

Ride the ferry to secluded DePalm Island where you can enjoy a variety of activities from snorkeling to waterslides. Board your air-conditioned transportation for the brief transfer to the ferry landing. It’s a short five minute ride across the protected lagoon to the island. Upon arrival, receive a brief orientation to De Palm Island and its amenities including the Blue Parrotfish Water Park.

Enjoy approximately 6 hours of free time to snorkel, sunbathe, swim, enjoy the water parks and waterslides, banana boat rides or maybe even play a game of volleyball. Your beach day includes snorkeling equipment and lessons. Elegant flamingo’s are walking around on the private beach and can be viewed from a distance. Complimentary alcoholic beverages and soft drinks and a complete lunch buffet are included. Lounge chairs, freshwater showers and changing rooms are provided for your convenience. Wear a swimsuit, bring a towel and adequate sun protection. In case of a late arrival in port, the duration of the tour might be slightly shorter.