Activities
Activities
Fun for All Ages by Susan Campbell From toddler to teens, to parents and grandparents there are fabulous family adventures on land, on sea, and indoors too. So, let’s go find all the fun on this happy island!
with Driftwood Fishing Charters, and everyone can even eat their catch when cooked at their Driftwood dining spot later on! The entire family can enjoy fish spotting without even getting wet aboard the semi-submarine Seaworld Explorer and a real submarine called the Atlantis!
Make a splash!
Hit the high seas
Lofty adventures
Wonderful water amusement on the waves for the whole family abounds all over the island, and most of the watersport rental spots are located on Palm Beach. Aruba is one of the best places in the world to learn to windsurf; the calm, gentle conditions and expert instruction is ideal for all ages, and older children can also tackle the exciting sport of kiteboarding! Extreme enthusiasts can try the overwater jet packs and jet blades at Red Sail Sports. There’s a brand new wet and wild attraction the whole family will love called Splash Park Aruba! It’s a massive floating waterpark full of obstacles and zany adventures just off Surfside Beach. Team up to compete against each other in an overwater race as you jump, slide, hang, climb, and flip among runs of colorful, bouncy apparatus. They also offer kayak tours. Another option is a day at private De Palm Island with tons of water activities for all ages. Seriously refreshing fun!
This island’s snorkel adventures will really get the kids excited. Aruba has topnotch tour operators that go to the same fish-filled spots and all stop at the Antilla shipwreck, easily visible in shallow water. Pelican Adventures takes groups out in style on a luxury catamaran and also offers a lively Havana-style sunset cruise with salsa music and Cuban snacks. Jolly Pirates’ old-fashioned wooden sailing ships are always a hit with children, and all ages love their rope swing off the yardarm for acrobatics into the sea. Take a private luxury sailing trip with Isabella Catamaran; they offer personalized tours on small vessels and can also include snorkeling and a stop at the Splash Park as part of your day. Another lovely sailing vessel for fun family snorkel trips is the Lady Black operated by Sailaway Tour, and they have a rope swing as well. If your older kids love catching fish then take them on an exciting fishing adventure
Seeing the island from above is unforgettable, and all ages, including infants, can take a thrilling whirlybird ride with Aruba Heli Tours. Catch their cheery lemon yellow helicopter right off the Oranjestad marina, and choose from aerial beach tours or an entire island tour for exhilarating high-flying action. Or climb the 500-some steps up Hooiberg to keep the family fit and be rewarded with a superb view. Also affording a great view, but with fewer steps, is the newly reopened California Lighthouse where you can climb to the top with a guided tour. Or how about a parasail above the waves? Solo and tandem tours are both offered on Palm Beach.
Splash Park Aruba
Aruba Heli Tours
Interact with the animals
Aruba has many hands-on activities with animals that children will adore. Start with a trip to The Butterfly Farm to witness over 200 species of wingedwonders up close, and if you’re lucky they’ll land on you! Go early in the day when they are most active, and go early in your stay since your admission fee is good for repeat visits. Comical feathered friends can be enjoyed and fed at the Aruba Ostrich Farm. And the Donkey Sanctuary is another family favorite. Children can interact with the friendly four-legged creatures, and you can even adopt a donkey on-site or online. (No worries, you don’t have to bring it home!) Make friends with them by bringing them treats of apples and carrots. Over 50 species of cool creatures and critters can be found at Philip’s Animal Garden. Take a tour to learn about Philip’s eclectic collection of residents (all rescues), and as part of your admission you’ll receive healthy snacks to feed the animals. Horseback riding is another enjoyable family activity. Aruba has top-notch stables and great scenic tours for all ages and skill levels. Or get to know a great deal of the island’s indigenous creatures at Arikok National Park’s visitor center. ! The Butterfly Farm
Jolly Pirates
Philip’s Animal Garden
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Left photo courtesy of Splash Park Aruba. Right photo courtesy of Jolly Pirates
Top left photo courtesy of Aruba Heli Tours. Bottom left photo courtesy of Philip’s Animal Garden
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Activities
Activities
Interior adventures
Jeep safaris into Aruba’s wild interior countryside will delight older children, and some make a stop at the natural pool for a unique snorkel opportunity. Tours to cool caves at Guadirikiri, Fontein, and Huliba are also fascinating and full of stalagmites, stalactites, and friendly colonies of bats! ABC Tours specializes in UTV and land rover off-road adventures to ensure you get to the wildest secret spots in style and comfort. Choose from a wide variety of
exciting tours like “Beach Escape & Cave Safari” or the “Elite Private Safari,” ABC goes to all the best off-radar places for fabulous family fun. Justin’s ATV Rental also does guided tours, but specializes in the rentals of rugged vehicles that are designed to handle Aruba’s unforgiving outback and tricky terrain. ! Cliff jumping with ABC Tours
Fontein Cave
More play places
When your munchkins are getting too much sun, there’s plenty of indoor entertainment. Catch a first-run family flick at the modern cinema complexes at Renaissance Marketplace, Paseo Herencia, or Palm Beach Plaza. Also at Palm Beach Plaza they offer glow-in-the-dark bowling and an entire amusement arcade. After dark, Paseo Herencia’s courtyard is the place to be where a liquid fireworks show entertains four times nightly, and they have a cool carousel, neon bumper cars, and even a little train for your kids. Older children will enjoy joining their family for a guided stroll around colorful downtown Oranjestad with Aruba Walking Tours, which includes a stop at the modern archaeological museum that has interactive exhibits for all ages. Get on a roll
Another great idea for a family outing is cycling. The new Green Bike Aruba project makes it easy to cycle anywhere around the island with automated help-yourself stations where you can buy passes for an hour or even a week, and then dock the bike at any of the eight stations when you’re done. They are ideal for cycling along the new linear park that leads from Carousel at Paseo Herencia
Trikes Aruba
Oranjestad to the airport along the sea. Electric bike rentals are new on island as well at Cycling Made Easy. And everyone will enjoy the free eco-trolley that winds throughout downtown where you can hop on and off as you please. Or get your motor running with Trikes Aruba, cool three-wheeled motorcycle-like vehicles that offer guided tours all over the island. No motorcycle license required, and kids six years and over can buckle up in the back seat, no worries. Dedicated children’s clubs
Many of the island’s major resorts have dedicated supervised kids’ clubs and some also offer babysitting services at an additional cost. After all, mom and dad deserve some alone time on One Happy Island too! " Green Bike Aruba
Pier located at Surfside Beach with amazing view of cruise ships sailing by
TOUR INCLUDES Transportation from and to the Hotels Swim & Snorkel in the crystal clear water One hour Splash Park or Kayaking Open bar with our unique cocktails
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“Splash Aruba” and “ Isabella`s VIP”
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Snacks - Enjoyable music
@IsabellaCatamaran
US $ 75 Daily Tours Start at 10.30am (spaces are limited) RESERVATIONS +297 594 1002 +297 593 7023
info@isabellacatamaran.com Right photo courtesy of ABC Tours
For even more fun things to do with your family while on Aruba, consult our complete activities listing on pages 81-82. Top photo courtesy of Trikes Aruba. Bottom right photo courtesy of Green Bike Aruba
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