img#mv-trellis-img-1::before{padding-top:66.666666666667%; }img#mv-trellis-img-1{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-2::before{padding-top:100%; }img#mv-trellis-img-2{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-3::before{padding-top:100%; }img#mv-trellis-img-3{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-4::before{padding-top:100%; }img#mv-trellis-img-4{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-5::before{padding-top:100%; }img#mv-trellis-img-5{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-6::before{padding-top:100%; }img#mv-trellis-img-6{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-7::before{padding-top:100%; }img#mv-trellis-img-7{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-8::before{padding-top:100%; }img#mv-trellis-img-8{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-9::before{padding-top:46.97265625%; }img#mv-trellis-img-9{display:block;}Travelers just can’t get enough of Aruba.
Something that anyone who’s visited the island won’t be surprised to hear!
White sand beaches fringed with perfect turquoise waters, excellent snorkeling and scuba diving, and an incredible culinary scene are just some of the attractions of Aruba.
In 2024, a whopping 3.2 million passengers arrived at the island’s Princess Beatrix International Airport. That’s an increase of 14.1% when compared to 2023, according to the Caribbean Journal.
Here’s why Aruba keeps breaking tourism records.
Affordable Flights
Flights to Aruba are both plentiful and affordable.
Last year alone, there was a 15.4% increase in seat capacity for flights to the island, meaning the airport broke its all-time tourism record.
A quick search revealed that in March alone, you can fly nonstop to Aruba from 13 U.S. cities. The cheapest of these (at the time of writing) are Fort Lauderdale and New York.
Flying to Aruba from Fort Lauderdale on March 1 and returning on March 6 will cost $224 per person for the return flight in economy class. This flight is with Spirit Airlines.
The outbound flight has a flight time of 2 hours 58 minutes, and the inbound flight has a flight time of 3 hours 13 minutes.
Flying to Aruba from New York on March 19 and returning on March 25 will cost $330 per person for a return flight in economy class. This flight is with JetBlue.
The outbound flight has a flight time of 4 hours 30 minutes, and the inbound flight has a flight time of 4 hours 51 minutes.
Breathtaking, Beautiful Beaches
Aruba is home to some of the best beaches, not just in the Caribbean but in the world.
If you only visit one, then make it Eagle Beach, which USA Today has called the world’s best beach, and it’s easy to see why.
This is the widest beach in Aruba and it’s covered in powder soft white sand. It’s visually stunning thanks to the leaning Fofoti trees that line the shoreline, and it’s a breeding ground for nesting turtles. It’s a great spot for watersports too.
Other beaches well worth exploring include Baby Beach and Arashi Beach which have vast expanses of shoreline, and are great spots for snorkeling.
It’s worth noting that all beaches in Aruba are public beaches, which means that they’re all free to access. You just can’t use the umbrellas and lounge chairs on the beaches attached to hotels, as these are provided by those resorts for their guests.
The only exception to this rule is some privately owned island off the shoreline. Renaissance Island and De Palm Island, for example, are privately owned, so you will need to buy a day pass to access these beaches.
Renaissance Island is home to the iconic ‘Flamingo Beach’.
This is where all those shots of travelers in the shallows with vibrant pink flamingos come from, and it’s a dream for photographers and Instagrammers.
Day passes are available for purchase on the Renaissance website every Saturday at 9am and cost $125 per person.
This price also includes lunch and a drink. It’s worth noting that these day passes book up quick, so if this experience is on your bucket list, set your alarm so you’re first inline for tickets!
Other Things To Do In Aruba
If you can bear to tear yourself away from the beach, then why not really immerse yourself in the beauty of the island by visiting Arakok National Park?
This runs along the rugged Eastern coastline of the island.
You can visit the Fontein Cave, which is covered in Caquetío Indian rock paintings. Or enjoy the unique rock formations of Quadiriki Cave which has openings in the roof to allow sunlight to pour in.
Nature lovers will also find a huge number of rare and unique trees and plants, birds, bats, invertebrates, and reptiles in the national park too.
And if you haven’t had enough of the water, the iconic Conchi Natural Pool is in the Arakok National Park. It’s worth noting that this pool is only accessible by 4×4, off-road vehicle, or on horseback.
So, unless you’re hiring a car, you may need to take a tour to visit the pools.
The National Park itself its accessible either independently or via an organized tour. But a valid conservation pass is required to enter the park.
This costs $22 USD per adult, and children can visit for free.
Tor BrierleyTor has been writing for more than 20 years and has visited 25 countries (and counting!) She specializes in European and family travel and never says no to new adventures.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
Appeared first on: traveloffpath.com