There’s no shortage of adventurous things to do in Aruba with kids. Why stay at your resort when an entire paradise awaits you? Not sure where to begin? Add these 5 excursions to your vacation bucket list. Many thanks to Around Aruba Tours, Aruba Surf School, Atlantis Submarines Expedition and Pelican Adventures for partnering with us on this feature.
1. Renaissance Island
This other-worldly, private island belongs to Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino, but you don’t have to be a hotel guest to enjoy it. Take a fun, 8-minute water taxi ride to this family-friendly oasis, where you can hand-feed flamingos (a must-do with kids), lounge on the breathtaking beaches, pamper yourself at Spa Cove, or enjoy lunch at Papagayo Bar & Grill.
Sean feeding flamingoes on Aruba's famous Renaissance Island
Posted by Top Flight Family on Monday, October 30, 2017
Day passes to the island are $100 per person. However, total access is included to guests of the resort, so if there are more than two guests in your party, it makes sense to book a room instead of buying day passes for everyone.
2. Hummer Jeep Tour
Get to know the entire island at the beginning of your vacation with a private tour! Kids will love the bumpy ride in this huge, open-air vehicle. Children must be over the age of 4 to participate. The tour will take your family to all the most famous sites on the island, including California Lighthouse, Aruba Natural Bridge (which is now collapsed, but there are other smaller ones that are just as cool), Alto Vista Chapel, the historic gold mine ruins at Bushiribana, and swimming in the Natural Pool.
Swimming in the Natural Pool in Aruba
Swimming in the Natural Pool in Aruba. This was such a cool experience! This site can't be accessed by car. We took a hummer, then climbed a ladder down into the cavern, and traversed very sharp, slippery rocks. Sean enjoyed the experience but Ella was very freaked out by the fishes swimming alongside her!
Posted by Top Flight Family on Monday, October 30, 2017
Be sure to bring water shoes for everyone for the Natural Pool. You’ll need to climb a ladder down into the cavern, and traverse very sharp, slippery rocks.
3. Atlantis Submarine Expedition
Atlantis Submarines Expedition
Take a once-in-a-lifetime voyage to the depths of 130 feet below the Caribbean Sea! Hitch a ride aboard the largest passenger submarine fleet in the world, for this unforgettable guided tour. It’s just one of many epic things to do in Aruba with kids that will take their breath away!
On board Aruba's Atlantis Submarine Expedition
Riding this submarine 130 feet below the Caribbean Sea was a pretty amazing experience! Sean and Ella loved getting to see the fish up close, as well as exploring the many sunken barges.
Posted by Top Flight Family on Monday, October 30, 2017
See sunken ships, coral reefs, and tons of sea life. This U.S. Coast Guard approved vessel is environmentally friendly and fully air-conditioned. The tour lasts a total of one hour and 45 minutes, and children must be over the age of 4 to participate.
4. Private Paddleboarding Lesson
Imagine gliding through turquoise waters of the Caribbean on a paddleboard! While kids can do it, too, my husband and I opted to make our lesson more of a date. It was much harder than we thought it would be! I fell multiple times. My husband remained steady, thanks to years of balance training as a karate practitioner.
I loved learning stand-up paddleboarding in Aruba! Once I put Sean on my board though, I went on my knees for better control. Didn't want us both to end up in the water. 🙂
Posted by Top Flight Family on Monday, October 30, 2017
We let the kids sit on our boards toward the end, as we paddled along through paradise.
5. Snorkeling Cruise
One of the ultimate things to do in Aruba with kids is take a snorkeling cruise! Watch as your children get up close and personal with sea urchins, starfish, and sand dollars! The 2 1/2 hour sailing trip includes an open bar, snacks, music, and snorkeling. (Equipment is included.)
We always try to incorporate a snorkeling cruise when we go on beach vacations. This snorkeling cruise we did in Aruba was a lot of fun!
Posted by Top Flight Family on Monday, October 30, 2017
The boat makes two stops: the famous WWII German shipwreck ‘Antilla’ and Arashi Reef. The second of the locations had extremely choppy water when we went, so I’d suggest saving that part for experienced swimmers only. It was too much for us to handle, so we enjoyed our rum punch onboard and watched the others attempt it.
Make your vacation magical and memorable with these five fabulous things to do in Aruba with kids. Soak up all the island has to offer and return home with unforgettable memories.
Many thanks to Around Aruba Tours, Aruba Surf School, Atlantis Submarines Expedition and Pelican Adventures for providing us with complimentary admissions to their experiences.
About Carmen Sognonvi
Carmen Sognonvi is a luxury family travel content creator at Top Flight Family, named a top 10 family travel Instagram account by Time Out New York and Brit + Co. Her insights on travel have been featured in The Washington Post, INSIDER, Huffington Post, Wanderlust Travel Magazine, TravelPulse, HOTELS Magazine, and more. Carmen firmly believes that you can (and should) travel with your kids from a young age. She offers families practical solutions for travel, as well as tips on how to travel in luxury for less. She lives in New York City with her multiracial and multicultural family of four. Follow her on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.
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