Aruba Itinerary With Kids: How We Spent 6 Days in Aruba
Aruba is the trip we'd recommend to any family that wants a true beach vacation: soft sand, calm water, and a pool you can wander back and forth from all day. We spent six days there in early June with Jackson, mixing lazy beach days with snorkeling, one big adventure day to the Natural Pool, and a few fun dinners out.
Here’s exactly how we spent our time, what we’d book ahead, and the gluten-free notes we gathered along the way.
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Book Our Aruba Trip
Where we stayed and how we got around
Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino
Right on Palm Beach, with two zero-entry pools and calm water steps away.
See the Hilton →Rental Car
We picked ours up at the airport. Compare companies and cars for your dates.
Compare rentals →Our Aruba Itinerary at a Glance
Day 1: Arrive, pick up the rental car at the airport, take a first swim on Palm Beach, and stroll the Palm Beach strip in the evening
Day 2: Snorkel at Boca Catalina, Tres Trapi, and Arashi, stop at the California Lighthouse, spend the afternoon at the resort, then watch the sunset on Eagle Beach with dinner at Passions on the Beach
Day 3: Hike early to the Natural Pool, rest at the resort in the afternoon, then drive south for dinner at Zeerovers
Day 4: Take a full beach-and-pool day at the resort, then have a feet-in-the-water dinner at Flying Fishbone
Day 5: Snorkel at Mangel Halto in the morning, spend the afternoon at Baby Beach, then go back to Zeerovers for dinner (plus feeding the tarpon)
Day 6: Visit the Butterfly Farm in the morning, explore downtown Oranjestad, and have one last dinner on the beach
Day 7: Fly home
Day 1: Arrival, a First Swim, and the Palm Beach Strip
We flew in, picked up our rental car right at the airport, and made the short drive to the Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino on Palm Beach. Once we checked in, we headed straight for the water for a quick swim at the beach in front of the hotel, then grabbed an easy gluten-free pizza dinner near the resort at Amore Mio Pizzeria Napoletana.
Aruba is easy to get around by car. Having our own meant we could get to the snorkel spots, the Natural Pool, Baby Beach, and the south-coast restaurants on our own schedule.
Book it: Compare rental cars for your dates
First swim of the trip, right in front of our hotel on Palm Beach.
An evening stroll on the Palm Beach strip
After dinner, we walked the strip near our hotel along J.E. Irausquin Boulevard, which is lined with shops, restaurants, and ice cream spots. It made for an easy, low-key first night since it's all walkable from the Hilton. Paseo Herencia, an open-air shopping center, has a free water-and-light show in its central plaza in the evenings and a movie theater, and you'll find ice cream nearby at spots like Gelatissimo and Mimo's Ice Cream Rolls.
Ice cream on the Palm Beach strip, our first-night tradition.
Day 2: Northwest Snorkeling, the California Lighthouse, and Sunset on Eagle Beach
Snorkeling Boca Catalina, Tres Trapi, and Arashi
We started the morning on Aruba's northwest coast, where three of the island's easiest shore-snorkeling spots sit close together, just a 5- to 10-minute drive from Palm Beach.
Boca Catalina: A small sandy cove with lots of fish, and sea turtles are a common sight here. Most of the best snorkeling is just past the buoy line.
Tres Trapi: The name means "three steps," after the rock steps that lead right into the water. You'll see fewer fish here, but it's known for starfish.
Arashi Beach: Shallow water and a sandy bottom make it a good spot for beginners, and there's a big parking lot.
Prefer a boat? Arusun Catamaran Sail with Snorkeling in Aruba
In Aruba, Jackson snorkeled in his own mask and fins, wore a kids' swim vest, and had a bright pink swim buoy tied to him so we could keep track of him and pull him close in open water. He got new gear, plus a kids' underwater camera, before our Bonaire trip, and that's what we've linked below, along with the gear we use ourselves.
Pack reef-safe sunscreen: Aruba bans sunscreens with oxybenzone to protect its reefs.
For the kids
- Kids' snorkel mask and snorkel →
- Kids' snorkel fins →
- Kids' fin booties →
- Kids' swim vest →
- Swim buoy →
- Kids' underwater camera →
For the grown-ups
For everyone
The California Lighthouse
From Arashi, it's just a few minutes up the road to the California Lighthouse on Aruba's northern tip, with sweeping views of the coastline and sand dunes.
California Lighthouse in Aruba.
We spent the afternoon back at the resort, switching between the beach and the pool.
Sunset on Eagle Beach and dinner at Passions on the Beach
For sunset, we drove a few minutes south to Eagle Beach, home of Aruba's famous windswept fofoti trees. We stayed for dinner at Passions on the Beach, the restaurant at Amsterdam Manor Beach Resort, where the tables sit right on the sand facing the sunset.
Good to know: book a sunset table ahead (they take reservations on OpenTable). The restaurant has gluten-free options.
Sunsets in the Caribbean just hit different.
Day 3: Hiking to the Natural Pool and Dinner at Zeerovers
Hiking to Conchi (the Natural Pool)
Conchi, also called the Natural Pool, is a pool of seawater sheltered by volcanic rock on the rugged north coast of Arikok National Park. You can only get there by 4x4, on a guided tour, on horseback, or on foot. We hiked it, with Jackson.
We'll be honest: this hike is rugged, and the conditions are a bit extreme. It's hot and exposed, with very little shade, and the terrain is rough the whole way. We're experienced hikers, so we felt comfortable bringing Jackson. But it isn't for every family. If you're thinking about bringing your kids, take extra caution, and do your own research on this hike before you decide.
If hiking isn't for you, you can still see the Natural Pool. Tour groups will drive you out by 4x4, and some include time to snorkel in the pool.
The best way to cool off after our hike!
How we did it
Stop at the visitor center first. You can't buy park entry at the Daimari trailhead. Before driving out to the trail, we stopped at the main Arikok National Park Visitor Center in San Fuego to pay the park fee and get our entry wristbands. The visitor center opens around 8 a.m., so that's about as early as you can start.
The drive to the trailhead. We started from the Daimari Rancho parking area. The dirt road out there is extremely rough, uneven, and rocky. You'll want a high-clearance 4x4 or SUV, because a standard low-riding rental car will struggle and could get damaged.
The hike. From the parking area near Daimari, it's about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) each way, which usually takes 45 minutes to an hour one way. Plan for longer if you are bringing along your kids. The trail follows the rugged windward coastline over sand dunes near Boca Keto, sharp volcanic rock, and plenty of cacti.
Once you get there, you climb down to the pool over rocks, and then you can swim. We jumped off the rocks at the top into the pool below, which was the highlight of the day.
Before you go:
Do the Natural Pool hike early in the morning, stop at the Arikok Visitor Center for your park entry first, drive a high-clearance vehicle out to Daimari, and bring lots of water. The tourism board recommends at least a liter per person.
Wear shoes with grip. The rocks around the pool are slippery and sharp.
Be careful if you jump. There are no lifeguards, and conditions change with the waves. Check the depth and the water first, and only jump where you can see others doing it safely.
View from the top of the “cliff” at Conchi. This picture doesn’t do it justice. It’s higher than it looks!
An easy afternoon at the resort
After the hike, we headed back to the hotel for a quiet afternoon. Lounging on the beach, some pool time, and a nap were exactly what we needed.
Dinner at Zeerovers
For dinner, we drove south to Zeerovers, a no-frills fish shack on a pier in Savaneta, about a 30-minute drive from Palm Beach. There's no real menu: you order the catch of the day and shrimp by weight at the window, add sides, and they fry it up while you grab a table on the dock.
Dinner at Zeerovers is an experience we still talk about. It's casual, delicious, and fun, and it seemed just as popular with locals as with visitors, which is always a good sign. It's a must-do in Aruba. We loved it so much we went back!
Gluten-free at Zeerovers: gluten-free diners report that the fish and shrimp are lightly fried in cornmeal rather than battered, and that the fries and plantains are gluten-free too. Skip the pan bati (the local cornbread pancake), which contains gluten. As always, ask your own questions before ordering.
Good to know: it was cash only when we visited, so bring US dollars or Aruban florins. Check the hours and opening days before you go (it's been closed on Mondays). Expect no frills and a long line at peak times, but it's worth the wait.
Fried fish for dinner!
Day 4: Beach, Pool, Repeat, and Flying Fishbone
After our big adventure day, this was our "do nothing" day, and it was lovely. We spent the whole day going back and forth between the beach and the resort pool (if you travel with a kid, you know this type of day well). We hung out under our palapa on the beach, swam as much as we could, and had lunch at one of the beach bars along Palm Beach. There are several resorts right next to the Hilton, and you can walk along the sand to their beach bars and restaurants.
Both of the Hilton's pools are zero-entry, meaning they slope in gradually like a beach, which made it easy for Jackson to walk right in.
Book it: Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino
How to get a palapa or cabana in Aruba
Palapas are the thatched shade huts you'll see all along Aruba's beaches, and on a sunny day, shade is everything with a kid. Here's how it works:
At the Hilton: you can reserve palapas and pool cabanas ahead of time through the Hilton's beach services website, and the premium spots closest to the water come with a fee. We didn't pay for ours. We used one a bit farther back from the water, which worked great for us. Policies change, so check with the front desk when you arrive.
At other resorts: most big Palm Beach and Eagle Beach resorts run a similar system, usually an app, a website, or a daily sign-up at the towel hut, sometimes with a morning check-in time or you lose the spot.
On the public beach: every beach in Aruba is public, and the permanent palapas on the public beach are first come, first served. On Eagle Beach, that means getting there very early.
Pool cabanas are different. They're on hotel property, so resorts can rent them out, and they tend to book up in high season.
Dinner with our feet in the water at Flying Fishbone
In the late afternoon, we drove south to Savaneta for dinner at Flying Fishbone, where some tables sit right in the shallow water, so you eat dinner with your feet in the sea. It was one of the most memorable meals of the trip.
Good to know: the feet-in-the-water tables are only reserved for the 4 p.m. seating, so book that time slot well in advance. Reservations open months ahead on their website. The dress code is casual. There were several gluten-free items on the menu, and the staff was knowledgeable. As always, use your own judgment and ask your own questions.
Day 5: A South Coast Day: Mangel Halto, Baby Beach, and Zeerovers Again
Mangel Halto, Baby Beach, and Zeerovers are all on Aruba's south coast, so this was an easy day to string together with short drives in between.
Snorkeling at Mangel Halto
We started the morning snorkeling at Mangel Halto in Pos Chiquito, a mangrove-lined lagoon on the south coast that's part of Aruba's marine park. Morning is the best time to go, when the water is usually calmer. Inside the reef, it's shallow and calm. The best coral is on the outside of the reef, but the current there can be strong, so that part is best left to experienced snorkelers on calm days.
If your kids snorkel here, a bright swim buoy makes them easy to spot.
See It Here → Swim Buoy
Snorkeling the calm lagoon at Mangel Halto.
An afternoon at Baby Beach
From there, we drove east to Baby Beach, on the island's southeastern tip, and spent the afternoon there. It's a shallow, calm, man-made lagoon protected by a breakwater, which makes it one of the best beaches in Aruba for kids. Shade is limited, so bring an umbrella or grab a palapa early. Keep little ones away from the opening of the lagoon, where the current can be strong.
The calm, shallow water at Baby Beach.
Dinner at Zeerovers (again)
On the way back, we stopped at Zeerovers for dinner again. We loved it that much. This time, Jackson fed the tarpon, huge silver fish that hang out under the dock waiting for scraps.
Looking for the tarpon!
Day 6: The Butterfly Farm, Downtown Oranjestad, and a Last Dinner on the Beach
The Butterfly Farm
We spent our last morning at the Butterfly Farm, a tropical garden full of free-flying butterflies near Palm Beach, across from the Divi Aruba Phoenix. A guided tour of about 20 to 25 minutes is included with admission. Mornings are the best time to go because the butterflies are most active, and it's when you're most likely to see one emerging from its chrysalis. Wear bright colors, which attract them.
Tip: your ticket includes a free return pass for the rest of your vacation, so if we did it again, we'd go earlier in the trip and come back a second time.
Exploring downtown Oranjestad
Next, we drove into Oranjestad, Aruba's capital, to walk Main Street and see the colorful Dutch colonial buildings. A free streetcar loops between the cruise terminal and Main Street, which is an easy way to get around with kids. It typically runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and doesn't run on Sundays.
A last dinner on the beach
For our last dinner, we sat right on the sand and had grilled meat skewers with rice and fries. We ate at MooMba Beach Bar on Palm Beach, which serves pinchos (skewers) at tables right on the sand.
Day 7: Heading Home
We had an early flight, so we headed straight to the airport and flew home.
Tips for Planning Your Own Aruba Trip With Kids
Rent a car. It makes the snorkel spots, the Natural Pool hike, Baby Beach, and the south-coast restaurants easy to reach.
Group your days by side of the island. The northwest snorkel spots are minutes from Palm Beach, while Mangel Halto, Baby Beach, Zeerovers, and Flying Fishbone are all on the south coast. Grouping them keeps the drives short with kids.
Get an eSIM before you go so you have maps and data the moment you land.
Book Flying Fishbone early, and choose the 4 p.m. seating if you want a feet-in-the-water table.
Bring cash for Zeerovers, and don't plan your visit for a Monday.
Plan for shade. Figure out your resort's palapa system on day one.
Do the Natural Pool hike early, get your park entry at the Arikok Visitor Center first, and drive a high-clearance vehicle out to Daimari.
Snorkel the calm spots with kids. Boca Catalina, Arashi, and the inside of the Mangel Halto lagoon are easy; skip the outer reef unless you're experienced and it's calm.
Visit the Butterfly Farm early in your trip so you can use the free return pass.
Pack reef-safe sunscreen. Aruba bans sunscreens containing oxybenzone.
Taken during our hike to Conchi.
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