Hold On! Aruba Trip

I’ve heard about Aruba since I was in middle school, when a close friend and her family vacationed there every year. Over time, it seemed like I kept hearing more and more about this little island paradise, and it’s been on my travel wish list ever since. So, when our 30th anniversary lined up with my brother and sister-in-law’s 20th, we knew it was the perfect time to finally go. Along with another couple, the six of us made Aruba our celebration destination. (Another reason we chose Aruba is because of its safety from hurricanes. In recent years, we’ve had to cancel trips due to storms, and we wanted a place where we could truly relax without worrying about last-minute changes.)

Getting There

With the destination set, the next step was just getting there. Our first leg was a quick flight from Indianapolis to Atlanta. After landing, we had just enough time to grab some breakfast before boarding our next flight—a four-hour trip that would finally take us to Aruba. After landing, though, our excitement hit a small pause. My brother and sister-in-law’s flight was delayed by a couple of hours, and since we had arranged for a private driver to take all six of us, we ended up having to wait at the airport. It was hot, there weren’t many options for sitting comfortably, and we quickly realized this wasn’t exactly the tropical welcome we had pictured. Thankfully, we found an air-conditioned Panda Express and camped out there for a while. Not the most glamorous way to kick off a long-awaited vacation, but in the end, it was just a small bump in the road.

Once everyone finally arrived, we made a quick stop at a very busy grocery store before heading to our resort. We had rented a three-bedroom condominium on Eagle Beach, and it was just as lovely as the photos had promised. The condo had everything we could possibly need.

The resort featured a beautiful pool and was a short, easy walk to the beach. One of our favorite perks was the big beach wagon with oversized wheels—it made hauling chairs, towels, and snacks across the sand so simple. The condo even came with a couple of coolers, which turned out to be perfect for our beach days. Honestly, there weren’t any negatives—it felt like the perfect home base for our week in Aruba.

Restaurants we Visited:

• Passions Horizons Lounge

This was our first night. We walked down the beach looking for a great option that wasn’t too far from our condo.

• The Old Cunucu House

Looked this one up while on the beach our first day. Turns out my brother and sister-in-law had eaten here on their first visit to the island.

• Pelican Nest Seafood Grill

Looked this one up too. We wanted something on the water so we could see the sunset. It was at Palm Beach where all the bars, shops, and restaurants are located.

• Blue Beach Bar

This is a small restaurant/bar right on the beach opposite our condo. The food was surprisingly delicious. We ate there twice. VERY cold beer. The grouper is so good!

• O’Niel Caribbean Kitchen

This restaurant is downtown Aruba. It was a 30 minute car ride away. We walked the area and looked at the amazing murals. The food was delicious.

• The Kitchen Table

This was definitely an experience. It was an 8-course fine dining four-hour meal where we could watch the chef prepare the food. Andres was our host.

• Tango Argentine Grill

Great steak restaurant, located in Palm Beach

• Lunch with the Jungle tour

Part of the jungle tour. There were several main dish options we chose when booking. We were starving, so the food was fine. But certainly not our best meal.

• Red Fish

Delicious seafood and very casual. Although it was very hot! The food was great.

• Passions on the Beach

We started out here one late morning when it was a bit cloudy and had drinks. I also had a brownie sundae! Then the sun came out. 😊

• The Vue Rooftop

Our last night. We ate at this rooftop restaurant. Food was also amazing and great drinks. Honestly, we didn’t have a bad meal.

Other Recommendations we didn’t get to:

• Driftwood
• Zeerover
• Yemanja
• Oak
• Sunset Grill
• The lighthouse
• Madame Jeanette
• Ocean Z
• Papiamento
• The Stone by Le Petit Cafe

Adventures

During our trip, we planned two paid adventures, and the first was a sailing and snorkeling cruise. This excursion took us out on a luxury catamaran for about two and a half hours, complete with free drinks and snacks on board.

We made two stops: the first at Catalina Bay, a beautiful spot with calm, clear water perfect for snorkeling, and the second at the Caribbean’s largest shipwreck. Exploring the wreck was such a surreal experience—it felt both a little eerie and completely fascinating to see marine life thriving around something so massive. The crew provided all the snorkeling equipment we needed, so it was easy to just jump right in and enjoy. This adventure was booked through Pelican Adventures.

Our second adventure was a bit more rugged—and definitely more adrenaline-filled. We signed up for a jungle jeep tour, and there were eight of us packed into the vehicle. Let’s just say it was a rough ride (hold onto your seat!) but also so much fun.

Our first stop was at some incredible rock formations before heading into Arikok National Park. Along the way, we explored the Indian Caves and stopped at a fountain garden where tiny fish nibbled at our feet—an unexpected and funny experience. The tour also took us to Dos Playa Beach, a wild and stunning stretch of coastline, before ending at one of Aruba’s most famous spots: the Natural Pool at Conchi. Swimming there, surrounded by jagged volcanic rock and crashing waves, felt like something out of a travel magazine. And for the ultimate thrill, I even jumped off a cliff into the pool! One of the more unexpected moments on the tour came when our guide pointed out a boa constrictor along the way. These snakes are actually invasive to Aruba, and the guides explained that they’re collected and humanely put down at the end of the day to help protect the island’s fragile ecosystem. It was a reminder that while Aruba is full of beauty, it also faces challenges in preserving its natural environment.

We will definitely return to Aruba someday.

Have you ever been?