Aruba
Sticking to the trend of Caribbean countries, I chose Aruba as my next solo trip in late September 2021. To get you oriented, it is located in the Dutch Caribbean on the edge of South America, with the coast of Venezuela within swimming distance (don’t attempt to swim there – it’s approximately 15 miles!). I know what some of you might be thinking right around now: “Is Aruba really a country?” While the United Nations does not consider it a country, the Wikipedia page for Aruba lists it as a country. A country in the eyes of Wikipedia is a country in my eyes.
Why Aruba?
Envy. In February 2021, when the world was still taking the pandemic seriously and everyone was in lockdown, I discovered one of my colleagues from my old job was working from a resort in Aruba. I remember thinking, “How is something like that even possible?” That experience put Aruba on the map for me and in September 2021, I finally got a chance to visit.
Where did I stay?
After not having such a great experience staying at a guesthouse in Antigua and Barbuda, I decided to switch back to hostels. Luckily, the capital of Aruba, Oranjestad, has one hostel listed on Hostelworld called “Hostel Room Aruba”. This was a homestay with a multigenerational Venezuelan host family. I shared amenities not only with one other guest at the hostel, but also with the host family. It is still listed on Hostelworld, so if you are interested in an authentic stay on a budget and arepas for breakfast, I would highly recommend this well-situated hostel.
What did I do there?
When I arrived at the hostel on my first day, there was another guest from Mexico in the room. She had been there for a few days already and it was her last day at the hostel. She was on her way out to lunch. With no real sense of my surroundings yet, I tagged along, and we walked to The West Deck (not sponsored) for local Aruban food. This is an outdoor restaurant with perfect views of the cruise ships in the water and airplanes landing at the international airport in Oranjestad. Not a bad way to spend an afternoon in the Caribbean!
Later the same day, we visited Eagle Beach. It was very easily accessible by bus, and the bus terminal was not far from the hostel. The beach felt more local and less crowded – due to being less commercialized – compared to the beaches in Palm Beach. Palm Beach is more famous for its nightlife and casinos, but during the pandemic, that did not sound all that appealing. For snorkeling, Tres Trapi should not be missed. Eagle beach was my favorite beach by far in Aruba; I visited a couple more times for picturesque sunsets during my trip.
In Oranjestad, I took my first-ever submarine ride with Atlantis Submarines (not sponsored). This tour company has a similar submarine experience in a few other countries. If you are not claustrophobic, this is a cool experience! As a bonus, you will take a boat ride to and from the submarine. The boat passes by Renaissance Island, so you can see flamingos strutting around on the way for free.
The landscape of Aruba is quite unique. One tip would be to ride on the AC bus from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. when the sun shines the brightest (that’s what it says on the back of my sunscreen, at least) and soak in the landscape. Here’s a short video I recorded on my bus ride.
On one of the days, I also went up for a hike on Hooiberg Hill. It is said to be one of the highest points in Aruba with 360-degree views. There are cement stairs laid out for a comfortable climb up. You may or may not see a mountain goat that hangs out up there when you reach the top. The views are expansive since the rest of Aruba is relatively flat.
One incident I remember, and this is another reason to get a rental car, is that the buses were running very infrequently on the weekend. On the way back from Hooiberg, I waited more than an hour for a bus to arrive. One store owner in the area was finishing up for the day around the same time. Taking pity on me, she gave me a ride in her car to the city center. To express my gratitude, I treated her and her family to breakfast on my final day in Aruba.
Lastly, Aruba was my introduction to Juan Valdez coffee chain. I was very happy with their coffee and even brought it back as a gift. They have locations at the international airport and also near Alhambra casino in Oranjestad.
Where to eat?
I’ve already recommended West Deck restaurant. I also highly recommend Zeerover (not sponsored – you get the idea by now. I am not getting paid to write any of these things.) and it should not to be missed if you like seafood! Tip: Check their opening hours before you go. They are closed on certain days of the week. If you like food trucks, Candela should not be missed.
Tips for solo travelers?
In case you would like to meet new people, one activity to do in Oranjestad is the free salsa lessons at Aruba Salsa Dance Company. They have free walk-ins on certain nights of the week. Check their hours. I stumbled upon it since it was a stone’s throw from the hostel where I stayed.
I did not venture out at night since there was hardly much to do after sunset. There are a few high-end restaurants near Renaissance Mall in Oranjestad. Candela food truck is also nearby.
If gambling is your vice, there are a few casinos in Aruba within walking distance of the hostel. There is one that is part of the Renaissance property called Wind Creek. Tip: Don’t gamble.
Would I go back to Aruba?
I already did, but this time after the pandemic in 2023! I could not visit Zeerover restaurant on my first visit since it was closed on the day I wanted to visit but I checked it off on my second visit. I also spent some more time at Eagle beach. One new activity I did on my second visit was an ATV tour of the north of the island. If you are adventurous and into off-roading, this is a cool experience.
See you in the next post. Thank you for reading if you made it to the end!