Aruba cruise port is in the colourful city of Oranjestad, which is filled with designer stores, plenty of restaurants and all-inclusive hotels, and a substantial population of iguanas. (I do love those little dinosaur-creatures.) And although this is a Dutch island- part of the ABC islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao– aside from the clogs and cheese on display, the vibe here is quite an Americanised one. Whether you’re staying in the city or exploring the island and its beautiful beaches, there’s plenty of things to see and do while your ship is hanging out in port.
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Where is Aruba cruise port?
Aruba cruise port is towards the northern side of the centre of Oranjestad- the island’s capital. There’s space in the port for four cruise ships at a time, and a large terminal building filled with gift shops galore, as well as free wifi and a place to grab a coffee.
There are always plenty of taxi drivers waiting at the gates to the port, but you can also walk directly from the cruise terminal into the downtown area. Just turn right when you exit the port, onto Lloyd G Smith Boulevard, which runs all the way along the coastline.
What’s special about Aruba?
Aruba is super-duper close to the coast of Venezuela, and unlike most other Caribbean islands which are more forest-covered and located further north, the temperature is hot but the air is much drier, meaning that the humidity level is pretty bearable. The island is also officially the safest island in the Caribbean, making it very popular with families (and Rachel Green’s ex-fiancee Barry, who we all know couldn’t keep away from this place.)
The island is known for its stunning white sandy beaches, and the fact that English is widely spoken here, with US dollars tending to be accepted everywhere you go, only adds to Aruba’s popularity, particularly with US visitors.
They bloomin’ well love it here.
A very brief history of Aruba
The very first inhabitants of Aruba (which is only about the same size as the Isle of Wight), were from the Caquetio tribe, who arrived from South America thousands of years ago. They eventually settled in five separate villages- and there are Caquetio cave paintings still visible within Arikok National Park and at the Ayo Rock Formation.
When the Spanish arrived in the 1500s, they enslaved almost all of the Caquetio people and sent them to work in plantations on Hispaniola (the island now comprising the Dominican Republic and Haiti). Some of the Caquetio were eventually returned to Aruba, but the indigenous way of life was basically lost, and after 137 years of Spanish rule- where the island was kept more as a large cattle ranch than anything else- the Dutch moved in.
And why did the Dutch move in? They wanted Aruba’s salt. The Netherlands had a roaring preserved herring industry, but they needed enough salt to be able to keep it going. So Aruba’s natural salt pans were of exceedingly great interest to them. The more ya know.
Although the island remains part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, it’s been completely autonomous since 1986- meaning it’s entirely self-governed. And like Bonaire and Curaçao, the official languages of Aruba are Dutch and Papiamentu, which is mostly a combination of Dutch, Spanish and Portuguese.
Can you walk to a beach from Aruba cruise port?
There are a couple of beaches within walking distance of Aruba cruise port, and although they’re quite small they’re ideal for visiting if you haven’t got a lot of time on your hands, or you want to explore the city and then cool off with a dip in the sea directly afterwards. (It’s very likely you’ll want to cool down after a day of shopping; Aruba is generally a super-hot, super-dry island.)
Teeny-weeny Governor’s Bay Beach is just over the bridge from Wilhelmina Park, at the beginning of the Linear Park Trail- a trail which follows the shoreline all the way from Downtown Oranjestad to the airport. This quiet spot is great for a speedy swim, with shallow clear water speckled with rushes, and a backdrop of shady trees. It’s also overlooked by the West Deck Beach Bar, which is a hugely popular restaurant and bar serving all the cocktails and fresh Caribbean dishes. The casual setting on their wooden verandah is downright glorious, and the staff are brilliant.
Further along the Linear Park Trail is Surfside Beach, which is bigger than Governor’s Bay with a few more restaurants and bars to choose from. This is another fairly chilled beach, which is popular with families for its shallow water and calm atmosphere. Pinchos Bar and Grill is an incredible restaurant on a jetty over the water; this is a great place to catch a sunset over dinner. Barefoot is another elegant eatery at Surfside, serving delicious fresh local dishes, where you can enjoy your dinner directly on the beach, with tables in the sand.
Or catch a taxi from the port to Eagle Beach
Eagle Beach is widely known as being one of the Caribbean’s best beaches. And I can really see why some people love it. The wide sandy strip has plenty of space for everyone, and is speckled with palm trees standing upright and tall, and fofoti trees twisted by the wind over time with their waxy leaves. There are lots of restaurants and bars to be found, and Eagle Beach is also home to lots of the island’s low-rise hotels. Plus- if its popularity with humans isn’t enough, Eagle Beach is a well-known nesting spot for turtles.
Anyone who is a big fan of Eagle Beach, I support you. But controversially, it is not the beach for me.
Maybe, had I not been expecting the best beach in the history of the world, I would have appreciated it more. But I’m definitely more of a ‘hidden’ beach lover, and Eagle Beach just seemed a bit, well, bland.
It was also so windy on the day that we visited that the waves were incredibly rough, and the sand was whipped into such a frenzy that sunbathing (or even just sitting calmly for two minutes) was completely impossible. That sand stung. We resorted to enshrouding ourselves in our towels until the whole thing became unbearable, and retreating to a pizza restaurant to nurse our sandy wounds.
Pals: don’t let my personal opinion put you off! Everyone has their own preferences and what suits me might not suit the next person. If you want to get to Eagle Beach from Aruba cruise port (and test out your own feelings on the subject of the ‘best beaches’ list), you can catch a taxi from right outside the port gates. Or take the L10 local bus, which runs every ten minutes.
Check current bus times and prices with Arubus.
Or, check your journey on Rome2Rio.
The best things to do in Oranjestad
I’ll be honest, the first time I arrived in Oranjestad I was convinced that this was not my kind of island. I’m more of a hiking in nature kind of a gal, and I found it really hard to get a sense of the culture; I found more outdoorsy islands like Grenada and Dominica to be more my cup of tea. The city seemed so very Americanised that I felt as if I might as well have been in Florida. (Florida is great, I just wasn’t expecting to find a version of it on a Dutch island just off the coast of Venezuela.)
But once I learnt what to look forward to on our days docked at Aruba cruise port, I really enjoyed my visits to Oranjestad. There are shopping opportunities galore within easy walking distance of the ship, there is some very decent wifi to be found, and although there are many many American chain restaurants and coffee shops (Starbucks, Wendys and TGI Fridays are all easily accessible), there are also some really wonderful local restaurants and beautiful independent brunch and coffee shops.
I’m telling you now: decent coffee is surprisingly hard to come by in the Caribbean. Oranjestad was the one true saviour of my coffee needs.
Discovering the Airplane Beach in St Maarten
Shop till you drop
The main shopping strip in Oranjestad really reminds me of a smaller version of Waikiki– we’re talking tropical vibes with designer price tags. Head to the Renaissance Mall and the surrounding area for a shoppers paradise. The mall contains designer stores like Prada, Michael Kors and Gucci (honestly quite far out of my price range but just for your information), but you can also find Adidas, Starbucks and Pier Market which is a great gift and swimwear store.
Outside (on the opposite side of the mall to the sea), you’ll find an absolutely ginormous Zara, Mango, Aldo and Victoria’s Secret, amongst others.
On Lloyd G Smith boulevard there are classic souvenir stores, jewellery shops and smaller souvenir stalls in the open air, and further along at Renaissance Marketplace- which is a big entertainment complex containing bars, restaurants, a casino, and a cinema, you’ll find a few more gift shops and swimwear stores.
A really great place to get some locally-made gifts is at Aruba Made, which is almost directly opposite the exit to Aruba cruise port. You can’t miss this open-fronted concept store thanks to the mahoosive bird mural on its front. (It’s pretty spectacular.) The clean, modern space sells local handcrafted art, jewellery and other gifts, but also contains booths selling vegan ice cream, coffee, stroopwafels and poffertjes. Their outside bar is also a really lovely space which never seems to get too crowded.
Explore downtown on foot
Downtown Oranjestad’s colourful architecture is really, really pretty- and a walk through these candy-coloured streets is a must (even if it’s just as a slight detour from your shopping route. I’m going to be completely honest with you- many of these buildings are not historical, but simply very cute shops painted in glorious rainbow colours. Maybe with a few white shutters here and there, to make them look even cuter. The ornate pink building you might see from your ship, which looks kind of like a tropical wedding cake with a domed roof, is actually the Royal Plaza Mall. It may well be an icon of Oranjestad’s skyline, but surprisingly it really is just a purpose-built mall.
Fort Zoutman Historical Museum is right in the centre of Downtown Oranjestad and only costs $5 for entry. The museum may be small but it’s a great way to learn a little about the island’s past- and the fort is one of Aruba’s oldest standing buildings.
Head through Wilhelmina Park to say hi to the statue of the Dutch Queen Wilhelmina and all the many many iguanas who live here like her loyal subjects. You can often spot gangs of these dinosaur-like creatures sunbathing on the grass or scaling a palm tree in the wind (it’s very daredevilish of them, I must say, the palm-tree-climbing-in-the-wind.)
If you want to get to the bottom of life in Oranjestad, and its past, the best way to do that is to book onto a walking tour. This Aruba Downtown Walking Tour covers the cultural and historical in detail; a guide will take you to explore the area and tell stories of life past and present, and the ultimate bonus is that there are local food tastings included. Who doesn’t love to try local food?
Get brunch or coffee near Aruba cruise port
Talking of food, the ABC islands are always great for a brunch, and some of my favourite Caribbean brunch or coffee spots are right here in Oranjestad.
The Aruba Experience is my number one favourite brunch restaurant in Oranjestad, and it’s only a short walk from Aruba cruise port. Not only is the decor beautiful- with rattan furniture, pops of colour and tropical foliage- everything on the menu is delicious. The dishes often have a South American twist, with brunch plates including items like arepas, black beans, plantain and yucca tacos, as well as standard items like eggs, avocado or pancakes. Their smoothie menu is extensive, and the best thing of all is that most of their drinks and dishes are named after self-reinforcing mantras: my favourite combination is the I Am Jolly smoothie combined with the I Am Unique brunch plate. (Occasionally with a mimosa for luck). I always leave feeling full, but also very positive about myself.
Check opening hours and book a table for the Aruba Experience.
Although the brunches are great at Les Cappuchinas Cafe, I recommend stopping here for coffee and cake. The sweet treats are delectable (although there are also Asian dishes on the menu for lunch if that takes your fancy.) The aesthetic is retro pink and teal, with the classic bursts of tropical foliage (we are in the Caribbean, after all.)
Last but not least, Santos Coffee With Soul has several locations around Aruba, but its Downtown Oranjestad Branch is the closest to Aruba cruise port. When it comes to coffee, Santos came out at the top for me- although they have a great selection of pastries, filled croissants and waffles to accompany your coffee if you’re feeling peckish. Santos also has a lunch menu of light bites like salads and sandwiches, and its light airy space has a great chilled-out vibe.
The best excursions from Aruba cruise port
I basically cracked the code to enjoying our days ported in Oranjestad, the second I realised what this city does well is shopping and eating. (I’d rather do both of those things in the Caribbean sunshine than under grey English skies, let’s face it.) Followed, of course, by a smattering of beach-going.
But there are some great excursions from Aruba cruise port, and the island is definitely worth exploring. If you’re on a cruise, the best way to do this is with a full tour of the island. This half-day tour takes you to the Bushiribana gold mill ruins, the Casibari rock formations, and the Aloe Vera factory, as well as other smaller stops en route. It’s a great way to take in a lot of the island of Aruba and still have time for the beach in the afternoon.
Or, here’s a similar tour which includes a final stop at Arashi Beach where you can swim and sunbathe. The price includes snacks and water, and perhaps the best part of all is that the vehicle of choice is a colourful open-sided bus.
To explore the dry, cactus-strewn landscape of Arikiok National Park, book this half-day tour. You’ll see the ancient cave paintings, snorkel in a beautiful natural pool, and visit other beautiful caves and beaches, all with a knowledgeable guide.
