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7 Day Aruba Itinerary: According to a Super Planner
My husband and I have visited Aruba multiple times, and it never disappoints. The island boasts world-class beaches, great snorkeling spots, and a vibrant local foodie scene. Plus, the flights are incredibly quick if you’re traveling from the U.S. East Coast—you can have your toes in the sand in just four hours! We’ve explored all over the island, and here’s what I believe is the ultimate one-week Aruba itinerary!
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Day 1: Travel Day
We arrived at the airport in Aruba (AUA) at 2:30 pm.
4 pm: After checking into the hotel, we spent the afternoon relaxing poolside and drinking the local Aruba Ariba!
Day 2: Tres Trapi + Beach Day
8 am: Yes, I know this is early! But trust me, it will be worth it. Hubby and I made the short 5 minute drive from the hotel to snorkel at one of my favorite Aruba snorkeling sites, Tres Trapi. We snorkeled with too many turtles to count!
Afternoon: We spent the afternoon on the beach. The Boardwalk has a designated section on the gorgeous Palm Beach right next to the Ritz-Carlton. Palm Beach and Eagle Beach are the most famous Aruba beaches. Here are the differences between the two.
Overnight: Boardwalk Boutique Hotel
Day 3: Hooiberg Hike + Beach Day
7 am: We loved the Hooiberg hike. Yes, it’s 587 steps up a mountain, but it’s worth it for those gorgeous views! Go EARLY. It gets hot. After the hike, stop by Huchada. This local bakery makes delicious cheese balls and cinnamon rolls. Eat them when they are hot!
Afternoon: We spent another great afternoon lounging on Palm Beach and drinking cocktails.
Overnight: Boardwalk Boutique Hotel
Day 4: A Day with Flamingoes!
9:30 am – 2 pm: One incredibly unique thing to do in Aruba is to spend a day on a private island with beautiful pink flamingoes! There’s a catch though. Tickets are limited and go quickly (unless you are a guest at the Marriott Renaissance). Here are my 8 tips for making this day happen.
Overnight: Boardwalk Boutique Hotel
Day 5: Boca Catalina/Arashi Beach + Ever
9 am: The best snorkeling is usually in the morning when there is less wind and wave action. We explored two other great snorkeling sites: Boca Catalina and Arashi Beach. These snorkeling sites are great for beginners. We saw several schools of blue tang, French angelfish, and even a stingray.
4 pm: Happy hour cocktails poolside at the hotel
Breakfast: At the hotel
7 pm Dinner: 7-course tasting menu from the talented Chef Ever de Peña. Here’s my full review of this incredible chef’s table experience.
Overnight: Boardwalk Boutique Hotel
Day 6: Mangel Halto + Baby Beach
11 am: Keep driving another 30 minutes to Baby Beach. Grab a refreshing Aruba Ariba at the bar on the far left side of the beach.
Breakfast: At the hotel
5:30 pm Dinner: Sunset dinner with feet in the sand at Barefoot.
Overnight: Boardwalk Boutique Hotel
Day 7: Fly Back Home
Book an afternoon flight home and enjoy a leisurely morning on the last day. Hotel checkout is at 11 am. Our flight was at 3:30 pm. We were advised to arrive 3 hours before departure.
Before we dropped off the rental car, we enjoyed a delicious acai bowl from Eduardo’s Hideaway for lunch, my favorite restaurant in Aruba! I strongly recommend the Pipeline Bowl.
Who Will Love This Aruba Itinerary
- Beach lovers
- Snorkeling & hiking enthusiasts
- Foodies
Best Time to Visit Aruba
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Aruba is outside the hurricane belt, so there’s really no bad time to visit. Temps stay consistent year-round.
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Hotel prices are higher though during high season, which runs from mid December – mid April.
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Most of the rain falls from October – December, which you can see on this precipitation chart from U.S. News.
Hotel
- Boardwalk Boutique Hotel (6 nights). Here’s my full hotel review.
Airlines
American Airlines
- We had a layover in Philidelphia to Aruba and in Charlotte on the way back. Total flight times from the east coast + layovers were about 6.5-7.5 hours.
Car Rental
There are so many great places to explore in Aruba. I would highly advise renting a car.
We used the local company called Wheels2Go. I highly recommend them.
Tours
- Flamingo Beach
- Tres Trapi Snorkeling Tour
* You can snorkel on your own, but there are highly rated tours if you don’t have a car or need some guidance.
- UTV Tour
* We snorkeled at Mangel Halto on our last day. Alternatively, you could do a highly-rated UTV tour to explore the island. My parents did this tour and loved it!
Dinner Reservations
- Gianni’s Ristorante Italiano
- Lola’s Taqueria
- Ever Restuarant
- Barefoot Aruba
What I Would Have Changed
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If I had an extra day, I would have added a UTV tour.
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There are always more restaurants I would love to try including Anno 1887, Wilhelmina, Lima Bistro, and Agrigento Ristorante Italiano. Next time!
I’m Nichole, the author of all the blog posts on Enriching Pursuits. Think of me as your geeky DIY discerning travel friend who dives deep—Google Page 20 deep—to uncover the best ways to enjoy exceptional outdoor adventures and foodie experiences.
My husband and I are experienced snorkelers, day hikers, and casual cyclists who also love delicious street food, an incredible glass of wine, and the occasional Michelin-starred meal.
Balancing full-time careers, we cherish every second of our vacation days and love sharing tips to help you do the same. If this sounds like your kind of travel, subscribe below or drop me a note with any questions—I’d love to hear from you!
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Questions about my Aruba itinerary?
Let me know in the comments below!
Hello Nichole,
Thank you for your interesting and detailed 7-day Aruba itinerary.
I have booked a 7-day stay at the Boardwalk Hotel and a rental car.
What kind of $ budget would you suggest for meals and activities?
How would you rate the extra costs of staying at the Boardwalk Hotel vs an all-inclusive for $2k more?
Thank you,
Thanks so much for reaching out! We had an amazing time at the Boardwalk. 😊
Your budget will really depend on your interests and dining preferences. You can keep it super affordable or choose to splurge—it’s all up to you.
For activities, we kept it low-cost by snorkeling and hiking, which didn’t cost a thing. If you’re interested in tours, there are plenty of options:
* Snorkeling tours (~$90)
* UTV tours ($120–$220)
* Catamaran sailing trips (starting at $100+)
* Other activities like horseback riding, diving, and sunset sails
I recommend using Viator to book tours—they often have a flexible 24-hour cancellation policy (but always double-check the fine print).
Here’s a link to their popular Aruba tours:
Aruba Tours on Viator
The only paid activity we did was Flamingo Beach, which cost $130 per person and included a $25 food and beverage credit.
For food, you can save money by doing some light cooking in the kitchenette (if your room at the Boardwalk has one). There’s a Super Food grocery store about a 7-minute drive away, and it has a good selection of wine and liquor too to enjoy on your patio/deck—or grab some duty-free at the airport.
For dining out, there’s a range of options:
* Eduardo’s Beach Shack is fantastic for mid-priced eats—acai bowls ($11–13), tacos ($16), and poke bowls ($16).
* Lola’s is a must-visit for $1 tacos on Tuesdays (starting at 6 PM), and they’re so good!
* For a splurge, we loved the 7-course tasting menu at Ever for $135 per person, with an optional wine pairing for $85.
My husband and I enjoy doing a range of dining from cheap local eats to fine dining. Hopefully, that gives you a sense of what it would cost depending on what kind of dining you all enjoy.
We don’t do all inclusive resorts unless we’re in a place like the Maldives where that’s the norm. Exploring and discovering foodie gems is more our style.
It sounds like you’re planning an incredible trip! 🌴 I could use some warm Aruba weather right about now. 😊 ☀️
Hi Nichole!
It’s already Easter weekend and our upcoming summer trip to Aruba just crossed the 100 day mark!
Thank you for your comments, advice and encouragement!
I hope you’re also looking forward to your summer plans.
Thanks so much for the kind feedback! That’s incredibly exciting—your trip is coming up so soon. There’s nothing better than having a fun vacation to look forward to! If you have a moment afterward, I’d love to hear how everything went. I’m sure it’ll be an amazing experience!