Aruba has been our family’s go-to vacation spot since I was 16. From the beautiful beaches to the friendliest islanders, it’s always been our happy place. But after hitting the island over five times, our last trip had us thinking, “Are we missing something beyond the flashy hirise hotels?” Sure, our main mission was always to soak up the sun, but it was a little upsetting to think about how much of the island we didn’t know.
Although we’ve done the ABC Ultimate Jeep Tour a few years back and a boat trip to DePalm Island before that, those adventures felt a tad gimmicky and impersonal. We realized that to truly experience the essence of the island, we needed a tour that went beyond the tourist attractions.
That’s when I discovered Isla Aruba Tours. Now, I’m a total review fanatic—I read up on everything. So, when I saw they only had around 50 Google reviews, I gotta admit, I was a tad skeptical. But as I went through each review, I just knew this was the tour company for us.
We decided to go all in and booked the Half Day Island Adventure Private Tour and let me tell you, it was worth every penny. Our guide, Rage (seriously, coolest name ever), scooped us up straight from our hotel and whisked us off on a five-hour adventure. Since it was just us, Rage was all ears about what we wanted to check out and what we’d already seen. It was like choosing our own adventure, Aruba style. Some of our favorite memories from the tour include:
Visiting the Natural Rock Formations + Gold Mill Ruins
Selecting the morning tour was the perfect call (although we did have to wake up earlier than I like to on vacation). We hit up the Natural Rock Formations and Gold Mill Ruins before the clock even struck 9:00 AM. We practically had these stunning spots all to ourselves, soaking in the raw beauty and snapping some awesome pictures.
One of the perks of our private tour? We had Rage all to ourselves. And let me tell you, having a local guide like him on hand meant we could fire away with our silly questions and dive deep into the island’s history. It was like getting a crash course in Aruba 101, straight from the source.
Jumping into the Cave Pool
Getting to the cave pool early in the morning was one of the best decisions we made. We managed to beat the rush of larger tour groups, which meant we had the cave pool all to ourselves—for a wonderful moment, at least.
Climbing down that slippery ladder and navigating the rocks to reach the pool was a mini adventure in itself. Just as we were catching our breath and gearing up to take the plunge, a massive group of 20+ folks showed up, forming a line behind us. Talk about perfect timing!
Now, I’m NOT a daring person but with the excitement buzzing in the air, and a line quickly forming behind me, I couldn’t resist. I took a leap of faith and jumped right into that natural pool—it was pure exhilaration.
A huge perk that I didn’t know about when signing up for the tour was Rage’s killer photography skills. . Before I knew it, he’d captured my jump in a hilarious slow-mo video on my phone. Having all those photos and videos to look back on made the experience even sweeter.
Baby Beach
Even though we’d been to Aruba a bunch of times before, we’d never checked out Baby Beach. Rage dropped us off at the beach and gave us free rein to soak it all in. We wandered around, dipped into the crystal-clear ocean for a refreshing swim, and, of course, slathered on some much-needed sunscreen. The pictures hardly capture the beauty of Baby Beach and I’m so lucky we got to stop here on our tour.
Snorkeling at Tres Trapi
Armed with swim goggles courtesy of Rage, we ventured into the rocky cove, where he stood above us, guiding us toward the turtles gliding beneath the water’s surface. It was a moment of pure wonder as we watched these beautiful creatures in their natural habitat. And the best part? I got to share it with my family, without the crowds that usually come with larger tour groups. It was a memory we’ll treasure forever.
Driving the Island
Driving around an island as small as Aruba, spanning just 21 miles from end to end, was an adventure in itself. With the wind whipping through our hair in the open-air truck, we couldn’t help but burst into laughter the entire ride.
Steering clear of the glitz and glam of the high-rise resorts, Rage took us on a detour to San Nicolas, giving us a peek into the island’s local scene. The streets adorned with stunning murals offered a fresh perspective of Aruba we’d never experienced before.
But that wasn’t all. Our tour was sprinkled with iconic moments, like eating mouthwatering pastechis from a local bakery and catching a glimpse of the island’s prison—complete with some surprisingly scenic ocean views, I must say. And let’s not forget the captivating conversations we had about Aruba’s rich history and vibrant culture along the way.
I will forever recommend Isla Tours to anyone who asks for excursion recommendations in Aruba. I can’t wait to do it again next year!
