I went to the island that is residence to one of many world’s most lovely seashores and whereas it was actually fairly, it wasn’t the primary spotlight for me
Eagle Seashore has been named one of many world’s most lovely seashores (Picture: Getty) This text accommodates affiliate hyperlinks, we’ll obtain a fee on any gross sales we generate from it. Study extra
The Caribbean is a kind of sun-soaked locations you all the time dream about, with these well-known white sand seashores and crystal-clear waters.
Nevertheless as a solo traveller, I used to be all the time barely delay by the prospect of heading to the area alone, particularly given its status for being the kind of place the place you simply spend lengthy days on the seaside consuming cocktails and doing not-much-else.
That every one modified after I just lately took the plunge and headed to Aruba, the place I shortly realised that sure, there are many lovely seashores, however there’s additionally a lot extra to see and do than I’d anticipated.
Throughout my week’s keep I toured rum distilleries, met implausible native meals producers with progressive, sustainable strategies – so meals and consuming was an enormous a part of the expertise.
Foodies take notice, Aruba is oozing with completely implausible eating from conventional bakeries, creole eating places to implausible, progressive avenue meals and tremendous fancy upscale personal eating and bucket listing dinners on the seaside.
No matter you fancy, Aruba’s obtained it in spades with a heap of Caribbean, Dutch and genuine Aruban allure.
My go to coincided with a meals pageant (Picture: Kathryn Williams)
My go to in October coincided with the Autentico Culinary Pageant, a coming collectively of native eating places and cooks with worldwide friends. On the seaside on the Ritz Carlton Aruba I dined on a particular menu curated by Italian-American chef, Christian Petroni – the setting was beautiful and the meals a hyper-local twist on home-cooked Italian meals. Dishes included artichoke pie and tiramisu, with a aspect of a kind of Instagram-worthy Caribbean sunsets.
However it was the night-time block occasion of dozens of streetfood stalls – The Pavilion at Wilhelminastraat – that was simply wonderful. You may select from 30 stalls with a mind-blowing customary of meals, all simply large enough to be satisfying with out filling you an excessive amount of and the costs are a steal – two menu gadgets, one $5 one $10. Assume birria tacos, recent sashimi, shrimp ceviche.
Even outdoors of the pageant, Aruba’s eating scene is buzzing.
Get an genuine breakfast at bakery Huchada the place you’ll get pastechi (the Aruban model of a pasty) or should you’re feeling like espresso and classy brunches, Santo’s Café is near the seafront and serves up avo toasts, smoothies and salads.
In the meantime Zeerover’s seafront is a must-visit. They catch fish proper in entrance of the restaurant, weigh it, you pay and so they cook dinner it. It couldn’t be extra easy and I couldn’t like it any extra, it’s beautiful. I attempted prawns that had been as large as my palms, and a mouthwatering Mahi Mahi which was flaky, comfortable and substantial to the chew.
For ‘grandma-style’ meals, the Previous Cunucu Home sits in a 150-year-old constructing, and performs residence to a menu that features stewed conch, a secret recipe cod dish and goat meat. You’ll be able to’t actually ask for extra Aruban than Previous Cunucu than should you wash all of it down with a cactus flower margarita – which we did.
The road artwork was unimaginable (Picture: Kathryn Williams)
For those who can tear your self away from the meals, head to St Nicolaas’ Artwork District the place murals come at you each flip. There’s a wholesome inventive group in St Nicolas and each September you’ll discover the ARTWEEK a mixture of reside music and performances, streetfood and artwork shows. The variety of murals within the former industrial city – it soared in recognition after an oil refinery opened within the Twenties – communicate to a brand new period for the neighbourhood. From heavy business to vibrant artwork and creativity round each nook with greater than 50 murals.
Then in fact, the seashores. They’re the largest draw for holidaymakers, and Aruba greater than delivers on the promise of a paradise-worthy setting. The seashores are in contrast to another I’ve ever seen. I headed to the likes of Child Seashore and Eagle Seashore, each of which really boasted essentially the most excellent sand I’ve ever set foot in.
Actually, it is easy to see why Eagle Seashore was only in the near past named probably the most lovely on the planet. This spectacular spot took the fourth spot in Tripadvisor’s ‘Better of the Greatest’ world rankings for 2026, primarily based off travellers’ critiques. It has been praised for its “comfortable white sands, heat waters, and spectacular sundown views” (all of which it most positively has), in addition to the watersports on supply from snorkelling to jet snowboarding. (If you wish to know, Mexico’s Isla Pasion in Cozumel was topped the general winner, intently adopted by Elafonissi Seashore with its pink sands and the picture-perfect Balos Lagoon, each of which may be present in Crete.).
The seashores are unimaginable although (Picture: Kathryn Williams)
The choices of issues to do on the seaside in Aruba are two-pronged. Both lie within the solar and swim whereas consuming a chilly beer all day, or get out on a paddleboard, kayak, snorkel or canoe – I wouldn’t decide should you picked the previous and I’d encourage you to do the latter a minimum of as soon as.
It was a stunning deal with, too, to be taught that my lodge – the Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba – has its personal personal island additionally with gorgeous seashores full with resident flamingos and the odd pelican and iguana, too. Only a fast boat experience proper from the reception of the lodge, these seashores are for the lodge friends solely however supply a quieter place to calm down and sit back.
Aruba’s satisfied me that the Caribbean is extra than simply fairly seashores – the gorgeous panorama, pleasant locals and epic meals scene make it properly definitely worth the 13-hour journey from the UK!
Stays on the Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort begin from $465 per night time, primarily based on two adults sharing a room.
You may as well discover extra data at aruba.com.
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