Top Activity - Jolly Pirates
If the water is your thing, try the Jolly Pirates Snorkeling and Sailing Cruise. They offer a Sail, Snorkel and Swing Tour, an Afternoon Snorkel Adventure Tour and a Sunset Sail. The friendly and experienced crew sail you to three snorkel spots (two on the afternoon sail): Malmok, Boca Catalina and the site of the WWII Antilla shipwreck. Snorkel equipment is provided and snorkeling at the Malmok and Boca Catalina sites is gentle and shallow. The Antilla site is a little more challenging as it is in deep and choppy water and is better suited for experienced snorkelers who are more comfortable in the water. For those who prefer to see their fish from a boat and their liquid in a cup, you can enjoy the always flowing drinks, especially the bottomless Pirate’s Punch, from the open bar while you sit under the shade or bask in the sun. The highlight of this trip is always the rope swing where the adventurous always provide some great action shots for the camera-ready. With any luck, your captain, Julio, will entertain you with some of his acrobatic somersaults!
Top Restaurant - Barefoot
Our go-to choice for a consistently great dining experience in Aruba is Barefoot. You may not know that Aruba is a premier Foodies’ destination, with hundreds of restaurants offering a variety of cultural cuisines scattered throughout the island. Barefoot is our #1. It combines the feel of dining al fresco in a romantic island paradise with scrumptious offerings that will please all palates. The vibe is one of casual elegance and the service is both friendly and professional. You can choose to sit under a spacious open-air palapa or, as we suggest, outdoors at tables set on soft, white sand alongside the sea. Enjoy dining with an amazing sunset view or later at night under the beautifully lit palm trees. The menu has an international flair that includes several delicious meat, fish and vegetarian entrees. Try the Escargot and Mushrooms appetizer, one of Arubavinnie’s favorites.
Top Vibe - Bugaloe
Our favorite thing to do when we arrive in Aruba is to head over to Bugaloe for a quick-and-easy bite and a refreshing drink, immediately reintroducing ourselves to the upbeat beauty of Aruba. The Beach Bar & Grill is located on the De Palm Pier jutting into the ocean between the high-rise Riu and Hilton hotels. The Arubavinnie way is to go shortly before sunset on one of the live band nights, grab a table and watch the clouds light up as the sun dips into the sea. Then stay for dancing, drinking and people-watching to the always lively music that usually starts around 7:00 and heats up when the sunset sail party boat docks soon after. You’ll feel yourself relaxing and instantly immersed in the Aruba experience. The menu is pub food with a dutch flair, perfect for when you just want to kick back and relax.