Day 1: Arrive Aruba — Palm Beach Sunset
Arrive at Queen Beatrix International Airport. Transfer to your beachfront resort on Palm Beach. Afternoon equipment check and orientation for the week’s adventures. Sunset on the beach with your first Aruba Ariba cocktail. Welcome dinner at a Palm Beach restaurant. Overnight Palm Beach (7 nights).
Day 2: Kitesurfing at Boca Grandi — Aruba’s Wind Machine
Morning transfer to Boca Grandi on the windward east coast, one of the Caribbean’s premier kitesurfing destinations. The consistent 20-25 knot trade winds, shallow flat water inside the bay, and waves on the reef edge make this spot suitable for all levels. Full day of kitesurfing with professional instruction—beginners learn water starts and first rides in the flat lagoon, while experienced riders head to the reef for wave riding and jumps. Lunch at a local beach bar. Afternoon session when the wind peaks. Return to Palm Beach for sunset. Overnight Palm Beach.
Day 3: Wreck Diving — The Antilla & Beyond
Two-tank morning dive trip to Aruba’s legendary wrecks. First dive: the SS Antilla, a 400-foot German freighter scuttled by its captain in 1940 to avoid capture. Now encrusted in coral and sponges, it’s home to giant moray eels, barracuda, and clouds of tropical fish—arguably the Caribbean’s best wreck dive. Surface interval at a beach cove. Second dive: either the Pedernales (a WWII oil tanker in three sections) or the Jane Sea (a 170-foot freighter with coral-covered hull). Afternoon free for poolside recovery. Overnight Palm Beach.
Day 4: Arikok National Park — Desert Safari & Cave Exploration
Full-day 4×4 expedition into Arikok National Park. Hike to the Conchi Natural Pool through cacti-dotted desert. Explore Fontein Cave’s stalactites and Arawak petroglyphs, and the bat-filled Guadirikiri Cave. Walk the dramatic limestone cliffs at Boca Prins and Dos Playa, then visit the Bushiribana Gold Mill ruins on the wild north coast. Lunch in a traditional cunucu (countryside) setting. Afternoon stop at the Natural Bridge ruins and Andicuri Beach. Overnight Palm Beach.
Day 5: Sea Kayaking & Snorkeling
Morning sea kayak tour from Mangel Halto, a stunning mangrove-fringed bay in the Spanish Lagoon. Paddle through mangrove tunnels into the crystal-clear shallows of the reef, stopping to snorkel at some of the island’s most pristine coral sites. The calm, protected waters make this accessible to all levels. Lunch at a local spot in Savaneta, Aruba’s oldest village. Afternoon snorkeling at Baby Beach, the sheltered half-moon lagoon in the south. Overnight Palm Beach.
Day 6: More Kitesurfing or Choose Your Adventure
Choose your adventure: return to Boca Grandi for another full day of kitesurfing with the morning thermals and afternoon trade winds; take an advanced scuba trip to the deeper wrecks on the south coast; try windsurfing at Fisherman’s Huts, another legendary wind sports location; or take a day trip to Renaissance Island’s private flamingo beach (available to resort guests). Overnight Palm Beach.
Day 7: Sunset Horse Ride & Farewell
Morning at leisure—sleep in, enjoy the beach, or do some last shopping in Oranjestad. Late afternoon: sunset horseback ride along the north coast with the Gold Mine Ranch or Rancho Notorious—riding through cacti-studded desert to the windswept northeastern shore as the sun sinks into the Caribbean. Farewell dinner at a top Palm Beach restaurant. Overnight Palm Beach.
Day 8: Departure
Final morning swim. Transfer to the airport.
