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For those of you traveling with young kids to Aruba, have you put any thought into how to entertain them? Angeline and I recently spent one glorious day in Aruba while there on the Carnival Freedom and I was so surprised to see the long list of available shore excursions! I often find 3 or 4 excursion options for different ports of call, and they’re not always entirely family-friendly, especially for families with little kiddos in tow. Here is a list of the top 5 Things to do with Kids in Aruba. While snorkeling or scuba diving would be my number one recommendation for families with older children (teenagers), I think that these activities will be memorable and rewarding for every member of the family, from little ones to teens!

Top 5 Things to do with Kids in Aruba

Visit the Donkey Sanctuary – While in Aruba, you and the kids could visit the Donkey Sanctuary. Kids and animals always seem to get along and they will enjoy learning about the donkeys and seeing them up close and personal. The Donkey Sanctuary is located in the neighborhood of Santa Cruz.

Go to De Palm Island – Kids love to visit water parks no matter where they are located! De Palm Island is a really great attraction for children, as it has snorkeling, a lovely beach, and a water park that is sure to keep your kids entertained! The water park is gigantic! It has things to do for children of all ages, including big water slides, splash pads and areas perfect for little toddlers to get their feet wet and splash around. It also has plenty of lounge chair seating for parents, so that they can relax and keep an eye on their children while they play. 

We visited De Palm Island in Aruba during a Carnival shore excursion and had a blast! There is a 5-minute ferry ride across the protected lagoon to De Palm Island, where we found a water park, lovely lagoon, volleyball courts and restaurants. The excursion was three hours long and I found that was the perfect amount of time to soak it all in while still leaving us time for a little sight seeing back at the port.

The De Palm Island water park has six water slides and additional water features, which is separate from the beach and snorkeling area. It’s a nice way to keep the kids away from the open water without having to constantly watch to make sure they’re not going too far!

Of course, once the kids have had their fun at the park, you can just simply turn around and walk over to the beach area, which is an almost-completely enclosed lagoon. The water is a beautiful turquoise and so crystal clear that you can simply look down and see the fish swimming between your legs!

If you’d like to go snorkeling, there is a coral reef ripe with tropical fish, and snorkel gear is free to use with your admission to De Palm Island.

With out Carnival shore excursion to De Palm Island, there was a complimentary lunch buffet, and all soft drinks and alcoholic beverages were included.

5 Things to do with Kids in Aruba

Visit the Aruba Ostrich Farm – Plan on stopping in at the Aruba Ostrich Farm. Here kids will learn about the ostrich and be entertained by their antics. The farm has a playground for the kids to romp around in and burn off that extra energy. There is a restaurant and bar on the premises and you can also take part in a guided tour at an additional cost.

Visit Baby Beach – Sun and fun is what Aruba is all about. Make sure to take the kids over to Baby Beach where they can swim, play on the beach, or even look for seashells. This white sandy beach is located in the neighborhood of San Nicolas. If I am ever back in Aruba, I am definitely going to visit Baby Beach! 

Update…I did go back to Aruba! I visited Baby Beach and it was absolutely breathtaking! There is also a famous pet cemetery on the outskirts of Baby Beach, which is NOT TO BE MISSED! It stretches on and on…it’s quite the site to behold!

Visit the Butterfly Farm – Plan on taking the kids to The Butterfly Farm. Here they will see and learn about butterflies from around the world. There is also a guided tour that you can partake in for an additional fee. Morning time is the best time to see the butterflies fluttering about and the late afternoon is the best time to take pictures.

Have you ever been to Aruba? I’d love to hear your stories, especially if you have any suggestions for things to do with kids in Aruba that I can add to my 5 THINGS TO DO WITH KIDS IN ARUBA! My pal Jan has even more great ideas for things to do in Aruba, you can check them out here.

 

Are you looking for other Caribbean islands to visit? Lucky for you, I have been all over the Caribbean and have quite a few recommendations!

Exploring the Other Side of the Caribbean 

Top 5 Beaches in the Dominican Republic

The Best Beaches in the Caribbean

7 Reasons Why You Should Go Snorkeling in Curacao

5 Reasons to Visit Punta Cana

The Hard Rock Hotel in Punta Cana

Top 5 Beaches in La Romana

The Hyatt Andaz Papagayo in Costa Rica

See a Different Side of Punta Cana with a Zipline Tour

El San Juan Resort and Casino in Puerto Rico

The Lap of Luxury at the St Kitts Marriott Resort and Casino

Holiday Inn Sunspree in Montego, Jamaica

My Stay at the Grand Paladium Resort and Spa in Jamaica

Touring the Haunted Rose Hall Great House in Jamaica

Sandals Ochi Beach Resort in Jamaica 

Things to do in Miami Before and After Your Cruise

Kamalame Kay in Andros Islands, Bahamas 

These are just a few of the posts I’ve written about the Caribbean over the years. If you’d like to see a more comprehensive listing, just go to TheRebelChick.com and click the TRAVEL category!