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Bars, Entertainment, Food
Pelican Nest Seafood Bar - The Pelican Nest Seafood Grill located completely above the water on the Pelican Pier on Palm Beach offers two unique areas. One area is The Pelican's Nest located at the edge of the pier, offering a casual and tranquil atmosphere. This is the ideal place for quiet lunches & romantic dinners. The Pelican Pier Bar, located at the beginning of the pier offers a fun and laid back atmosphere, with happy hours, specialty cocktails, music and smiles all around. Walking distance from Happy Ours. http://www.pelican-aruba.com/en/
Bugaloe Beach Bar & Grill - Bugaloe Beach Bar Aruba is located right on the water of Palm Beach and is the number one spot for fun, pleasure and entertainment! Start your day of right in our Aruba Beach Bar with a cocktail or enjoy casual breakfast, lunch and dinner. Bugaloe Bar Aruba is host to some of the best live bands on the island, with breathtaking sunsets as the perfect backdrop!. Walking distance from Happy Ours. http://www.bugaloe.com/
Sopranos Piano Bar - Located in the heart of Arawak Garden on the hi-rise strip lies trendy Sopranos, the place where they create fun. The piano bar's motto is `Let's have FUN' (with capital letters), and that is exactly what is going on there. FUN has been what life is all about since Sopranos opened more than 10 years ago. Walking distance from Happy Ours. http://www.sopranospianobararuba.com/
MooMba Beach Bar - Where you can sit beneath two giant palapas and sip your cocktail, beer or glass of wine overlooking the ocean. A laid back beach bar offers a wide array of tropical cocktails and cold drinks. Take a sip from your glass and enjoy live music as a spectacular sunset colors the sky. Walking distance from Happy Ours. http://www.moombabeach.com/
Lucy’s Retired Surfers Bar & Restaurant - Since its inception nearly 30 years ago, Lucy’s has remained true to its staples: great grub, famous cocktails, and an authentic, casual dining experience. Lucy’s Retired Surfers Bar & Restaurant is now making waves in Aruba’s capital, Oranjestad! Located across from the Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino. Home to the famous Scorpion Shot. https://www.lucysretiredsurfers.com/aruba/
5 Top Must Do's In Aruba
ATV Tour with Natural Pool Swim
This is a must do while in Aruba. Rent a jeep from a local dealer or take a guided tour and spend the day off road in the Aruban desert with a visit to the natural pool. Always fun no matter how many times you do this fun activity. If you prefer to go it on your own, you can rent a jeep, drive out towards the light house and do some off road adventure until the natural bridge, then hop on the road to Rancho Dalmari and hike into the natural pool. The hike with pictures is 30-40 minutes with some great photo opportunities along the way. See this trip advisory review for information, directions and what to expect.
https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g488162-d150409-r311386104-Natural_Pool-Noord_Aruba.html
Aruba Catamaran Sail with Snorkeling
Although you can take a guided snorkeling tour, you don't need a guided tour to enjoy some of the best snorkeling in the Caribbean. Our villa is within a 5 min car ride to Boca Catalina, Malmok and Arashi beaches. Many of the snorkeling tours can be booked on Palm Beach.
Aruba Sunset Cruise
Cruise along the Aruba coast at sunset Enjoy snacks and free-flowing drinks from the open bar, on board music and dancing are a lively way to start the night. Many of these sunset cruises leave from the pier bars on Palm Beach.
Lucy’s Retired Surfers Bar & Restaurant
Lucy's is the home of the famous scorpion shot. Free t-shirt and name on the wall of the bar. Explore the flex markets and downtown shopping while visiting Lucy's.
Natural Caves Of Aruba
Of the several caves of Aruba, three Aruban caves are well known, seen in deep crevices on the windward face of the island.
All three of the caves are located in the Arikok National Park. The most prominent are Guadirikiri Cave, the Fontein Cave and the Huliba Cave.
Day trip to Natural Pool
There are different ways to get to Aruba's famous Natural Pool our favorite way is with a desert hike. First thing download a map of Aruba onto your phone with google maps. This way even without a Wi-Fi you'll have access to maps on your phone.
First you'll need to rent a jeep for the day. We recommend More4Less rentals which is near the airport. The company will come pick you up and take you to the rental office to pick up and bring you back when you drop it off.
The Natural Pool, also known as “Conchi” in Papaimiento, is a small, naturally occurring pool on the rugged, rocky, volcanic coastline of Aruba. Located in Arikok National Park, getting here is half the fun and adds an element of adventure to your vacation. If you want to take a break from sipping tropical drinks in the shade of a palm tree, consider a visit to the Natural Pool.
How to get to the Natural Pool
There are two ways to get to Natural Pool. The most common way is to enter Arikok National Park and hire a guide with a 4×4 or ATV vehicle to drive you out to the pool. You can drive your own 4×4 but you need to make sure you have authorization from your rental car company. This is a tricky road to drive so don’t underestimate it!
The second way to get to Natural Pool is to drive to Daimari Beach and hike to the Pool from here. This is what we did. And it was a great experience.
Getting to Daimari Beach
Accessing the Natural Pool from Daimari Beach requires you to enter Arikok National Park from an unauthorized access. There is a fee to enter the park ($11 per person as of November 2018, children under 17 years old are free), but there is no ticket booth or park ranger at the Daimari Beach entrance. Therefore, you should visit the Arikok National Park visitor center first, pay your fee, and then drive out to Daimari Beach. It is a seven minute drive between the visitor center and the start of the dirt road that takes you out to Daimari Beach.
To drive this road, a 4×4 is ideal. However, it can be done in a SUV with no problems. I would not recommend making this drive in a car. There are several steep hills and the roads are rutted and very rough. You don’t want to risk getting stranded out here!
Please note: the above photo shows the road in relatively good condition. There are sections of the road that are very rutted and rocky.
Before leaving your hotel, put Daimari Beach and the Arikok National Park visitor center into Google Maps. Cache this route on your phone and follow this map to drive from the visitor center to Daimari Beach.
The dirt road ends on top of a hill, overlooking Rancho Daimari. Park your car at the top of the hill. From here, you can see Daimari Beach.
Our Restaurant Recommendations:
Le Petit Cafe - Aruba's visitors have been "Romancing the Stone" at Le Petit Café for 30 years, experiencing our unique method of healthy, fat-free cooking on the Hot Stone at your table. Walking distance from Happy Ours. Reservations: http://lepetitaruba.com/
****
Barefoot Restaurant - As the name suggests, this is the idea for dining on Aruba. With sounds of the ocean caressing the beach in the background, the tropical breeze through your hair and your feet in the white sand, all while enjoying great food, marvelous wines and friendly, yet professional service. Some of the best sunsets on Aruba happen on this stretch of beach.
Reservations: https://www.barefootaruba.com/
*****
Wacky Wahoo's- Many visitors on the island consider this the best local fish and seafood restaurant on the island. It's good!
Reservations Suggested call 297 586 7333. *****
Madame Janette - Ramon Helgers and Karsten Gesing founded Madame Janette April 2nd 1999. Their collaboration resulted into a place, which offers fine dining in a casual atmosphere. Ramon is responsible for the exotic fruits, herbs and vegetables you will find in not only our dishes, but also in most supermarkets on Aruba. Karsten, a European Master Chef, trained in ‘old school’ traditions creates, with help from his knowledgeable international staff, tasteful and creative dishes. Their combined worldwide experience gives their dishes an original flavor with a touch of Caribbean in it. Reservations: http://www.madamejanette.info/joomla2/
****
Light House Restaurant - For over 20 years Faro Blanco Restaurant brings the best of Italy’s cuisine to Aruba. Traditional Italian recipes paired with over 100 wine selections from around the world will surely make your dining experience one to remember. Tucked away at Aruba’s most northern coast, atop of the hill of Hudishibana at the foot of the California Lighthouse Landmark, you will find our hidden gem. Reservations: https://www.faroblancorestaurant.com/
****
Zeerovers Fishhouse - Zeerovers is a local hangout that over the past years has become a destination by itself. Locals relax, eat and drink here, shoot pool, and have a great time while fishermen prepare their fresh catch. ****
https://www.facebook.com/zeerovers/
Car Jeep Rentals
Rental Cars: Sunset Rentals/Fox - In Business since 2009, The best Customer Service in the Industry with our Fleet of Quality Vehicles at Affordable Prices. There Website makes it easy to reserve cars according to the Customer’s demands. They also offer you Free PICK-UP and DROP-OFF Service from the Airport or Hotel.
https://www.sunsetaruba.com/
Jeep Rentals - If you want to have fun under Aruba's sun with the top up or down, Jeep Wrangler is the one... The real American Jeep. Explore Aruba's rugged terrain and experience the island's natural beauty in a reliable four wheel drive JK Jeep Wrangler. They also offer to pick you up and drop off.
https://www.more4less-aruba.com/
Beaches to visit:
Palm Beach is the closest beach to the house about a 5 minute walk. There are many water activity centers where you can rent just about anything for water activities such has jet skis, paddle boards, snorkel gear. You’ll also find inner tube rides (Big Mable) is our favorite, para sailing, fishing all available on Palm Beach.
With Palm Beach so close it’s hard to leave it, but Aruba has some amazing beaches you can reach by car, or bus.
Arashi Beach is a settlement and beach on the northwestern tip of Aruba it is about a 10 minute car ride from the house. This narrow stretch of beach on Aruba's northern tip is a favorite among locals and visitors, and it's easy to see why. Enjoy the gentle currents and turquoise waters, or swim out and spot the colorful sea life. Arashi Beach includes a small snack shack for drinks and some food.
Snorkeling and scuba diving are popular options here, especially around the nearby Antilla Shipwreck. A new sidewalk from Malmak to Arashi beach has been recently installed, allowing for run, walking, biking all the way to Arashi.
Eagle Beach Boasting the widest beach in Aruba and famous for its pristine and soft white sands, Eagle Beach offers a clear Caribbean, ample parking, shaded areas, some beach huts, and a variety of water sports this beach is a 13 minute drive from the house. If you enjoy walks on the beach during the day, this stretch of beach is the one.
Eagle Beach is home to two of the most photographed and renowned fofoti trees in Aruba, with its trademark silhouette pointing in the direction of the Caribbean. These trees have been starring in various Aruba advertising campaigns as unique and highly recognizable features.
Hiking to the Natural Pool
Walk down the steep dirt road, pass Rancho Daimari, and enter Arikok National Park. Follow the wide, dirt trail out to the coastline.
If you like, you can make a detour to Daimari Beach. It’s a pretty spot and most likely you will have it all to yourself. The water here is extremely rough, so it is not a spot to go swimming. Plus, the beach is littered with trash and kelp. You can make this a quick visit or just keep going. The next beach is phenomenal!
Follow the trail south along the coast. You will hike up a huge sand dune that is blinding in its brilliance on a sunny day. This would be an excellent spot to go sand boarding!
Baby Beach is a shallow, sheltered man-made lagoon located near Mangle Cora in Seroe Colorado, on the southeast end of the island near San Nicolas. It is about a 40 minute ride from the house and will give you an opportunity to see a different side of Aruba.
It is frequented by locals and tourists’ best to go during the week has the weekends it can get crowded. It is named Baby Beach as the water is so calm it is safe for very small children. Sea turtles are common here, the water is amazing, very shallow, and great for kids to snorkel. There is also shade cabanas for rent and chairs, also a food shake on the beach for lunch.
From the top of this dune, the view opens open to the most spectacular view of this hike. This second beach is a beauty.
Feel free to linger here or continue on the Natural Pool. You’re not too far away now.
To continue on the trail, walk across the beach, picking up the trail on the other side.
The terrain changes yet again. Now, the coastline is lined with jagged, black volcanic rock. It’s windy, it’s warm, it’s Aruba! One of the best parts about doing this hike is to see how much the landscape changes in just a short distance.
Short Cut To Beach
There is a short cut from the house to Palm beach. Walk out of the house turn towards the right down the street a block, you'll see the open salina. Cross the salina following the established track, you can bare right towards Fisherman's beach or left and come out across from the Marriott parking lot. Once you get to the main road in front of the Marriott hotels about 200 feet. It's a popular short cut for locals and visitors to the neighborhood.
From the road cross over to the beach side of highway and walk down to the Marriott Surf Club. You can walk between any of the three resorts to the beach.
Swimming in the Natural Pool
The Natural Pool is a small, secluded, protected pool amidst all of that volcanic rock. This is a great place for swimming and snorkeling.
Be careful climbing into and out of the Pool. The wet rocks are slippery and can be treacherous.For the most part, the Natural Pool is safe for swimming. However, the Pool may close during high surf and high winds, when the water gets too rough for swimming.
Enjoy your swim and have a great time snorkeling. Keep a lookout for the crabs that walk on the rocks. They are so cool!
Things To Know Before You Go
Allow three to four hours for this entire excursion. Most people stay at the Natural Pool for 30 to 45 minutes. It is roughly one mile of walking between Daimari Beach and the Natural Pool.
Make sure you are wearing sunscreen! You will be in the sun the entire time.
Bring lots of water, at least one liter per person.
Wear sturdy shoes. Tennis shoes or hiking shoes are ideal. Our daughter did the entire walk in water shoes without a problem.
So, what if you don’t want to go hiking?
You can join a tour. There are Jeep tours and ATV tours that will drive you out to the Natural Pool.
Here are three companies offering tours to the Natural Pool:
De Palm Tours
ABC Tours Aruba
Madi’s Magical Tours
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