One perfect day in Aruba

If you find yourself in Aruba with no plans, don’t just assume that all there is to do is sunbathe. Stretches of sugary sand like Eagle Beach—consistently ranked among the best beaches in the Caribbean, if not the world—are definitely a draw. But Aruba also has a rugged, almost otherworldly interior, plus a thriving capital city with great art, dining, and more.

Below, we’ve built an itinerary that goes beyond the beaches to explore ancient caves, butterfly-filled gardens, and candy-colored buildings. Use it for that one day of vacation when you’ve had enough sun and sand. And know that we read through tons of Tripadvisor reviews and only included the places that travelers love most, so your break from the beach will be worth it.

After fueling up with a hearty breakfast at your hotel, head toward Arikok National Park on Aruba’s eastern edge. At 7,907 acres, the park takes up about 20 percent of the island and could not look more different from the coastline. It’s more of a rocky desert, dotted with clusters of huge candelabra cacti. There are 30 miles of hiking trails within the park, but the best one, in my opinion at least, leads up Jamanota Hill—the highest point on the island. Along the way, keep your eyes peeled for the handsome crested caracara, a type of falcon that nests in cacti.

Also inside park limits, but closer to the ocean, are a couple of caverns well worth the trek. Guadirikiri Cave has two dome-shaped rooms, where sunlight streams (and resident bats come and go) through holes in the rock. Fontein Cave is much smaller, but it’s my favorite because of the fascinating Arawak Indian cave drawings on the ceiling.

Need to cool off after all that hiking? Brace yourself for a bumpy ride to the Natural Pool, a secluded, brilliantly blue pool right on the coastline. Ocean waves crash all around, but somehow don’t disturb the pool’s placid waters—it’s truly Aruba’s most beautiful site.

When hunger strikes, make your way to Palm Beach, one of the island’s most popular stretches of sand. There are tons of options here, but the most fun is Bugaloe Beach Bar & Grill, which sits on a pier over the sparkling Caribbean Sea. It’s the kind of place where the fish is fried golden brown, the drinks always come with a wedge of tropical fruit, and the band knows all the words to “Margaritaville.”

Palm Beach is also home to several of Aruba’s biggest attractions, including the Butterfly Farm. After lunch, check out the lush garden, which is filled with butterfly species from around the world, including the rice paper butterfly from Southeast Asia, the Blue Morpho from Central and South American, and the dinner plate–sized Atlas moth (OK, so it’s not technically a butterfly, but it’s a dazzler nonetheless). Next door is the Bubali Bird Sanctuary, where you can spot sandpipers, wood storks, and more.

A 15-minute drive north lies Aruba’s most famous landmark: the California Lighthouse, which is looking spiffy after a top-to-bottom renovation to celebrate its 100th birthday. For a few bucks, you can climb to the top and take in 360-degree views of the island’s northern coast. The closer to sunset you visit, the more gorgeous the vistas.

When the sun sinks below the horizon, go straight to the capital city of Oranjestad. You’ll fall hard for the Dutch Colonial architecture along the waterfront, which looks like a charming, rainbow-colored village in Holland. Done up in equally eye-catching hues are the trolleys that you can ride past the designer stores, local boutiques, and street vendors with their overflowing carts. I dare you to head home without a souvenir from these streets.

After some shopping, it’s time to eat again. If you planned ahead, settle into one of the only 17 seats at Fred Royal Aruba, where everyone sits at a U-shaped bar around the kitchen and watches as chef Roy Engelen and his team work their magic. The tasting menu includes five delicious courses and the wine pairings, from prosecco to port, are as carefully considered as the food.

Didn’t make a reservation? No problem. My favorite last-minute dinner spot is Lima Bistro, which faces the marina and, no surprise, specializes in seafood. The Peruvian-inspired dishes feature fish caught that morning, so they’re remarkably fresh. Don’t miss the ceviche, made with citrus, chili, cilantro, and sweet potatoes.

For a nightcap, take a short stroll to the boisterous 5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar. The clock outside looks like a juicy slice of lime, which tells you what kind of drinks you can expect at this open-air spot. Stick around for the blast-from-the-past arcade games.