Aruba gay resort
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Radisson Blu
Radisson Blu Aruba was the perfect hotel to spend my final few nights in Aruba. Both caves also contain drawings going back thousands of years from the Indians.
It is such a popular attraction that most visitors to Aruba book at least a one-night stay at the beginning or end of their vacation to ensure they have to chance to go.
That being said, when hotel occupancy is low, they do offer a day pass to non-residents, so it is always worth emailing or double checking with the hotel directly to see if this is an option, as I highly recommend visiting.
Should a day pass be available, these are approx.
The wine tasting includes sampling the five wines they produce, and also includes a small charcuterie snack platter to be paired with the wines.
This was definitely a highlight!
Read more about Alto Vista and book your own wine tour at their website.
Address: Alto Vista ZN, Oranjestad, Aruba
Go on a luxury sailing cruise with Pelican Adventures
I absolutely love a boat trip!
It is quite a way from the entrance to Arikok, and so a vehicle is needed.
For more information, such as how to get to the park, or to book a guided hike visit their website here.
Scuba Diving
I am an avid scuba diver, and if I am visiting a destination known for its diving, I am absolutely going to do it!
Aruba has some incredible diving sites, and is the perfect location for both qualified experts as well as new divers.
The coral reefs and beds of seagrass are home to a diverse range of marine life – rays, eels, the invasive lionfish, and Aruba is home to four species of sea-turtles which I always love seeing!
Aruba is also well known for wreck-diving, and one of my dives was around one of the shipwrecks, where I was very lucky to spot a nesting octopus in one of the wreck’s former portholes!
We used Jads Dive Center for our two-tank dive, a PADI 5-star IDC resort.
Rum tasting at Pepe Margo Distillery
The Pepe Margo Distillery is Aruba’s first ever craft distillery, and is located in a fully restored traditional Aruban home in the historical district of downtown Aruba.
The name of the distillery comes from one of the former residents of the home, Catarina Margarita (Margo) Arends, who was nicknamed ‘Pepe Margo,’ (‘pepe’ meaning godmother in the Papiamento language) by the local community.
Pepe Margo Distillery offers distillery tours, where you will find them making rum, gin and more onsite at the historical house, as well as of course – tasting the spirits themselves!
You can read more about the history of the distillery and book your own tour via their website.
Address: Wilhelminastraat 46, Oranjestad, Aruba
Island Jeep Tour with Isla Aruba
My island jeep tour was one of my most enjoyable experiences on the island, and was the best way of experiencing just how diverse and beautiful the island of Aruba is.
Isla Aruba jeep tours are run by locals, who have extensive knowledge and first-hand experience of what Aruba has to offer for visitors – both the popular tourist attractions and off-the-beaten-track hidden gems.
The off-road safari jeeps were a really cool and unique way to travel around the island, and the perfect choice of vehicle for when I was travelling across the rugged landscape of Arikok National Park!
Isla Aruba offer a variety of tours, all of which are private, making sure you tick off the popular attractions, but also giving the option of a fully customised private tour which they can help with creating and customising for you.
Popular attractions that Isla Aruba take you to include:
- Gold Mill Ruins: Learn about the history of gold mining in the area, and explore the ruins of a historic former gold mill
- Arikok National Park – including the Natural Pool, Fontein Cave and Quadirikiri Cave
- Various beaches around the island – including the beautiful Baby Beach – more on Baby Beach below!
Check out more of their tour options here.
Wine tour at Alto Vista Winery
I love a wine tour and equally love drinking wine – so this was a perfect activity choice for me whilst on the island, and also something I actually was not expecting to find!
Alto Vista Winery is the first and only boutique winery on the island, and is an estate winery, meaning that the wines are produced with grapes grown on its own vineyard – quite an impressive feat considering the island’s desert climate!
The wine tour at Alto Vista is a bit different from the usual – instead of heading straight indoors to the production site and distillery, the tour starts by walking through the farm itself, including across the natural terrain of what the farm used to be before the vineyards were planted, and then through the vineyards themselves.
I then visited the distillery, where Alto Vista also produces rum, which I sampled, before finishing in the winery and the tasting room, which I was definitely ready for.
I was very excited to explore just how gay friendly Aruba was!
Is Aruba Gay Friendly?
Quite simply – when visiting the island of Aruba as a tourist, yes!
Aruba welcomed me with open arms as a gay traveller when I visited, and I felt very safe and comfortable during my time there.
Along with its neighbours Bonaire and Curaçao, Aruba is one of the most popular choices for gay travellers visiting the Caribbean – no wonder it was a stop during the biggest gay cruise in the world.
However, it is worth noting that as with many other places around the globe, the experience of a gay tourist can be quite different to that of a gay local.
The hotel also provides a shuttle service to nearby Palm Beach, where there is a dedicated section with sun loungers and umbrellas for hotel guests.
There is also a 24-hour fitness gym onsite, which I made good use of everyday thanks to the jetlag causing me to wake at 5am! Our cruise included:
- 5-hour cruise to the Spanish Lagoon
- Open bar onboard including hand-crafted cocktails
- Lunch grilled onboard
- Snorkelling the Spanish Lagoon Barrier Reef
- Rope swinging from the boat out to sea
Book your own tour with Pelican Adventures here.
Try glass blowing at Studio Murano Art
Studio Murano Art is a family run glass-blowing studio – in fact, their current master artisan is the third generation!
Every day they offer a free glass blowing demonstration from 10:00 – 13:00, so visitors in the area who may have just stopped for a bite to eat at the onsite bar and restaurant, or to browse the store can actually enjoy the glass-blowing process from start to finish.
However, should you actually wish to try this for yourself, Studio Murano Art offer workshops – a hands on experience where you can make your own one-of-a-kind glass item.
But should you need it, there is a complimentary beach shuttle.
Radisson Blu Aruba also has multiple pools to choose from – a large lagoon style free-form pool surrounded by the garden, a smaller family friendly kids pool, a very spacious hot tub, and my personal favourite – the adults only rooftop infinity pool with incredible views of the ocean and the nearby islands!
On my final night on the island, I also indulged in one of the best meals I had on the island, at the onsite restaurant, Senses Fine Dining, where I was able to try various dishes from the 8-course Chefs Table menu with a wine pairing – see more on Senses below!
Address: J.E.
Irausquin Blvd 97-A, Noord, Aruba
Check rates and book! Overall, though, it all comes back to the people of Aruba—their warmth is matched only by the tropical sunshine!”
Aruba encourages everyone to create lifelong memories, and the One happy island prides itself on welcoming all races, religions, and diverse lifestyles.
Aruba's a great destination for LGBT vacations because of the Aruban people's cosmopolitan worldview; which is somewhat unique among the Caribbean islands.
Michael ponders that perhaps it’s partly because of the tolerant and open-minded nature that has evolved from the Dutch influence on the island that has set the tone for a nation that welcomes all walks of life.
“The most important highlight about Aruba is that it is welcoming to all people and offers something for all types of interests--beach and water sports, excursions to unsettled areas of the island, a culture that embraces art and music, world-class shopping and dining, gambling, and nightlife.” Michael adds that “Aruba offers world-class accommodations through stellar hospitality brands, as well as retail luxury brands available on the island, like Cartier, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton.
Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort
The Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort is made up of two properties – the adult only Renaissance Marina Hotel, and the family friendly Renaissance Ocean Suites.
The two hotels are only about a five-minute walk from each other, on opposite sides of the marina, but both properties are located in the heart of downtown Oranjestad, the vibrant island capital.
You can easily stroll along the boardwalk past the marina, admiring the luxury yachts, or walk into the city centre where you will find great bars, restaurants and shops.
Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort and Casino
Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort and Casino is a beautiful, ocean-front 4-star property, located in the heart of the Palm Beach hotel zone, with direct access to a private section of the beach.
The hotel has two swimming areas, one a family-friendly activity pool with waterslide and a swim-up bar, the other an adults-only pool surrounded by private cabanas that are available to book.
Here on Aruba, we have become a destination of choice—often a repeat destination—for LGBT travelers.
Feeling safe, secure, and welcome is the foundation to an ideal LGBT-friendly travel destination. We tried both the chicken and the meat, and they are delicious!
Address: 4 328, Santa Cruz, Aruba
Practical tips for visiting Aruba
- Aruba has a tropical climate year-round, with temperatures rarely dropping below 25°C – so pack plenty of beach wear and high SPF sun lotion!
- The local currency is the Aruban Florin; however, US dollars are widely accepted.
- The official main language on the island is Papiamento, however Dutch and English are also widely spoken.
- There are a LOT of mosquitoes on the island – make sure you pack bug spray, and on an evening long sleeves and trousers are recommended, especially with a lot of the restaurants offering open air dining.
- The tap water is perfectly safe to drink.
- Power outlets are the same as US and Canada, so make sure you bring an adaptor.
Wrap Up
And there you have it – my complete LGBTQ+ travel guide to gay Aruba!
It is also the spot where Aruba’s leatherback turtles come to nest and lay their eggs.
Visitors to the park do need to purchase a ticket to enter Arikok National Park, the cost of which goes towards the preservation of the park as well as various educational programs that the park runs.
Once inside the park, visitors can freely explore, either driving through the park, or you can explore on foot on one of the many hiking trails.
However, for the best experience I strongly recommend booking a guided tour, escorted by a Park Ranger who will point out many things you will likely miss otherwise.
I hiked through the park for about 90 minutes with one of the rangers and was so grateful for all the in-depth information I received about the things I was seeing.
Key areas of interest within the park:
- Quadirikiri and Fontein Caves: Both of these caves have beautiful stalagmites and stalactites, some of which have formed pillars.
And when in the Caribbean, how could I not – sailing on crystal clear waters, a tropical sea breeze, Caribbean cocktail in hand, music, the opportunity to swim and snorkel – this is a must-do for anyone visiting Aruba!
I travelled with Pelican Adventures, who run a number of different sailing and snorkelling trips, but I enjoyed the half-day Monforte Luxury Cruise, onboard their luxury schooner ship.
I sailed to the southern coast of the island, past the gorgeous Eagle Beach, down to the crystal waters of the Spanish Lagoon where I spent a couple of hours anchored, enjoying swimming, snorkelling the reef, and lunch onboard.
This was an absolutely perfect way to spend a day.
It’s a tropical island paradise away from the main island itself.
It is very important to mention however that Renaissance Island is a private island. – travelling to the Netherlands to get married is an option for same-s3x couples that have Dutch nationality.
Whilst marriage is still to be legalised, a bill was introduced in 2016 that legalised registered partnerships – both same and opposite s3x.
And interestingly, when the Aruban parliament voted to legalise the bill, this was the first time a Caribbean parliament had done so.
It does look like same-s3x marriage legalisation is on the horizon though! You can go for a little stroll through the mangroves, enjoy a meal at the on-island bar and grill, or just sit at the beach bar admiring the views.
Fingers crossed!
Aruba also has anti-discrimination laws in place – both in employment, in the provision of goods, services, when it comes to LGBTQ+ persons serving in the military, as well as across other areas.
UPDATE July 2024: The High Council has announced same-sex marriage is now legal in both Aruba and Curacao!
Things to do in Aruba for Gay Travellers
One of the first things that struck me about Aruba was that, whilst the island is the epitome of the iconic white sand, blue sea, palm tree lined beaches that spring to mind when you picture the Caribbean and it would be so easy to laze on the beach all day – there is SO much to do on the island!
I spent 11 nights on the island, and had the perfect balance between taking part in activities and exploring, as well as relaxing and topping up my tan.
Explore Arikok National Park
The beautiful Arikok National Park in Aruba is located to the east of the island, and actually makes up around 20% of the island’s total land area.
The park is an ideal location for seeing Aruba’s varying landscapes and natural wonders.
I knew I wanted to return so jumped at the chance for a longer visit later that same year. The restaurant serves a la carte, but is more widely known for their chefs table experience, consisting of eight courses along with a welcome glass of prosecco.
Address:
Address: J.E. Irausquin Blvd 97-A, Noord, Aruba
Faro Blanco
The food here was great – but what really sold this restaurant was the spectacular location!
Faro Blanco Restaurant is located next to the lighthouse, in the former home of the lighthouse keeper, and being up on a cliff top we were dining with the most breath-taking sea views.
We went for lunch, on a perfectly clear day and had views across both the island and out to sea, and almost couldn’t focus on eating as we just wanted to admire the scenery!