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When it comes to our busy and often stressful lives, there’s nothing quite like a holiday to allow us to get away from it all and improve our health and wellness. Sunshine, sand between our toes, and no massive to-do lists can really help with our mental wellbeing and overall happiness.
To really get a good break from our everyday lives and come back feeling happy and rejuvenated, then choosing a place to holiday that really caters to relaxation and wellbeing is a great idea. Aruba is the perfect destination for that.
Aruba is in the southern Caribbean and is located just below the hurricane belt, and unlike many other Caribbean islands, Aruba has a dry climate which means you can enjoy sunshine and dry days every day. It is home to one of the “Top 10 Beaches in the World” and is one of the most revisited destinations in the Caribbean, with over half of all visitors returning year after year.
But Aruba isn’t just lazing about on beautiful beaches, there is so much to do on this beautiful island, from visiting Arikok National Park, to yoga and hiking through the Guadirikiri Caves, watersports, and so much more. This happy island is one of the Caribbean’s most unforgettable wellness vacations and it’s clear to see why. Keep reading to the end to find out how you can win an incredible trip to Aruba.
Aruba is recognised as having the ‘World’s Finest Aloe’, earning its name ‘Island of Aloe’. Due to the constant sunshine on the island, the Aloe Vera produced there is incredibly potent which in turn intensifies its natural healing qualities. Aruba therefore boasts lots of home remedies and products, as well as rejuvenating spa treatments that boost health and wellness at the island’s many spas.
Aruba has many wonderful and popular spas that provide a wide range of treatments and salon services to increase health and wellbeing in spectacular surroundings. The Intermezzo Day Spas for example, offer facials, massages, hairdressing and more with the spa at the Holiday Inn offering outdoor therapies just a few feet from the ocean in a secluded area.
Elsewhere on the island is the Mandara Spa, known for its treatments using materials indigenous to Aruba, in particular the ‘Aruba Salt Glow and Tropical Rain Shower’ and the ‘Massage de la Aruba’. They also offer a Honeymoon Delight Package, scientific skin therapy, and body therapy with healing plants and flowers.
There are so many great spas on the island to help you to relax and feel rejuvenated.
Baby Beach.
Eagle Beach.
Aruba has incredible beaches, including one of the “Top 10 Beaches in the World”, with white sands and turquoise sea. Eagle Beach, was voted the third best beach in the world according to TripAdvisor, or you can visit Mangel Halto, where you can snorkel in the shallow waters around the delicate reefs, or get away from the crowds and enjoy the peace and tranquillity of Baby Beach.
There are secluded coves to relax and unwind in, and there is a comfortable climate, so you can enjoy soaking up the sunshine all day, or taking part in the many watersports available on the island.
In Aruba you can really look after yourself whilst filling your belly and indulging in healthy Aruban delicacies from the land and sea. Good food is a big part of the Aruban culture, and the cuisine is a fusion of global flavours and spices with traditional dishes inspired by their diverse heritage, from Dutch bitterballen to rich curried goat and dishes from Asia, Africa and the Caribbean.
There are more than 250 eateries on the island, where you’ll find fresh mahi-mahi, red snapper and barracuda fresh from the sea and rubbed with creole seasoning. In some of the small local gems, stew pots bubble with rice, meats and rich Latin and African flavours.
The food in Aruba sounds incredible, with the restaurants dedicated to making your dining experience extraordinary. Food is a big part of a relaxing and enjoyable holiday in Aruba and really contributes to the feeling of health and wellbeing you will get.
There is much to do in Aruba, from snorkelling and scuba diving in the water’s crystal clear depths and discovering its vibrant reefs and wrecks, to windsurfing, water skiing or surfing.
The trade winds make the island perfect for these watersports, and the protected coves and shoals make it the perfect place to stand-up paddleboard too – one of the most popular water sports enjoyed by locals and visitors. Stand-up paddle boarding (or SUP!) gives you a chance to witness some of Aruba’s natural flora and fauna, as well as colourful sea life in the clear waters.
Kayaking is a great activity to enjoy, and you can even venture out on clear kayaks, so you can watch the sea life swimming below you, which looks absolutely amazing.
But there are also tons of less energetic activities to enjoy – Aruba ranks as one of the best destinations in the world for golf, where you can enjoy amazing views as you play. Yoga is also very popular on the island (and even practised on paddleboards in the ocean!), with many resorts offering beach yoga sessions. Practising yoga on Aruba is a very relaxing and tranquil experience, with the gentle winds and the warmth from the sunshine making it a lovely way to help you unwind, whilst moving your body.
Aruba is also filled with natural wonders to explore and enjoy. You can climb the steps of Hooiberg hill, Aruba’s iconic mountaintop, forged by ancient volcanoes, or visit Arikok National Park – the largest national park in the Caribbean, where you’ll find Fontein Caves and the Natural Pool – two of Aruba’s most unspoiled wonders.
There is so much to do in Aruba, whether you want to burn some energy and hit the water, or relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery.
Aruba has more sunny days than any other Caribbean island. “Solo ta brilla” – the sun is shining, is something Arubans say a lot, but it is not too hot either, with trade winds cooling you with a gentle breeze making it the perfect temperature to relax in and enjoy.
The island is situated outside the fringes of the hurricane belt and the waters are warm too making them lovely to swim in.
Aruba really is such a happy and vibrant place that perfectly caters to those wanting to visit the island as a health and wellness destination; disconnecting from the world and taking some proper time for themselves. The people are friendly and welcoming, and the island has so many ways to truly relax and unwind, whilst enjoying good, healthy food, stunning beaches, and wonderful weather.
Whether you want to take it all slowly, or be more adventurous, Aruba has it all – there is so much to do and see and chances are, once you visit, you will want to keep coming back again and again.
Check out the video below, to find out why Shanti loves her happy island so much.
The Aruba Tourist Board are currently running an amazing giveaway where you can enter to win a luxury trip for two including a hotel stay at the Bucuti & Tara Beach resort, flights, an additional airport hotel stay, parking and lounge access. How amazing is that! You can enter here. Good luck!
Have you ever thought of going to Aruba or have you been? I’d love to hear about it if you have.
Images licensed by the Aruba Tourism Authority, aruba.com
This is a collaborative post with the Aruba Tourist Board. See my full disclosure policy here.
Welcome to Birds and Lilies! I'm Lou: mother, blogger and freelance writer. This is my lifestyle blog, where I talk about motherhood, infertility and IVF, beauty, my love for food and wine, as well as my thoughts about stuff, and our real-life and travel adventures.
Contact: [email protected]
God I could do with this right now! x
I know the feeling! I can’t stop imagining it! xx
Travel and enjoy your vacations because you deserve it. Weddings can be stressful too. But it should not be. Being fun and happy on your wedding day is what it should be and thanks for this article. Helps a lot.
This looks like an absolute paradise! I’ve been to a few Caribbean islands, but not here… I’d love to go! The beaches look like a dream, and the food sounds incredible, too. Thanks for sharing!
It really does! Oh I haven’t been to the Caribbean at all but I would really love to! It looks amazing doesn’t it? x
I’m mesmerized by your photos and I love that your showing even traveling you can also live happy and healthy. Aruba looks amazing!