Gay hotel aruba

Why this hotel?

Exceptional Location. So, whilst they cannot legally marry on the island itself – yet! 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.

– 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. I knew I wanted to return so jumped at the chance for a longer visit later that same year.

However, as part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Aruba does recognise same-s3x marriages that are performed and registered in the Netherlands. These are actually the only private beaches found within Aruba.

There is a spa onsite, uniquely located on a pier above the water. We could only imagine what it would be like dining there at sunset!

The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and specialises in Italian cuisine, with plenty of pizza and pasta options.

Address: California Lighthouse Z/N, Noord, Aruba

West Deck, Beach Bar and Island Grill

West Deck is located just minutes from central Oranjestad.

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.

The lesson is taught by the expert who has over 35 years’ experience glass blowing!

Of course, I had to try this – I made a little glass bird of my own, currently displayed on my living room windowsill!

Address: Ayo 22, Aruba

Get Up Close with Flamingos on Renaissance Island

Do a Google image search for ‘Aruba’ and it’s guaranteed that over half of the top results will be from Flamingo Beach, on Renaissance Island – showing the graceful pink birds walking on the powdery white sands, with the backdrop of palm trees and blue sea.

Visiting these residents of Renaissance Island is one of the most popular tourist attractions for many people, and after experiencing it for ourselves we can see why.

Unlike its neighbours Bonaire and Curaçao, Aruba has no wild flamingos, and so the flamingos that are resident on Renaissance Island are captive flamingos from Bonaire – although they have the run of the entire island and are very much at home with the tourists visiting each day!

You can even purchase flamingo food on the island, the best way to coax the birds to come up close and personal with you to grab that perfect Instagram shot.

It was just stunning – there was no other word to describe it!

Baby Beach is a little out of the way, located in the very southern-most tip of the island, close to the quaint town of San Nicolas, and so is about a 45-minute drive from the hotel zone, however it is well worth the trip to get here.

Baby Beach is a beautiful half-moon shaped sandy cove / lagoon, with crystal clear shallow waters perfect for swimming and snorkelling.

I know that gay travel to the Caribbean can be difficult, but rest assured that in Aruba you will be welcomed with open arms, and you can just kick back, relax, and enjoy the island.