Around Aruba UTV Tour Review: Go Off-Roading On The Island’s Northern Shore
Around Aruba UTV Tour Review: Go Off-Roading On The Island’s Northern Shore
Published April 19, 2023
Aruba is one of the Caribbean’s most popular destinations, and it’s easy to see why! With reliably comfortable weather, beautiful beaches, and good tourism infrastructure, Aruba is hard to beat. The island is one of the most developed and urbanized places in the Caribbean, which makes it an attractive place for many travelers.
With that said, going off the beaten path on Aruba is a little tricky. Perhaps the best way to do so is to rent a utility terrain vehicle (UTV) or an all-terrain vehicle (ATV). This will allow you to explore the island’s rugged northern shore, which has no paved roads but provides access to stunning natural desert landscapes. During our recent spring break getaway, two friends and I booked a UTV for a full day with Around Aruba Tours (website | Facebook). This post is a review of our experience!
To skip down to any particular section of this review, click or tap the corresponding link below!
UTV Rental Overview
Off-roading vehicles are popular on Aruba since they provide access to parts of the island that are otherwise inaccessible via rental car. Many companies offer half- and full-day UTV rentals: approximately four and eight hours, respectively. You can also join a tour group or caravan, but I recommend charting your own course (more on why below).
Differences Between ATVs and UTVs
If you want to go off-roading, the first thing you need to decide is whether you want an ATV or a UTV. Essentially, ATVs are smaller and generally designed for one person. UTVs are larger, accommodate two to five people including the driver, and have a covered roof.
Since we were a group of three, the UTV made the most sense. It would’ve been much more expensive to rent three individual ATVs, plus the roof on the larger vehicle provided some much-needed shade.
Rental Requirements & Logistics
As of April 2023, a UTV rental from Around Aruba Tours costs 380 USD and requires a 200 USD security deposit that can be temporarily charged to a credit card. Drivers must be above the age of 25 and must possess a valid license. Licenses issued by the United States are accepted.
The vehicle was dropped off to our hotel in Noord at 9:00 a.m. on the day we booked. We signed the waiver and put down our deposit. Then, an Around Aruba Tours staff member told us we had to fill up the gas tank at the end of the day. The company returned to our lodging around 5:00 p.m. to pick up the UTV.
Stops on our Self-Guided Tour
The main reason to rent an ATV or UTV is to be able to drive along the dirt trails on the northern side of the island. We started our day at the California Lighthouse and moved down the coast until we reached the Natural Bridge. After that, we turned inland and made our way down to Baby Beach on the southern end of Aruba. Read on to learn more about each stop!
California Lighthouse
Location: Click or tap for Google Maps link
Website: https://www.aruba.com/us/explore/california-lighthouse
This iconic lighthouse was the first stop on our trip. It’s located at the northernmost tip of Aruba, and this is one stop on the tour that you can access even if you don’t rent an ATV or UTV.
We stopped to take a few pictures of the surrounding landscape, then realized that the lighthouse was actually open for visitors to climb. As of April 2023, it costs 5 USD per person, and they accept card for payment. From the top of the lighthouse, we could see in all directions. Perhaps the best view was looking west towards nearby Arashi Beach.
Druif Beach
Location: Click or tap for Google Maps link
After coming down from California Lighthouse, we got back in our UTV and left the main paved road. After a short drive southeast, we made our second stop: Druif Beach. We saw lots of other off-roaders parked here, so we also got out for a bit. The waves were pretty rough here, and so was the terrain. This probably isn’t a safe place to swim, but the blue waters and rocky landscapes are really pretty at Druif Beach.
Alto Vista Chapel
Location: Click or tap for Google Maps link
The next major attraction is one you won’t want to miss! The Alto Vista Chapel is a famous symbol of Aruba. I love its pastel yellow exterior and orange tile roof. It’s also set in a beautiful location overlooking the ocean with wild cactus growing in the background.
Be sure to check out the Peace Labyrinth behind the chapel. After walking around for a bit, we bought some fresh-squeezed fruit juice from a colorful vendor in the parking lot. We finished our refreshments and headed on to the next stop.
Lunch at Happy Stop
Location: Click or tap for Google Maps link
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/happystoparuba/
I highly recommend getting lunch at Happy Stop, a food truck located right next to the Bushiribana Ruins. It’s basically the only food vendor on Aruba’s north shore. Luckily, the food at Happy Stop was delicious!
My friends both got hot dogs, and I ordered a fish sandwich. We also split an order of loaded fries. Everything was phenomenal, especially after a full morning of driving around!
Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins
Location: Click or tap for Google Maps link
Website: https://www.aruba.com/us/explore/historic-gold-mines
Along with the California Lighthouse and Alto Vista Chapel, the half-standing remnants of an old gold mill are another well-known landmark located on the coastal UTV trail. In fact, the Bushiribana Ruins can be found on the back side of the ten Aruban Florin bill (the local currency).
Although a sign is posted at the entrance of the gold mill stating that entry is prohibited, an open doorway is in no way blocked. Lots of other visitors were “inside” the structure, so we also checked it out. Enter at your own risk, I guess. The interior of the ruins has stairs that go up to the top of the façade, which is built into the side of the hill. From here, you’ll have a beautiful panoramic view of the shoreline in both directions.
Natural Bridge
Location: Click or tap for Google Maps link
Website: https://www.aruba.com/us/explore/natural-bridges
A little ways down the coast from Bushiribana is the Natural Bridge, a naturally-occurring archway made of rock right on the ocean. It’s honestly a little underwhelming, and access to it is blocked for safety reasons.
There is a gift and snack shop next to the Natural Bridge, which is a good place to stock up on water or sunscreen.
Andicuri Beach
Location: Click or tap for Google Maps link
Website: https://www.aruba.com/us/explore/andicuri-beach
This beach was our final stop along Aruba’s northern coast. It didn’t appear possible to continue along the shore from the Natural Bridge to Andicuri, so we backtracked for a while and went all the way around (through Matividiri, along Route 6).
This was kind of an adventure because the final road was blocked at this point with a sign claiming private property (which we saw other people ignoring, so we did too). We had to park the UTV and walk the rest of the way. After all of that, Andicuri Beach was nice but nothing spectacular. If you want to skip it, I’d say that’s fine.
Ayo Rock Formations
Location: Click or tap for Google Maps link
Website: https://www.aruba.com/us/explore/rock-formations
We didn’t originally plan to stop at this small trail loop featuring truly massive boulders, but I’m glad we did! Apparently there are petroglyphs on some of the rocks, but I didn’t notice them on our quick walkthrough. Entrance is free, but the trail loop does require some ducking down to squeeze through a few narrow gaps in between the giant stones.
Baby Beach
Location: Click or tap for Google Maps link
Website: https://www.aruba.com/us/explore/baby-beach
By the time we were done exploring the Ayo Rock Formations, we had a few hours left of our UTV rental. We wanted to make the most of it, so we drove all the way down to Baby Beach on the southern tip of the island.
This was fine, although Baby Beach is absolutely accessible with a regular rental car. If your only vehicle rental on Aruba is a UTV, then by all means take it where you want to go. But if you also plan to rent a car on other days, I recommend using the UTV to focus on the sites between California Lighthouse and Andicuri Beach.
Be aware that eight hours is not really enough time to truly circumnavigate the island while hugging the shore. Many rental companies will recommend visiting various attractions all over Aruba, and the truth is you’ll have to prioritize what you want to see. The only way you’d be able to drive all the way around Aruba is if you made minimal stops and each one was very quick. This kind of defeats the purpose of renting an ATV or UTV, in my opinion!
Comments & Evaluation
Overall, our full-day UTV rental from Around Aruba was a great experience! We really enjoyed most of the stops on our route. I’m glad we spent one of our four days on Aruba cruising around the rocky north shore.
We didn’t experience any issues with the vehicle such as breakdowns or flat tires. As such, we didn’t need additional assistance from Around Aruba Tours. I can’t speak to whether their service is prompt in the event of a problem, but hopefully it is.
Should You Rent a UTV For Multiple Days on Aruba?
I would say no. An ATV or UTV is best suited to explore the various stops listed in this post. There are a number of reasons why a standard rental car would be a better choice if you just need basic transportation. The main factor is cost: a rental car is significantly cheaper. In addition, UTVs can only be rented for a maximum of eight hours. You would have to return the vehicle each night and pick up a new one in the morning if you wanted it for more than one day.
In addition, while UTVs can technically be driven on all paved roads in Aruba, I felt slightly uneasy driving along Route 1, the closest thing to a highway on the island. That’s because other cars were zooming past us at much higher speeds. If you use Route 1 to get to Baby Beach on a UTV, exercise increased caution.
Should you Book a UTV Group Tour?
Throughout the day, we passed by many group tours, some with dozens of vehicles. None of them looked especially appealing. The main reason I don’t recommend joining one is that they tend to kick up a lot of dust. All the drivers and passengers have to wear bulky masks to avoid breathing it in. In addition, you probably wouldn’t have control over how long you get at each stop, or even where you would stop.
Comparison to an ATV Rental in 2017
I had been to Aruba one time before this trip, and on that visit I rented a single-person ATV and did a similar tour. I reserved that vehicle with another local company called Roadrunner ATV Rentals. The main difference between then and now is the fact that ATVs and UTVs can no longer enter Arikok National Park, which is further along the north shore than the Natural Bridge.
When I rented my ATV in 2017, I believe I ended my day at the Conchi Natural Pool. This time, it was unclear to us whether off-roading vehicles can still go that far south, but we didn’t see any individuals or caravans continuing past the Natural Bridge.
I also remember the terrain being much rougher back then. Perhaps six years of traffic have made the dirt paths a little smoother. The UTV probably also had much better suspension than the smaller ATV.
Did We Consider Booking With Other Companies?
Yes, we did. Because of my previous experience with Roadrunner ATV Rentals, I actually reached out to them before booking with Around Aruba Tours. Unfortunately, they wanted drivers to be aged thirty or above to rent a UTV, which none of us are. After further inquiry, they told us that they would need a $1000 deposit.
Even though I had a good experience with Roadrunner in 2017, this all seemed a little excessive in 2023. After all, both the age requirement and the deposit for the UTV were significantly more stringent than what’s needed to rent a car on the island. In contrast, Around Aruba Tours offered more reasonable stipulations.
Enjoy your off-roading adventure! 🇦🇼
Ultimately, Around Aruba Tours was a great way to see a side of this island nation that many visitors overlook. Aruba’s dry, rocky landscapes and wild cacti set it apart from other Caribbean islands. Our rental went smoothly, and we really enjoyed a full day of driving around.
If you’re headed to Aruba, I hope this blog post provided some helpful insights! Be sure to browse around a bit before booking anything just to make sure the rates you’re paying are reasonable; prices could always change or increase. Have you rented an ATV or UTV on Aruba? Have you been to any of the attractions featured in this post? Leave a comment below and let me know! Thanks for reading and enjoy your journey!
Share This Post With Fellow Travelers!
This post was published on Apr 19, 2023
The Caffeinated Man Behind The Blog
Where I’ve Been
Your review of the “Around Aruba UTV Tour” is absolutely fantastic! It paints such a vivid picture of the adventure and the beauty of Aruba’s northern shore. Your descriptive writing style truly captures the essence of the experience, making readers feel like they’re right there with you. Well done!