Looking for an amazing animal-centric trip? I know just the place! While researching for my recent trip to Aruba, I was delighted to find so many animal activities on the island. Visitors can hang out with ostriches, donkeys, butterflies… Even flamingoes! Okay, so you may have heard of the famous Flamingo Beach, but the rest may surprise you! Here are the best places to play, see, and hang out with animals on the island of Aruba.

Aruba Ostrich Farm

Ostriches? Really?! Yes! And emus, too! Your visit to the Aruba Ostrich Farm includes a guided tour, visit to the incubator and hatchery, time with the baby and young ostriches and emus, and a chance to feed the ostriches for a very fun and unique photo opportunity! This is a fun thing to do as a couple, with kids, with friends or solo. Be sure to stop by their shop as well, which features locally made products and artwork.

Did you come hungry? There is a restaurant onsite, and in the right season, you can try an ostrich or emu egg! (Reservations required for emu or ostrich egg meals; be aware that the ostrich egg meals are $124.50, and emu egg platter is $73.) Other dishes range from pulled pork to fish sandwiches and more from $11.50-$13.50, so there are some more reasonable options as well!

• Hours: Daily 10:00am-4:00pm
• Admission: $15 per adult; $8 per child
• Location: Near the Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins and Natural Bridge
• Tours: Hourly; last tour at 3:00pm

Keep reading: What to Pack for a Trip to Aruba

Butterfly Farm

If you want to feel a little bit like a tropical Cinderella, you definitely want to visit Aruba’s Butterfly Farm! Your visit includes an excellent guided tour, which includes seeing and learning about caterpillars, pupa, and the process of becoming a butterfly. The best chance to see butterflies emerging is early in the morning, so come at opening time for your best opportunity. Your guide will even help you learn how to handle the delicate butterflies without damaging them.

Tip from their website: Wear bright colors and citrus perfume or cologne if you want the butterflies to come land on you!

• Hours: 8:30am-4:30pm
• Admission: $19 per person; $10 ages 4-17; return visits FREE up to one month after first visit
• Location: Near high-rise resort area, Eagle Beach, Bubali Bird Sanctuary, Palm Beach
• Tours: Continuously, lasts 20-25 minutes; last tour 4:00pm

Read on: How to Have the Ultimate Romantic Getaway on Aruba

Bubali Bird Sanctuary

The Bubali Bird Sanctuary is home to more than 80 species of birds on Aruba. You can visit this sanctuary completely FREE, and stay as long as you like. You can certainly see them at ground level, but don’t miss the chance to go up in the observation tower to get a “bird’s eye view” from up there! It’s close to lots of other attractions and many major hotels, so you may even be able to walk there during your trip. It’s a great place to walk around, whether you have an interest in birds or not! If you’re here around breakfast, brunch, or dinner, grab a table inside the Old Dutch Windmill across the street, at the King Fred and Princess Diana Restaurant.

• Hours: Always open
• Admission: FREE
• Location: Near high-rise resort area, Eagle Beach, Butterfly Farm, Palm Beach
• Tours: No formal tour

Also helpful: What to Know Before You Visit the Caribbean

Aruba Donkey Sanctuary

Why do donkeys need a sanctuary on Aruba? Why are there donkeys on Aruba? While they’re not native, they have been on the island for over 500 years! They were the main mode of transportation and essential to the island’s economy from the time the Spanish brought them over in the early 1500s. They remained a fixture on Aruba until the 20th century, when cars and machines replaced the need for donkeys. An illness nearly wiped them out in the 1970s, and the donkeys you see at the sanctuary today all came from the remaining 20 wild donkeys. Today, you can watch, feed, hug, and cuddle these sweetie pies! Admission is FREE, but donations are requested, especially if you want to get up-close and personal with them.

• Hours: Daily 9:00am-4:00pm
• Admission: FREE to visit; donation requested to cuddle and hug the donkeys up to 30 minutes
• Location: 15 minutes by car southeast of Oranjestad; near Balashi Gold Mill
• Tours: No formal tour

More here: The Best FREE Things to Do on Aruba

Philip’s Animal Garden

This “Animal Garden” was the delight of the trip! You’ll see everything from exotic birds to tortoises, and from snakes to monkeys! Your admission price includes a cup of carrot sticks to feed to four-legged animals, which was super fun to do! Their mission is to fight animal mistreatment, abuse, and neglect, as well as promote conservation and preservation of animals. Philip has been rescuing animals on Aruba for many years, and eventually what started as a hobby became a business. Visitors can see and learn about the animals here, as well as what it takes to care for them every day. It’s a favorite for families, couples, and solo travelers alike! We loved seeing and interacting with all the creatures, great and small.

• Hours: Daily 9:00am-6:00pm
• Admission: $10 per adult; $5 ages 2-13
• Location: Near Alto Vista Chapel
• Tours: Every 30 minutes

Keep reading: The World’s Best Trips for Animal Lovers

Flamingo Beach

This is certainly the most popular and well-known animal experience on Aruba! It’s pretty magical to see the small flock of pink flamingoes up-close and personal. You can even try to feed them to see if they’ll come over and say hello! Your day pass to the Renaissance Private Island and beach includes your flamingo experience, towel, food and beverage voucher, and use of beach chairs (on a first-come, first-served basis), and you can spend as much or as little time here as you like. It’s worth noting, however, that this beach is adults-only, except from 9:00am-10:00am daily. (Read the next entry if you’re trying to justify coming with your kids!)

All that said, it’s also the most expensive, and day passes the most difficult to snag. Only a limited number of day passes are available each day, and you’ll have to set an alarm to remind you to try and get yours as soon as they go live for your vacation dates. Bearing all that in mind, it’s an experience that might be worth it to you! I have a complete guide to making this dream experience a reality on your trip (link below), so take a look, and good luck!

• Hours: 7:00am-6:45pm
• Admission: $130 per adult; $65 ages 5-12 (children only allowed from 9:00am-10:00am daily; otherwise it is an adults-only beach); FREE for Renaissance Wind Creek Hotel guests
• Location: Renaissance Island
• Tours: Ferry leaves every 15 minutes

Must read: Your Ultimate Guide to Flamingo Beach on Aruba

Iguana Beach

Also included with your ticket to Renaissance Private Island is Iguana Beach! This beach is kid- and family-friendly all day long, so if you’re trying to justify bringing the family to Flamingo Beach, this might help. As an added bonus, there is a lunch time feeding of the iguanas every day at noon, and visitors get to participate! These green, dinosaur-looking creatures are fun to watch, and pretty cute, too. If you’re heading to Flamingo Beach, don’t miss the iguanas on the next beach over!

• Hours: 7:00am-6:45pm
• Admission: $130 per adult; $65 ages 5-12 (included with Flamingo Beach Day Pass; child friendly all times of day); FREE for Renaissance Wind Creek Hotel guests
• Location: Adjacent to Flamingo Beach on Renaissance Island
• Tours: Ferry leaves every 15 minutes

More here: The Ultimate Guide to Traveling on Aruba

Want more? Get everything you need to plan your tropical adventure on my dedicated Aruba Page!

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