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Wellness and Nature
Day 1
Upon arrival at Aruba’s International Airport, enjoy a speedy VIP check-in, after which your group representative will meet and escort you to your hotel. Following check-in, guests will be invited for a welcome drink at the hotel.
Get your yin on at a private yoga session at Island Yoga. Stay on-site for a light nutrient-packed vegan or vegetarian lunch at Nourish Café. Surrender to a relaxing massage and/or body scrub at the semi-open Indonesian-inspired palapa oasis overlooking Eagle Beach at Manchebo Resort’s Spa del Sol (or your host hotel spa).
Delight in a healthy local meal at Papiamento Restaurant for an exquisite dining experience amid lush tropical gardens, or in elegant, air-conditioned dining rooms. Choose from a selection of fresh seafood and delicious meats with local specialties like their renowned oyster soup or keshi yena (stuffed Gouda cheese).
Day 2
Start the day off right with a unique morning yoga class right on the water. Try to keep your balance through warrior pose as you teeter aboard a large Stand-Up Paddle (SUP) board. Next, you’ll visit the Aruba Aloe Museum and Plantation for a private tour where you’ll learn how this healing plant became Aruba’s number one export product. Visit to the gift shop and take home some velvety aloe vera body lotion or other locally-produced sun, skin and haircare products.
Enjoy a poolside lunch at White Modern Cuisine Restaurant, where ambiance and style meet modern culinary techniques and gourmet offerings made with fresh organic local produce. A must for foodies. Take time out to be mindful and at peace as you watch vibrant splashes of color flutter around you in the serenity of the zen garden at the Aruba Butterfly Farm.
Next, we’ll take you to the chic Screaming Eagle where you can enjoy French-fusion boutique cuisine in a classy restaurant with South Beach-inspired decor. Try a relaxing ‘dinner-in-bed’ on comfy lounge chairs. Screaming Eagle was voted #1 Restaurant in the Caribbean on Caribbean Journal’s Top 50 list in 2015. End your evening with a leisurely evening stroll along the seemingly endless coastline, delighting in the calming lullaby of the waves as moonlight sparkles on the sea.
Day 3
Begin your day at dawn with a private nature walk through Arikok National Park, where you can clear your mind and reconnect with nature. Do some bird watching and explore the island’s unique flora and fauna along the many hiking trails. You’ll get a chance to explore the island’s mysterious caves and marvel at its unusual rock formations and craggy coral cliffs. Finish off the morning with a pampering natural fish pedicure in the stream at Fontein.
Eat a casual lunch within the park at the Boca Prins Bar & Restaurant, followed by a visit to the Boca Prins and Dos Playa inlets, where you can meditate or roll down the soft sweeping sand dunes. Head to Santa Cruz to visit the donkey sanctuary, where you can pet and feed these rescued animals that roam wild in Aruba’s rugged countryside.
Relax during a quiet evening sunset meal at Marina Pirata, where the waterfront deck sits atop a calm bay. Enjoy their catch of the day dressed in creamy garlic or local creole sauces amid the soft glow of flickering candle light beneath the stars.
Day 4
Set your intention to give back today as you begin with a beach clean-up at Grapefields and Boca Grandi, on the southernmost tip of the island. This wind-strewn westerly-facing area is popular among kite-surfers.
Cool off with a dip in the calmer turquoise waters of Baby Beach, nearby. Practice mindfulness in the serenity and seclusion of this unruffled beach with its crystalline waters.
Enjoy a casual lunch on the local fishing pier at Zeerover, where freshly-caught fish is fried up and served in a basket.
Next, unwind and explore the reefs and delicate mangrove ecosystem in the shallow waters at Mangel Halto, either by snorkeling or paddling around on a glass-bottom kayak.
Enjoy a late afternoon walk around the giant porous boulders at Casibari and Ayo Rock Formations, followed by a ‘sense of place’ meal experience, arranged on-site. End your final night with drinks and dancing to live music under the stars at the open-air Casibari bar.
*If you’re lucky enough to be around during a full moon, be sure not to miss Full Moon Yoga, offered on various beaches (check with Manchebo Beach Resort & Spa or Island Yoga for dates and times).