Learn A New Sport on Aruba’s Seaside Playground
View the sand and sea as somewhere to play rather than laze, then get up and go to Aruba, where a host of beach sports & activities can be discovered!
For many, holidays are about new experiences, including soaking up the lifestyle and enjoying some of the locals’ sports and activities and in Aruba’s case there are a number that can be mastered in a day.
Windsurfing is top of the list. Thanks to favourable wind and water conditions and year-round pleasant weather in Aruba, the island is a windsurfing mecca. Every year, thousands of active travellers come to Aruba just to windsurf, primarily at the Fisherman's Huts.
Just about anyone can learn to windsurf in one two-hour session and several watersports operators offer lessons for beginners. A 30-minute introduction to the equipment and hands-on instructions on land are followed by a lesson in the calm, shallow waters of the Fisherman’s Huts area, where your instructor will stay by your side and have you up and sailing in no time!
But if you want to ditch the sailing part, try SUP – stand-up paddle boarding. This essentially entails standing on an oversized surfboard and pulling (or in SUP lingo, ‘sweeping’) yourself forward with a long single-ended paddle. Although SUP has its roots in the waves, the fact that you are propelling yourself makes the sport suitable for any water setting.
Aruba’s expanse of flat water along Palm Beach, as well as locations like Spaans Lagoen and Mangel Halto, make Aruba an ideal destination to give SUP a try. And the experts say as little as five minutes of instruction will have you paddling out on the water.
Aruba is also renowned for scuba-diving and as well as coral reef, the island has a number of shipwrecks dotted around its coast.
Absolute beginners are well catered for. Many of Aruba’s dive shops and operations offer what is called a Resort Dive Certification through PADI. The half-day course provides beginners with the foundation to safely make their first dive. Class begins in the morning on land and in a swimming pool. By the afternoon, newly-certified Resort Divers will be 30 feet below the surface, exploring coral reefs and the scattered remains of one of the island’s shipwrecks, the SS Pedernales.
Introduced to Aruba in 2002, beach tennis has become one of the most popular sports on the Island. Players of all ages and levels of athletic ability are encouraged to play. The easy camaraderie of beach tennis—plus the pumping music, cold beers, and sunny beach setting—guarantees the great success of this sport on Aruba.
The island’s largest beach tennis facility, with 16 courts, is located at the Tropicana, and another complex is located on Palm Beach at Moomba Beach Bar. Rackets and balls can be rented at both places, and one-hour introductory lessons are available from the island’s internationally ranked pros.
Salsa and merengue are the dances of the Caribbean and Latin America. Sexy and sultry, local dancers are mesmerising to watch at some of the local nightlife spots. But don’t just sit on the sidelines—fun, introductory group classes are offered at various beach bars and resorts.
Locals love to share their culture with guests to the island, and will be happy to make space on the crowded dance floor for you!
