●○○○#2 of 16 things to do in San Nicolas

Street Murals By Aruba Art Fair

★★★★½4.7 out of 5 · 101 reviews

cultural

outdoor

Photo: © Ed1214 via TripAdvisor

About

San Nicolas—the old refinery town on the island's southeast corner—has been transformed into Aruba's open-air art district, and this is the guided walk that connects the dots. The #2 ranking among San Nicolas attractions reflects what visitors find: a volunteer-led tour through 60+ murals painted by artists from around the world during annual Aruba Art Fair sessions. You'll see work from Latin America, Europe, the Caribbean, each piece tied to a building, an alley, or a courtyard. The 4.7 rating holds across 101 reviews because the guides—locals who watched the project grow—actually know the artists and the stories. The tour takes about 90 minutes and covers a few blocks on foot, nothing strenuous. You'll walk past the refinery remains, hear about San Nicolas before and after the paint, and get context most people miss if they just drive through with a camera. It's free, though donations support the program. Go in the morning before the sun gets heavy.

At a glance

Category: cultural
Duration: 1 hours
Price: $0
Minimum age: None
Intensity: ●○○○○
Setting: outdoor
Booking partner: direct
Product ID: —

Photos

Visiting in June?

June offers warm weather and calm seas ideal for snorkeling and water activities. The island feels moderately busy with activity but not overwhelming crowds. Tours and restaurants are active, and many visitors report excellent experiences exploring both the beaches and rugged interior during this month.

Based on 150 traveler reports

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More activities

Palm Pleasure Sailing and Snorkeling trips

OutdoorFrom $75© Management via TripAdvisor

De Palm Tours

De Palm Tours runs a private beach club on the west coast near Oranjestad, and it's built around water activities — think slides, banana boats, snorkeling gear, and a roped-off swimming area. The #5 ranking among Oranjestad transportation reflects that this isn't just a shuttle service; most visitors book the half-day beach package that includes cabanas, towels, and food service. The back-to-back Travelers Choice awards suggest consistency, and the 4.8 rating across 26,000+ reviews backs that up. The setup skews family-friendly. Kids get underwater activities in shallow zones, parents get palapas with shade and beverage service. It's beach entertainment, not wilderness — no natural pools or cave hikes like the UTV tours that head into Arikok. Duration runs around four hours, which is enough for the slides and a meal without burning the whole day. Note that the flamingo interactions cost extra, and cabana rentals are mandatory with the package. If you want inland exploration, this isn't it. If you want a contained beach day with activities included, it does the job.

water

OutdoorFrom $90© wilkiejames via TripAdvisor

JADS Dive Center

JADS Dive Center operates out of Baby Beach in San Nicolas, on Aruba's southeastern tip where the water stays calm and shallow. It's ranked #1 of tours in the area and holds back-to-back Travelers Choice awards, which tracks — nearly 1,700 reviews land at 4.9 stars, a number that's hard to fake at scale. The minimum age is ten, so families can dive together if the kids are ready. Sessions run around three hours and lean moderately active, meaning you're in the water for a good stretch but it's not an endurance test. Pricing sits around $90, which is standard for guided shore diving on the island. Baby Beach itself is protected by a natural rock formation, so visibility tends to be excellent and currents stay manageable, even for newer divers. If you're staying in the high-rise strip, factor in the drive — San Nicolas is about forty minutes south. But the calm conditions and the shop's consistency make it worth the trip if you want reliable water time without a boat.

water

Age 10+

RockaBeach Tours

RockaBeach Tours runs out of Oranjestad and consistently pulls top marks — #7 among all outdoor activities in the area, with back-to-back Travelers Choice awards and a 4.9 from nearly 10,000 reviews. That's not a fluke. The four-hour water tour format gives you enough time to move around the coast without burning a whole day, and the intensity level lands somewhere in the middle — expect some sun and activity, but it's not an expedition. The price sits around $75, which is competitive for a half-day boat experience in Aruba. Most routes hit snorkeling spots and coastal sights that bigger operators skip, and the crew tends to keep group sizes manageable. Direct booking is available, so you skip the markup. If you want a water day that's more structured than renting gear on your own but less anonymous than the cruise-ship charters, this is the window.

water

Pairs well with

JADS Dive Center

Clear Kayak Tour

The Clear Kayak Tour out of Savaneta is the top-ranked activity in this quiet south-coast fishing village, and the appeal is simple: you paddle a transparent kayak over shallow coral gardens and wrecks where visibility is high. The 4.8 rating across nearly 300 reviews suggests the experience delivers on that premise. It's a two-hour outing with a moderate intensity level, so you're not racing — you're gliding and looking down. Savaneta's waters are calmer than the windward side, which helps when you're trying to spot fish and formations through the hull. At $65, it sits in the mid-range for Aruba water activities. Tours go out with a guide, and the kayaks are stable enough that most ages can handle them. Book directly; the operation runs independently. If you want to see what's under the surface without getting fully wet, this is the straightforward option.

Serene Floating Massage

Serene Floating Massage operates out of Savaneta, the quiet fishing village on the south coast. You lie on a floating mat in calm water while a therapist works through a full-body massage — it's exactly what it sounds like, and the 5-star rating across 38 reviews says people leave happy. The session runs 90 minutes, which is long enough to stop thinking about your phone. It's ranked #4 out of 16 things to do in Savaneta, which is small but notable in a town that doesn't have much else competing for attention. The floating setup means you're outdoors the whole time, so factor in sun and timing. At $120 for the session, it's not a budget move, but it's also not trying to be — this is for people who want slow, restorative downtime rather than a jeep tour or snorkel trip. If you're traveling with kids or you'd rather spend the day moving around the island, this won't be the fit. It's built for couples or solo travelers who actually want to lie still for an hour and a half.

Source: TripAdvisor · view on TripAdvisor →

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