Endless outdoor activities, pristine white sand beaches, and unique wildlife are just a few things that keep travelers coming back to Aruba.
Aruba’s slogan is “One Happy Island,” and it definitely lives up to its reputation. One of the most exciting attractions this Dutch island has to offer is its famous beach flamingos.
After seeing countless pictures of these majestic animals on Instagram, I was under the impression that wild flamingos roamed freely around Aruba. I thought it would be easy to find them on beaches all across the island. That’s definitely not the case!
If you want to see the flamingos in Aruba, it actually takes some planning. There are only about 8 flamingos in Aruba, and they are all located in one place: on Flamingo Beach, Renaissance Private Island.
Renaissance Private Island
This island is a 40-acre tropical oasis featuring Aruba’s only private beaches. It is also the only place that you will be able to find flamingos in Aruba.
In addition to being home to the famous flamingos, Renaissance Private Island is a fun and relaxing place to spend the day soaking up the sun. There is complimentary wifi everywhere on the island, as well as plenty of tranquil places to relax.
There are two restaurants on the island: Papagayo Bar and Grill and Mangrove Beach Bar. Here you can order tropical drinks and delicious food. There are also complimentary towels, snorkels, floaties, and other beach equipment available to check out for the day.
There are only two ways to gain access to this exclusive island: by being a guest at the Renaissance Aruba Resort and Casino, or by trying to secure a visitor’s pass for the day.
Renaissance Resort:
The Renaissance Resort is split into two parts: an adults-only zone and a kid-friendly zone. By being a hotel guest in either zone, you get a guaranteed spot at Flamingo Beach. You can catch a complimentary water taxi provided by the hotel that goes to and from the island every 15 minutes. The island is open from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm Check out the resort’s website here:
https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/auabr-renaissance-aruba-resort-and-casino
The second way to gain access to Flamingo Beach is by trying to secure a visitor’s day pass. However, it is not guaranteed that you will be able to secure a pass on your trip. Hotel guests at the Renaissance get first priority on the island.
Visitor’s Day Pass:
The Renaissance Resort will only sell day passes to non-hotel guests if they are below 80% occupancy. The visitor’s day passes cost $125 per person and must be booked at 7:00 am the day before you want to visit the island. You can buy a visitor’s day pass here:
https://renaissancearuba.idaypass.com/
The day pass includes the water taxi ride to and from the island, lunch, and a drink. The Renaissance often does not have any day passes available, and they frequently sell out right after going on sale.
Which Option is Best?
The only 100% guaranteed way to get access to the island is by being a guest at the Renaissance. Unfortunately, the Renaissance is very expensive, and there isn’t much to do in that part of Aruba except go to Flamingo Beach.
I recommend staying only 2 or 3 nights at the Renaissance then switching to a different hotel in an area, like Palm Beach or Eagle Beach, where there are better beaches and more things to do. We stayed at the Renaissance for 3 nights, which gave us access to the island for two days, then we switched to the Hilton in Palm Beach and loved it.
Tips:
Avoid visiting Flamingo Beach in the middle of the day. Try going before 9:00 am or after 5:00 pm to avoid the crowds.
Stay until sunset. The most magical time on the island is after 6:00 pm, when most of the visitors have left and the sun is setting. Catch the last water taxi back at 6:45pm to enjoy the island at its most beautiful. This is also the best time to take pictures!
Bring cash for flamingo food. The food costs 25 cents, and the machine that dispenses it accepts quarters. If you don’t want to bring coins, the bartenders can give you change for dollar bills. The bartenders will also provide you with a cup for the flamingo food.
Seeing the flamingos was a magical experience and a major highlight of our trip to Aruba. Is Flamingo Beach on your bucket list?
Watch my Aruba vlog on Tiktok to see how we spent our week in paradise!
Find more travel content on my Youtube channel:
Cheyanne Herrera 
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