Aruba

Queen Wilhelmina Park:
A small waterfront city park in downtown Oranjestad featuring walking paths, a few sculptures, and the I heart Aruba sign. 

Visitor Information
no hours • FREE • Oranjestad

Compass Points

• a nice green space to walk through, but smaller than expected and there isn’t much to see or do

*alternatives:
1) Linear Park offers a longer walking route
2) Arikok National Park contains hiking trails and is the largest protected natural area on the island

Bubali Bird Sanctuary:

20 hectares (49 acres) of protected wetland that provides habitat for herons, egrets, ducks, skimmers, and other bird species.

Visitor Information
no hours • FREE • Noord

Compass Points

• a peaceful spot for avid birdwatchers, but not one I’d recommend for most visitors as public access is limited to a  short path and one observation tower, making sightings more limited; we visited at 8AM and only saw a few birds at the pond— binoculars may help

*alternatives:
1) Everglades National Park in Florida, USA offers more abundant and reliable bird sightings in a large wetland
2) Pantanal in Brazil is one of the world’s best birding regions known for high species density and consistent wildlife viewing

Bushiribana Ruins:
Stone remnants of the Bushiribana Gold Mill, which processed 3 million pounds of gold and operated until 1916 before being abandoned due to declining yields.

Visitor Information
no hours • FREE • Paradera

Compass Points

•  historically interesting, but underwhelming due to its small scale and no signage or educational material on-site; more of a quick photo stop if you are already passing by, but otherwise not worth the trek

*alternatives:
1) Bodie State Historic Park in California, USA is a well-preserved gold rush ghost town with mills used to process gold ore and dozens of intact buildings and exhibits  

Donkey Sanctuary:
A nonprofit organization that rescues and cares for abandoned or injured donkeys while also educating visitors about their role in Aruba’s history and allows feedings with approved treats.

Visitor Information
daily 9AM-4PM • FREE • Santa Cruz

Compass Points

• a meaningful stop, but nothing special; better if you’re traveling with children, have a strong interest in animals, or have never seen donkeys up close before

*alternatives:
1) Donkey Sanctuary Bonaire is similar, but offers a larger, more natural roaming environment with less restricted space for the animals

The Butterfly Farm:
A guided tropical greenhouse where visitors learn about the butterfly life cycle.

Visitor Information
daily 8:30AM-4:30PM • $19 (2026 rate) • Noord

Compass Points

• not worth the price in my opinion as the space is small and educational content is fairly elementary

*wildlife considerations: butterflies are kept in close quarters, which may raise concerns for increased stress and disease risk— a tourist-focused exhibit, rather than a wild habitat
*alternatives:
1) nature walks or guided eco-tours observe native nature without enclosure; we spotted butterflies just while walking around

Ostrich Farm:

A guided farm experience where visitors can observe and feed large birds such as ostriches and emus under staff supervision in a managed enclosure.

Visitor Information
daily 10AM-3PM • $17 (2026 rate) • Paradera

Compass Points

• common visitor feedback suggests the experience is tourism-focused with a brief educational component, feels more staged rather than an immersive natural wildlife experience

*wildlife considerations: Travelers who prioritize animal welfare may wish to research the farm’s current animal care practices to determine whether the experience aligns with their own values. While the farm states that the birds are not raised for meat or leather, and that eggs served in the restaurant are surplus or infertile, the experience is structured around feeding, and some visitors report lack of transparency about animal care.
*alternatives:
1) observe ostriches in the wild on an African safari
2) Alpine Acres Sanctuary Farm in California, USA cares for rescued ostriches and emus where they focus on rescue, rehabilitation, and education with no forced interaction