Have you ever wondered how to visit the famous Flamingo Island in Aruba? Nestled in the turquoise embrace of the Caribbean Sea, Aruba’s famed Flamingo Island is a slice of paradise that embodies the allure of tropical dreams. Picture-perfect azure waters gently kiss the shores of this idyllic haven, while powdery white sands beckon you to unwind under the Caribbean sun. But the real stars of the show are the elegant flamingos that call this island home, lending an enchanting touch to the already mesmerizing landscape.
I’m not sure when flamingos became an instant photo hit with people. Probably around the same time pink became the unofficial color of Instagrammers everywhere. And let’s be honest, flamingos are super cute with their funky legs and their fluffy plumage.
Despite what Instagram might lead you to believe, flamingos do not actually wander wild around the island of Aruba. In fact, they aren’t native to Aruba at all, except for a very small section of land off the island’s west coast. The flamingos are only located on a private island owned by the Renaissance Aruba hotel and not available for visitation by the public. There are 3 ways that you can gain access to this famous island filled with 8 or so feathery pink friends, all of which I explain below!
You can get access by 1) being a hotel guest, 2) booking a day pass, or 3) booking a spa cove treatment. (Hint: we went with the third option!)
1. Be a hotel patron of the Renaissance Aruba hotel
This is the most obvious and straightforward option. As a guest of the Wind Creek at Renaissance Aruba hotel, you will also have access to Flamingo Island. This option is best for those planning on visiting the island for multiple days, since you only have to pay for the room and not for anything else.
However, the hotel isn’t cheap. Not only that, but they request that you book the hotel for at least two nights, so you’ll be shelling out a good few hundred dollars per night for however many nights you stay.
Check the rates for the Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort here.
2. Book a day pass
This is probably the most popular option to get access to Flamingo Island. On the Renaissance Aruba website, they release a limited number of day passes per day that aren’t cheap (last I checked, they are $125 per person) but are definitely cheaper than booking multiple nights’ stay at the hotel.
However, as you might expect, these day passes are in high demand. On days when the hotel is at super-high capacity, they might not even release day passes at all! So if you’re planning on going with this option, make sure to try and book it as far in advance as possible, and wake up early to catch those day passes before they sell out.
The day pass option also comes with a food and drink voucher for either of the restaurants on the island, which is nice because it means you can stay on the island the whole day without having to worry about your meals.
Check the day pass website here.
3. Book a treatment at the Spa Cove
This is a little-known option that I didn’t hear much about online, but I believe this is maybe the best way to visit Flamingo Island. The Renaissance Aruba also has a spa treatment center called Okeanos Spa that isn’t exclusive to hotel guests. And some of the more premium spa options are located at the private Spa Cove—on Flamingo Island!
There are several package options, but the basic Seascapes one includes an open-air massage session and a frozen drink, with the option to add on lunch as well (I recommend taking that option, since like I mentioned previously, this means you can spend the whole day on the island without worrying about meals). It can cost anywhere from $165 per person and can go basically as high as you want it to with add-ons and upgrades. Again, not a cheap option, but if a day pass itself is already going to be $125, I think adding on another $40 or so for an entire hour’s private massage is a pretty good deal.
Note: make sure you book one of the treatments at the Spa Cove, not just any Okeanos Spa treatment. They have a facility in the hotel for regular spa treatments that will not get you access to the island!
Check out the spa website here.
Getting to Flamingo Island
The only way to access Flamingo Island is by private boat. Luckily, the boat ride is free and quite short, but they will check to make sure that you either have a room key, a day pass, or a spa pass in order to let you on board.
The first boat leaves the hotel at 7AM from the canal located just past the lobby, and the last boat from the island comes back to the resort at 6:45PM. I recommend catching the earliest boat you can to avoid crowds!
However, you should note that children are only allowed on the flamingo side of the island from 9-10AM. This doesn’t mean they can’t take the boat, but they’ll have to spend most of the day on other parts of the island.
What is there to do on Flamingo Island?
The private island is actually split into two parts, the Iguana Beach side and the Flamingo Beach side. I think you can guess from the names what animals you’ll find on each side of the island! Iguana Beach has more seating and is more family-friendly, so I recommend spending time on this side of the island when you’re tired of the flamingos. The Flamingo Beach side has more limited seating but has a great drink bar and is also where you access the Spa Cove, so hop on over to this side if you’ve booked a spa treatment.
Love Caribbean beaches and blue waters? There are other incredible destinations in this area of the world! How about a trip to Antigua & Barbuda?
Besides seeing flamingos and iguanas, the island also has free hammocks in the water and plenty of space to stretch out and relax. If you’re looking for a swankier, more exclusive option, you can rent a private cabana. The overwater cabanas, complete with their own nets, offer a private haven where you can recline to the soothing rhythm of the waves. For those eager to explore the underwater wonders, snorkeling gear for rent awaits.
There aren’t many facilities on the small island, but you can spend the whole day here if you wish by dining at the island’s two restaurants. The food is actually not bad at all considering how removed Flamingo Island is from the rest of Aruba.
If you’re not a beach person, like me, spending the day here is doable but not without its challenges. The sun is quite unforgiving in the afternoon and I spent a large amount of time hiding out in a small patch of shade near the hammocks. The beach umbrellas and the cabanas are the only reliable sources of shade on the island, so you might have to roam around to find patches here and there hidden from the blazing sun.
If I went again, I would spend the early morning hours and evening hours hanging out with the flamingos, because that’s when they’re more likely to come out into the water. Then for the hot afternoon and midday, I would get a drink, eat some food, and take a nap!
Tips for Seeing the Flamingos
- The flamingos only go into the water at some parts during the day, other times they just want to hang out in the shade. If you want the absolute best photos, stay here the whole day and dart out whenever you see them headed for the water. I can’t say for sure why, but I think they get too hot in the afternoon; morning and evening are the best time for pics in my opinion. Plus, the lighting is also a lot less harsh.
- Don’t touch or make noise at the flamingos. There are signs posted with rules and information about them; please make sure to follow them all!
- Don’t chase the flamingos, they will walk away from you. Be patient, bring some quarters to buy flamingo food (there’s a dispenser on the bridge before you get to the beach), and they will come to you eventually.
- Most of the time the flamingos won’t go too far deep into the water, so hang out near the shoreline if you want them to come around!
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