When planning a trip to Aruba, what is the first thing that comes to your mind? If your answer is stunning beaches with flamingos, I got you! If this must-do activity is at the top of their bucket list, in this blog post we’ll guide you through everything you need to know to visit the Flamingo Island in Aruba. 

Prepare your camera because your drink is included! 😉

Flamingo beach in Aruba – everything you need to plan your visit to the island

When the main purpose of your trip is vacation, you are likely to stay in Palm Beach or Eagle Beach. These areas are where the best beach hotels and luxurious resorts are concentrated. While Palm Beach is known for its high-rise hotels Eagle Beach has a more laid-back vibe, offering more of a “home away from home” experience. But what to do when your hotel is not right in front of the beach? What about building a private island and adding a few flamingos to attract more visitors?

Renaissance Island, the famous beach with flamingos in Aruba

If you have ever stayed at the Renaissance Resort, you may know all the hotels are well located and offer a top-notch experience. The Renaissance in Aruba is not different. The resort is located in Oranjestad, the capital city of Aruba where visitors will find a mix of modern buildings and Dutch colonial architecture. This high-end resort is attached to a beautiful mall, close to the port where the cruise ships stop in the area, but there is only one inconvenience, there is no beach around. 

Therefore, if guests want a beautiful beach to relax, why not build one, correct? Renaissance Island was artificially created in the 1990s during the construction of the resort. Owned by the Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino, the island was originally intended to be an exclusive retreat for the resort’s guests, with its own private beaches and amenities. The island was designed to be a luxurious, secluded paradise with cabanas, hammocks, and beach bars. And to add something extra, voilá, they add some charming pink flamingos!

Flamingo Beach – the history behind the scenes

What? Are you saying the flamingos are not from Aruba? Yes, it may come as a surprise that these animals don’t roam in the wild throughout the island. The flamingos were originally brought to the island from Venezuela in the late 1990s. The birds were carefully selected and transported to Aruba to help create a unique and exclusive experience for guests of the Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino. After a few years, the island has become a popular destination for visitors to Aruba who want to experience a unique and exclusive beach experience.

Today, Renaissance Island is one of the most popular attractions in Aruba. Although most people want to visit because they want the perfect pictures with the flamingos, the island continues to be maintained and enhanced by the resort to provide visitors with a world-class beach experience.

How to visit the Flamingo Beach in Aruba

To get to the Flamingo Beach formerly known as Renaissance Island,  visitors have 3 choices:

1. Book a Stay at Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino

The Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino is the only place on the island that provides access to the flamingo beach. The resort has two different sections – the adult-only Marina Hotel and the family-friendly Ocean Suites. Both sections offer all guests access to the flamingo beach. In general, if you are staying at this hotel, you will have a free pass to spend the day at Renaissance Island. Be aware that the beautiful bungalows you will see at Renaissance website, are not the rooms where you are staying, these are optional for guests willing to pay extra for a more private experience while at the island.

2. Buy a Day Pass to visit the Flamingo Beach

If you’re not staying at the Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino, you can still visit the flamingo beach by purchasing a day pass. The day pass includes the water taxi from the hotel to the island, lunch & drink at the bar, and gives you access to the resort’s amenities, including the flamingo beach, for the day.

The total cost for a day pass to visit Flamingo Beach on Renaissance Island Aruba is $125 per person. This price includes access to the resort’s private island for the day, the water taxi from-to the Renaissance hotel, beach towels, lounge chairs and one meal and one drink of your choice at Papagayo Bar & Grill or Mangrove Beach Bar. The meal included is limited to $30 and you can pay the difference in case you spend more than that. 

For those traveling with family, Renaissance Island tickets are $62.50 per child (5-12) and there is no charge for kids four and under. However, according to the beach rules, children are allowed to visit the flamingos from 9-10 a.m. only.

3. Book a spa package at Okeanos Spa on Renaissance Island 

The best option to visit the island if you are not a guest to the Renaissance Hotel is booking a treatment at Okeanos Spa. Even though it is the most expensive option, any treatment gives you access to Flamingo Beach. Many people don’t realize the spa is the island and the package includes one day of access to Renaissance Island.

To book any of the services at the Spa, you can call 297-583-6000, ext. 6176 or email [email protected] and be aware that, depending on the package price, there is an additional charge of $25 per person for the water taxi non-Renaissance guests.

What to do at the Flamingo Beach

The island has two beaches, Iguana Beach and Coconut Beach. Once you arrive at the Coconut beach, you’ll be greeted by beautiful pink flamingos. The beach itself is a small, secluded stretch of sand with calm turquoise waters, with plenty of loungers and umbrellas for you to relax and enjoy the sun. There are lots of places to sit down or lay out on the island and two dining options: Papagayo Bar & Grill and Mangrove Beach Bar where you can order a delicious cocktail. If you are willing to pay, private cabanas are available for rent on Renaissance Island in Aruba.

In addition, the Red Sail Sports store offers snorkeling equipment, paddle boards, kayaks, and floats for rent from 8:30 am to 4pm. Paddle boards and kayaks are available first on a first-come, first-serve basis for hourly use beginning at 8:30 a.m.

How to get to Flamingo Beach in Aruba

To reach the flamingo beach, you’ll need to take a water taxi from the Renaissance Aruba Resort. The water taxi runs every 15 minutes from 7am to 7pm daily. About 20 people can board the water taxi each trip, and the ride takes around 10 minutes. It’s relaxing and the views are gorgeous!

How to buy the day pass to visit the Renaissance Island in Aruba

That’s important to know! you can’t just show up to the Renaissance frontdesk and buy a day pass ticket. The priority to visit the island are for guests staying at Renaissance Resort. If the hotel is above 80% occupancy, passes for that particular day are not available for non-guests. So, if you wish to include this visit in your itinerary, avoid making mistakes by booking a day pass in advance.

To buy tickets to Renaissance Island in Aruba online, go to the Renaissance Aruba. Passes become available every Saturday at 9am for Monday through Sunday of the following week. I was aware about the passes only when I was in Aruba, because I don’t have enough time to wait for the passes online. I decided to talk with someone at the front desk. The receptionist was very kind and opened an exception to sell me the tickets for the next day. Lucky for me! I suggest avoiding making any first-timer mistakes and book in advance. Note that other travel agencies are not allowed to sell tickets to Renaissance Island and are not that friendly when guests ask about it. Most places are likely to sell you Palm Island, which is a new place with a few flamingos. If you want to take pictures with flamingos, what the difference, hm? 

Picture with flamingos in Aruba

Once you arrive at the beach, you should immediately spot the flamingos. There are a few machines at the pier where you can  spend a few U.S. quarters to get some food and try getting the birds to come to you. However, be aware the flamingos are not friendly with tourists! If you want the perfect picture, you must wait until they eventually approach you or decide to walk around the beach. Other than that, the island is beautiful, make sure to arrive early and get a great spot to have a great day at this unique beach.