Flamingo Beach on Renaissance Island, Aruba
I don't know about you, but hanging out on a private island feeding pink flamingos all day has always been on my bucket list. So when booking a trip to Aruba, I knew that experiencing Flamingo Island was on top of my list. Let me tell you, it was by far our favorite part of our trip to Aruba. In this post I will share all of the information you need to know about Flamingo Island and how to visit.
Where is Flamingo Island?
Flamingo beach is located on a private island owned by The Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino. Although it is owned by the resort, it is actually separate. You have to take short boat ride to get to the island. You get on the boat right at the resort. When you arrive at the island you have two options of where you want to go. To the right, is the beach with the flamingos! To the left is Iguana beach. Keep in mind, Flamingo Beach is for adults only. The only times kids are allowed is in the morning from 9am-10am, but Iguana Beach is very family friendly.
How to go to Flamingo Island in Aruba?
Originally, going to Aruba we planned on buying day passes for Flamingo Island. They are $125 per person and that includes lunch, a cocktail and towels. When we arrived in Aruba we talked to our concierge at The Hyatt Regency about it and was told that The Renaissance Resort is no longer selling day passes to Flamingo Island and the only way to get access is to be guests of The Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino OR book a massage on Flamingo Island, but that was booked for months.
We called the hotel to try and book a room for one night, but they have a two night minimum. We found a way around that! If you are a Marriott Rewards Member you can book 1 night at The Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino with points. If you don’t have enough points you are able to purchase them + pay for the room. That is what we chose to do because we didn’t have any other options and Flamingo Island was on my bucket list. It ended up working out great because you have access to Flamingo Island the day that you check in (starting at 7am) and the day you check out all day. In conclusion, the easiest way to be able to go to Flamingo Island is to already be staying at The Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino. The reason we didn’t is because I heard great things about The Hyatt Regency and not as many about The Renaissance Resort.
How to get the best pictures with Flamingos for your Instagram:
The best way to capture pictures with the flamingos is to feed them! There are flamingo food dispensers when you get to the island. If you forget to bring quarters don't worry, you can go up to the bar and get change.
Is there food on the island?
Yes, there is food on the island. There are actually two different restaurants. Papagayo Bar & Grill (located on Iguana Beach) and The Mangrove Beach Bar (located on Flamingo Beach). We chose to eat lunch at Papagayo Bar & Grill both days because there is more of a variety of food. Mangrove Beach Bar is perfect if you just want to grab a cocktail or if you love seafood, because that is what they mainly offer.
What your experience on Flamingo Island Includes:
Your visit includes beach towels as well as access to lounge chairs and hammocks. They also offer paddle boards, snorkeling equipment, and floats that you can use for the day for no additional fee.
Cabana Rentals:
Both Flamingo & Iguana beach offer private, ocean front cabanas. The cabana comes with 2 bottles of Voss still water, 2 bottles of Voss sparkling water, bottle of sparkling wine, refreshing food amenity, personalized cabana butler service, towels, 2 water floats and 2 full face-snorkeling masks. You can book that here. There are a total of 15 cabanas available, but make sure to book your cabana very far in advance as they get filled quickly.
Beyond Flamingo Island, I have a lot of other Aruba favorites as well, so be sure to check out another Aruba blog post here! Everything that I wore on the trip is linked on my LIKETOKNOW.it!
