Hi friends! I recently visited Aruba on a press trip hosted by Vegan Aruba, the Aruba Tourism Authority and When In Aruba. The trip was an incredible opportunity, and I’m grateful to see an official tourism authority supporting the vegan movement. Alongside Sammy Grim, Brian Turner, Jasmine of Sweet Simple Vegan, Chris, and Marina of Eco Goddess, we explored the island and sampled a wide variety of vegan options.
Below is a day-by-day recap of the restaurants, cafes and activities we enjoyed. In short: Aruba is exceptionally vegan- and gluten-free-friendly. For more food footage and taste tests, check the vlogs on my YouTube channel.
D A Y 1
We arrived on a rare rainy day and checked in at Manchebo Beach Resort & Spa. After settling in, we dined next door at Bucuti & Tara’s Elements restaurant. The staff prepared a special menu for our group, and the meal set a high bar for the trip. My main dish, Tempeh Satay with Peanut Sauce, was unforgettable. Elements offers an elevated dining experience with a beautiful sunset view and is a great choice for groups with mixed dietary preferences.
D A Y 2
We began the morning at Eduardo’s Beach Shack on Eagle Beach, a vibrant smoothie and cafe serving smoothie bowls, Coco Whip soft serve, vegan and gluten-free waffles, quick bites and a case of raw vegan desserts. They offer smoothies served in pineapples or coconut bowls, which I loved. I tried the mermaid bowl — blue spirulina and pink pitaya nice cream with fruit and granola in a pineapple — and a vegan, gluten-free waffle topped with Coco Whip.
After breakfast we walked down Eagle Beach for a Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) Yoga session with Island Yoga. It was a calming experience even if I took an unplanned swim while trying to vlog. For lunch we ate at Nourish Cafe, located next to Island Yoga. Nourish (associated with Yoga Girl’s studio) is relaxed and perfect after class; I had a tofu scramble, while others enjoyed the island burger and wraps. The outdoor seating is lovely.
Later we visited the Ritz-Carlton Aruba for an aloe-focused experience, learning to make aloe drinks and enjoying spa treatments including full body massages and facials. That evening at Manchebo we joined a cocktail reception with Aruba’s vegan community and tasted what might be the best vegan sushi I’ve had at Omakase Sushi Bar, plus a giant vegan paella prepared by Chef Sandro.
We finished the night at Ike’s Bistro (also at Manchebo), which offered a fully vegan menu with standout appetizers and an unforgettable “Snickers” bar dessert. We also enjoyed an exceptional vegan cheese platter. Manchebo and its restaurants are very welcoming to vegan diners.
D A Y 3
I started day three feeling a bit nauseous from indulging the day before, so I rested and skipped breakfast. Ike’s Bistro, however, was debuting a new vegan breakfast plate that morning. Soon after, we boarded a Montforte Luxury Cruise sailboat out of Eagle Beach to the Spanish Lagoon. We snorkeled around the reef and enjoyed a generous selection of vegan dishes on board, including a vegan chocolate fondue fountain. The day included swimming, a zipline and stunning drone footage captured by Brian.
After the cruise we joined a Kukoo Kunuku party bus for a vegan food tour with four stops across the island.
Stop 1: Faro Blanco Restaurant — a classy Italian spot with a gorgeous lighthouse sunset view and a memorable vegan meal, ideal for a date night.
Stop 2: White Modern Cuisine — refined fine dining with a beautiful corn chowder and other elevated dishes.
Stop 3: Hadicurari — a casual venue with live music where we sampled a convincing vegan “fish.”
Stop 4: Yemanja Woodfired Grill — where we tried a spare rib-style vegan entree and mac and cheese; the gluten-free option was a creamy risotto.
D A Y 4
Day four began with terra wave yoga at Manchebo, a fun, surfboard-like practice. We had brunch at Taste of Belgium, which launched a new vegan menu; the gluten-free French toast was a favorite. The restaurant is quaint and offers many waffle choices for vegans and non-vegans.
Later we took a Jeep tour with De Palm Tours that included the Donkey Sanctuary and Arikok National Park. We stopped by San Nicolas, enjoyed drinks served in pineapples from The Little One (a mobile drink and photobooth vehicle), and visited gold mine ruins before returning to the resort to prepare for our final dinner together.
Our last dinner was at the Sunset Grille at the Hilton, where Chef Matt Boland created a special vegan menu. Highlights included a pumpkin soup served in a cactus bowl and a sugar-free cacao and banana mousse dessert.
D A Y 5
Before heading to the airport we tried One Happy Bowl prior to its public opening. We had a savory pancake bowl with vegetable stir-fry and avocado, followed by a sweet pancake roll filled with coconut and pandan known as the Flamingo Pancake. The restaurant is entirely gluten-free and is one of the most Instagram-friendly spots we visited.
At the airport I noticed a Freshii with several vegan options and many vegetarian dishes that can be made vegan. I returned home slightly more tan and definitely fuller. Aruba is not only vegan-friendly but deliciously so — and we barely scratched the surface of what the island has to offer.
Have you been to Aruba? If not, I highly recommend it for sunshine, culture and outstanding vegan food. For updates and more vegan resources in Aruba, visit Vegan Aruba.
CHECK OUT THE VLOG HERE
Love & light,
