Free shore excursion

[SRch]

Our online travel agent  along withDistinctive  voyages sent an email saying they have booked us a free shore excursion in Aruba called Aruba highlight with lunch. It includes aloe Vera factory, casibari rock formation, bbq lunch at an ostrich farm, alto vista chapel, and California lighthouse 5 hours bus trip.  Has anyone done anything like this? Are these places worth visiting? I was planning to go to the beach and haven’t done a bus tour shore excursion in many years.

[Hatteras51]

They are all good, interesting stops, but if you have your heart set on going to the beach,  you might want to skip it. Aruba's beaches are rated some of the best in the world,  and you can get to them easily by bus or taxi. If you have a lot of time, you might consider going to the beach after the tour.

[SRch]

On 11/7/2023 at 12:00 PM, Hatteras51 said:

They are all good, interesting stops, but if you have your heart set on going to the beach,  you might want to skip it. Aruba's beaches are rated some of the best in the world,  and you can get to them easily by bus or taxi. If you have a lot of time, you might consider going to the beach after the tour.

Thank you for responding! Seems a shame to not go on a free excursion. We will see!

 

[dkcmb1981]

Any chance you have time for both ?

 

[mitsugirly]

We have been to all of these except the Aloe Vera Factory. The Alto church, casibari rock and lighthouse would be quick stops IMO (unless they are offering walking up to the top of the lighthouse). The ostrich farm is neat but you said you were stopping there for lunch...not sure if you are going to view the grounds/tour with them. I would think the Aloe factory would probably be what takes up most of your time on this tour because they are probably explaining how it is harvested and made. 

 

I have pictures of these places when we went if you are interested in seeing them to help make a decision. ARUBA

OSTRICH FARM

ALTO VISTA CHAPEL

Casibari Rocks

CALIFORNIA LIGHTHOUSE

 

BEACHES

[Arubamoose]

I would say go on the tour, especially if you haven't been to Aruba before.

We go every year as we have timeshare there and can say those stops are interesting.

Most cruise lines do a long stop in Aruba and leave late.  You could possibly go to a close by beach after your tour.