Help Tours! Follow up question - arubalisa?

[sgriff17]

Or anyone who can help ...... :)

 

I want to do a tour on our own and my wife seems to think there are some things that we won't be able to drive too (without doing it on a tour).

 

What - if any - of these can we NOT get to on our own? I don't mind doing guided tours, but I feel like if we can do these all on our own then it would be better AND cheaper.

 

California Lighthouse, Wish Garden, Chapel of Alto Vista, Shark's Mouth, Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins, Ostrich Farm, Natural Bridge, Arikok National Park, Indian Caves, San Nicolas and Swimming and snorkeling at the famous Natural Pool and Baby Beach.

[sgriff17]

Please note: we will NOT have a 4X4 car though....we will have a compact car of some kind.

[Arubalisa]

All of those sights on your list can be reached in any sort of car. If however you plan on driving OFF of the beaten dirt path when you are in the National Park, say, onto the sand dunes (really frowned upon by the park's rangers anyway), or IF the island has been unusually rainy (the dirt paths get mucky) you will have no problems whatsoever. Below with the donkey, you will see what the typical dirt road through Arikok consists of. Pretty hard packed from all the vehicles.

 

A 4 x 4 is really only needed if you are going to the Natural Pool, which IMHO, is not worth seeing if you are in Aruba only for the day. It takes too much time to get there and back.

 

Also may I suggest the donkey sanctuary http://www.arubandonkey.org/ in lieu of the Ostrich Farm? Our family, including our 10 year old thought the Ostrich Farm, which charges an admission fee, was not much more than a "tourist trap". The donkey sanctuary is free but does accept donations. You may see one of the packs of wild donkeys while you are driving. One is usually located near the Alto Vista Chapel/Natural Bridge Area and the other is near the Tunnel of Love and other caves (basically that end of Arikok National Park).

The fellow below came right up to our vehicle:

[Arubalisa]

sgriff17, just went back and re-read your post. I didn't realize that you will be on a land vacation on the island. Please feel free to email me any questions you may have.

[sgriff17]

Thanks for the reply! Know of any good horseback riding tours that include the Natural Pool?

[Arubalisa]

I have no first hand experience with regards to horsebacking riding tours. Dh is allergic (and never told me until he couldn't breath while taking a sleigh ride in Amish Country in PA. :mad: ), so avoid them.

 

I have been researching for my niece for when we are on the island in December and this is the most highly recommended-- Rancho Notorious http://www.ranchonotorious.com/ BUT, from what I can see, they do not offer Natural Pool, only by ATV

 

Rancho Daimairi http://www.visitaruba.com/ranchodaimari/#rancho & Rancho del Campo http://www.ranchodelcampo.com/ both offer Natural Pool Stops

 

Gold Mine Ranch http://www.thegoldmineranch.com/ not sure if they stop there or not