I went to island with ‘world’s most beautiful beach’ – it wasn’t the h | Beach Holidays | Travel

The Caribbean is one of those sun-soaked destinations you always dream about, with those famous white sand beaches and crystal-clear waters.

However as a solo traveller, I was always slightly put off by the prospect of heading to the region on my own, especially given its reputation for being the sort of place where you just spend long days on the beach drinking cocktails and doing not-much-else.

That all changed when I recently took the plunge and headed to Aruba, where I quickly realised that yes, there are plenty of beautiful beaches, but there’s also so much more to see and do than I’d expected.

During my week’s stay I toured rum distilleries, met fantastic local food producers with innovative, sustainable methods – so food and eating was a huge part of the experience.

Foodies take note, Aruba is oozing with absolutely fantastic dining from traditional bakeries, creole restaurants to fantastic, innovative street food and super fancy upscale private dining and bucket list dinners on the beach.

Whatever you fancy, Aruba’s got it in spades with a heap of Caribbean, Dutch and authentic Aruban charm.

My visit in October coincided with the Autentico Culinary Festival, a coming together of local restaurants and chefs with international guests. On the beach at the Ritz Carlton Aruba I dined on a special menu curated by Italian-American chef, Christian Petroni – the setting was exquisite and the food a hyper-local twist on home-cooked Italian food. Dishes included artichoke pie and tiramisu, with a side of one of those Instagram-worthy Caribbean sunsets.

But it was the night-time block party of dozens of streetfood stalls – The Pavilion at Wilhelminastraat – that was just amazing. You could choose from 30 stalls with a mind-blowing standard of food, all just big enough to be satisfying without filling you too much and the prices are a steal – two menu items, one $5 one $10. Think birria tacos, fresh sashimi, shrimp ceviche.

Even outside of the festival, Aruba’s dining scene is buzzing.

Get an authentic breakfast at bakery Huchada where you’ll get pastechi (the Aruban version of a pasty) or if you’re feeling like coffee and trendy brunches, Santo’s Café is close to the seafront and serves up avo toasts, smoothies and salads.

Meanwhile Zeerover’s seafront is a must-visit. They catch fish right in front of the restaurant, weigh it, you pay and they cook it. It could not be more simple and I could not love it any more, it’s exquisite. I tried prawns that were as big as my hands, and a mouthwatering Mahi Mahi which was flaky, soft and substantial to the bite.

For ‘grandma-style’ meals, the Old Cunucu House sits in a 150-year-old building, and plays home to a menu that includes stewed conch, a secret recipe cod dish and goat meat. You can’t really ask for more Aruban than Old Cunucu than if you wash it all down with a cactus flower margarita – which we did.

If you can tear yourself away from the food, head to St Nicolaas’ Art District where murals come at you every turn. There’s a healthy creative community in St Nicolas and every September you’ll find the ARTWEEK a mix of live music and performances, streetfood and art displays. The number of murals in the former industrial town – it soared in popularity after an oil refinery opened in the 1920s – speak to a new era for the neighbourhood. From heavy industry to vibrant art and creativity around every corner with more than 50 murals.

Then of course, the beaches. They are the biggest draw for holidaymakers, and Aruba more than delivers on the promise of a paradise-worthy setting. The beaches are unlike any other I have ever seen. I headed to the likes of Baby Beach and Eagle Beach, both of which truly boasted the most perfect sand I’ve ever set foot in.

In fact, it’s easy to see why Eagle Beach was just recently named one of the most beautiful in the world. This spectacular spot took the fourth spot in Tripadvisor’s ‘Best of the Best’ global rankings for 2026, based off travellers’ reviews. It’s been praised for its “soft white sands, warm waters, and spectacular sunset views” (all of which it most definitely has), as well as the watersports on offer from snorkelling to jet skiing. (If you want to know, Mexico’s Isla Pasion in Cozumel was crowned the overall winner, closely followed by Elafonissi Beach with its pink sands and the picture-perfect Balos Lagoon, both of which can be found in Crete.).

The options of things to do at the beach in Aruba are two-pronged. Either lie in the sun and swim while drinking a cold beer all day, or get out on a paddleboard, kayak, snorkel or canoe – I wouldn’t judge if you picked the former and I would encourage you to do the latter at least once.

It was a surprising treat, too, to learn that my hotel – the Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba – has its own private island also with stunning beaches complete with resident flamingos and the odd pelican and iguana, too. Just a quick boat ride right from the reception of the hotel, these beaches are for the hotel guests only but offer a quieter place to relax and chill out.

Aruba’s convinced me that the Caribbean is more than just pretty beaches – the beautiful landscape, friendly locals and epic food scene make it well worth the 13-hour journey from the UK!

KLM offers daily flights to Aruba from multiple UK airports via Amsterdam. Prices start at £306 per person, one way in October 2026. 

Stays at the Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort start from $465 per night, based on two adults sharing a room.

You can also find more information at aruba.com.