Aruba has been a country I’ve been wanting to visit for a very long time. It seems to be the perfect tropical oasis. Add a few flamingos in the picture and you have yourself paradise. Of course, when booking my trip in June 2023, I had to carve out some time to visit the island’s most famous residents on Flamingo Beach. Before you plan your trip, keep reading to find out everything you need to know about the beach for a stress-free trip and whether it is over hyped or worth visiting.
How to Access Renaissance Island
Contrary to what I thought, don’t expect to see flamingos roaming freely in Aruba. You actually need to travel to Renaissance Island to see them up close and personal. Privately owned by the Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort, the island hosts two beaches – Flamingo Beach and Iguana Beach and can be accessed one of two ways:
- Stay at the Renaissance Hotel
- Buy a day pass for ~ $125 per person
Keep in mind the pros and cons of each option.
Staying at the hotel will be more convenient and less stressful as the hotel only issues about 30 day passes to the public which tend to sell quickly. You can purchase a day pass here – where they go on sale at 7:00 AM and is valid to use the next day.
Hotel guests are allowed to visit the island as many times as they want however staying there may be more costly than a day pass depending on the season. The day pass also includes a drink and lunch.
Hotel guests be aware that you will need to show your room key and wristband to get on the boat.
Children under 12 are allowed free.
To get on the island, head to the hotel lobby next to the Starbucks and wait for the boat that will take you to and from the island. You can access the boat every 15 minutes. The first ride operates at 7:00 AM and ends around 7:00 PM. I recommend accessing the island as early as possible as it may get crowded later in the day.
Overview of the Island
Once you’re on the island you will notice it is divided into two sides: Flamingo Beach (adult side) and Iguana Beach (family side). When I visited, the flamingos were roaming on both sides so keep an eye out for that. I ended up staying by the family side since the birds decided to hang out there.
Both sides are decorated with hammocks and beach chairs. There are also bars and a restaurant on the family side. What makes the island look even more picturesque are the rows of private cabanas that you can rent for the day. The rental comes with 2 bottles of water, fruits, and butler services. I love the over-water hammocks attached to the cabanas. The only downside to the cabanas is the price does not cover drinks or food. You’re pretty much paying for a private area of the island. If you insist on booking a cabana, I highly recommend booking this quickly as they tend to sell out fast. I would also only recommend this if you’re traveling with at-least 3-4 people as the price starts at $425.
Is the island really what it appears on social media? Yes! You have access to the beautiful turquoise waters and white sand. The island is neatly maintained and it’s pure paradise. I only had a chance to visit in the morning but I can only imagine how stunning it looks during sunset.
Approaching the Flamingos
There are only 7 flamingos on the island (contrary to me expecting to see the entire island filled with them). I didn’t mind the small quantity because I visited in the morning when there wasn’t much of a crowd and had plenty of opportunities to feed them and take photos.
The best way to approach the flamingos (and get that famous insta shot) is by food. We found a dispenser holding pellets that will charge you $0.25 for a handful. If you don’t have quarters, you can easily change a dollar at the bar or restaurant. I recommend heading to the island early to have the birds to yourself.
I will say behind my happy photos is me fearing for my life as one particular flamingo did attack me 3 times! Don’t be too alarmed because their peck doesn’t hurt but it can be an element of surprise. I can’t say for sure what triggered them to be defensive but I do recommend when feeding them, keep your hand close and flat.
If you’re still nervous about approaching them, here are a few tips on how to make it less stressful:
- Know that flamingos are naturally nice and calm creatures. You may come across one that is aggressive (like I did) but it’s very rare that they will attack.
- Move slowly around them and respect their personal space. Do not make sharp movements or chase after them. Be calm, cool, and collected but most importantly be patient.
Is the Island worth visiting? Absolutely! It’s a dream come true and an experience to have at least once in your lifetime.
Bonus Tip: If you do not want to visit Renaissance Island, Aruba also offers De Palm Island which offers a water park, food, drinks, and water activities. You will also have access to flamingos although they seem to have whiter hues than the famous pink ones you see in this post. I believe De Palm has more flamingos than Renaissance Island.
I hope you enjoyed this post and found it helpful for your next trip! This is just one activity in Aruba so be sure to check out my travel guide on the island!
We are going to be staying at the riu properties in palm beach. How do we sign up from another hotel to get to the flamingos I personally want to see them and get pics. Do we sign up at the riu or how does this work ?
Hi Dee, Since you’re not staying at the Renaissance Hotel you’ll need to buy a day pass. I put a link in the post to make it easier (pink link).
does someone go behind the flamingos and pick up their poo? Just curious
Haha. Not really sure
This was extremely helpful and a huge time saver I will save this bucket list items for when I can stay on the island when not on a cruise.
Happy to hear you found this helpful!
Is this beach public to people who doesn’t stay at their resort? Thanks
For anyone not staying at the resort, they will need to purchase a day pass in order to gain access. I placed a link in the post.