De Palm Island Day Pass

De Palm Island is Aruba's private all-inclusive day island, a short ferry hop from a dock on the island's southwest coast. One ticket covers the boat, the food, the drinks, and a long list of activities, which makes it an easy, hassle-free plan for families and groups who want everything sorted in advance.

The water is the star. The island's calm, protected shallows are famous for snorkeling with electric-blue parrotfish that come in close, and the included gear means you can be in the water within minutes of arriving. On land and around the shore there are water slides, a zip line, a kids' splash zone, and beach loungers, with unlimited banana-boat rides and optional Sea Trek helmet diving. The lunch buffet runs from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and the open bar runs from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Steady warmth at around 28C keeps the island open and pleasant year-round, though Aruba lies on the southern fringes of the hurricane belt and a passing tropical system can still bring rain and swell. It is a self-contained day out, so once you are there you can relax without thinking about logistics.

What the day pass includes

• Round-trip ferry from the De Palm dock, snorkel gear, and access to the reef shallows.
• Water slides, a zip line, a kids' splash park, and beach loungers.
• Buffet lunch and open bars through the day.
• An easy outing from Oranjestad that pairs well with a stay near Eagle Beach.