Aruba Donkey Sanctuary

The Aruba Donkey Sanctuary is a heart-warming, volunteer-run refuge in the dry countryside near Santa Cruz, dedicated to caring for the island's donkeys. Donkeys were brought to Aruba centuries ago as working animals, and as cars took over many were left to roam wild, where they faced traffic and hardship. The sanctuary took them in, and today it shelters a herd of friendly, well-cared-for animals.

Visitors are welcome to walk among the donkeys, feed and pet them, and learn their stories from the volunteers who run the place. The animals are gentle and used to people, which makes the sanctuary a favourite with children and a feel-good stop on any island tour. Carrots and apples are usually sold on site to feed them.

A charitable visit

The sanctuary is a non-profit that relies on donations and volunteers to keep going, so a visit directly supports its work. It is a relaxed, unhurried place set among the cactus and scrub of the interior, away from the resort areas around Palm Beach.

• Entry is free, but donations are warmly welcomed and fund the animals' care.
• Buy the carrots and apples sold on site to feed the donkeys.

Go in the morning when the donkeys are most active and the heat is gentler, bring small cash for a donation and feed, and follow the volunteers' guidance around the animals.