Aruba: Animal Sanctuary Tour with Ostrich, Donkey & Pickup

Summary

Feed ostriches, greet donkeys and wander Philip’s Animal Garden in Aruba

You’ll get right up close with Aruba’s biggest birds at the Ostrich Farm, share a laugh (and maybe a snack) with rescued donkeys at their sanctuary, and wander among parrots and capybaras at Philip’s Animal Garden — all with a local guide and easy hotel pickup included. Expect dusty shoes and maybe a new favorite animal by day’s end.

What’s the experience like?

Li was already laughing before we even got out of the van at the Aruba Ostrich Farm — something about the way those big birds eyed us like we were late for breakfast. You can actually feel the sandy breeze through the open sheds, and there’s this dry, grassy smell that sticks to your shoes. Our guide (I think her name was Maritza?) handed me a bowl of pellets and said, “Don’t flinch.” Of course I flinched. Ostriches are huge up close, their beaks faster than you’d guess. I tried to say “hello” in Papiamento but mostly got pecked at. Still, watching them strut around under that bright sky felt oddly calming.

The donkey sanctuary was next — you hear them before you see them. Braying from behind the fence, then a volunteer waving us in with a big grin. She told us how donkeys were once everywhere on Aruba until cars took over (makes sense if you’ve seen island traffic). There’s something gentle about these animals; one nuzzled my hand so hard I nearly dropped my water bottle. The place is run by volunteers and it shows — everyone seemed to know each donkey by name. The kids in our group just sat right down in the dirt with them.

I didn’t expect Philip’s Animal Garden to be so lively — parrots shouting over each other, goats climbing anything they could find. Philip himself was there that day, talking about how he started rescuing animals years ago. He let us feed a capybara (surprisingly soft nose), and pointed out a rescued iguana sunning itself like royalty. It’s not a fancy place but it feels real — lots of stories behind every cage or pen if you ask around. By the time we piled back into the van for hotel drop-off, I realized I’d stopped checking my phone hours ago. That doesn’t happen much anymore.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Visit Aruba animal sanctuaries

• Tour Aruba Ostrich Farm
• Visit Donkey Sanctuary
• Explore Philip's Animal Garden
• Hotel drop-off

Top questions

How long is the Aruba animal sanctuary tour?

The tour lasts about half a day including travel between stops.

Is hotel pickup included in this Aruba animal tour?

Yes, hotel or port pickup and drop-off are included.

What animals will I see on this tour?

You’ll meet ostriches, emus, donkeys, parrots, goats, capybaras and more than 50 species at Philip's Animal Garden.

Are entry fees included for all sanctuaries?

Yes, admission to all attractions is included in your booking.

Is this tour suitable for children?

Yes, it’s family-friendly; children must be accompanied by an adult.

Can infants join the animal sanctuary tour?

Infants are welcome but must sit on an adult's lap or use a stroller or infant seat.

Will there be a guide during the tour?

A professional local guide leads the entire experience.

Does part of my fee support animal welfare?

Yes, part of your payment goes directly to supporting these animal sanctuaries.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel or port pickup and drop-off, bottled water to keep you cool under the Aruban sun, all entry fees for each sanctuary visited along the route — plus your own local guide who knows every shortcut and story worth sharing as you go from ostriches to donkeys to Philip’s Animal Garden before heading back home again.