Aruba Countryside Tour: California Lighthouse & Aloe Factory

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.70 (647 reviews) 84% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/18

Duration4h

GroupUp to 16

LanguagesEN · ES +1

PickupAt your hotel

Six stops across Aruba's north coast and interior in one guided morning or afternoon

An air-conditioned bus tour of Aruba covering six landmarks—California Lighthouse, Alto Vista Chapel, Oranjestad, Casibari Rock Formation, Aruba Aloe Factory and Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins—with a local guide, hotel or port pickup, and bottled water included. The four-hour route moves at a relaxed pace, stopping long enough at each site to walk, photograph and hear the island's history without the logistics of renting a car or navigating on your own.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Aruba's countryside and landmarks

Visit California Lighthouse
Visit Alto Vista Chapel
Drive through Oranjestad and see authentic houses
Explore Casibari Rock Formation
Tour Aruba Aloe Factory
Visit Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins

The Experience

The tour leaves from your hotel or cruise port with a local guide who speaks English, Spanish or Dutch. California Lighthouse, the tallest structure on the island, sits on a limestone plateau near Arashi Beach on the northwestern coast; it was built between 1914 and 1916 after the British steamship S.S. California sank offshore in 1891. From there the route moves to Alto Vista Chapel, a small Catholic church completed in 1952 on the hills above the north shore, standing on the same ground where a Venezuelan missionary built the original chapel in 1750.

The bus then passes through Oranjestad, the capital, where you'll see colorful streets and authentic Aruban houses, before stopping at Casibari Rock Formation—an enormous tonalite cluster with trails and steps leading to the top for surrounding views. At the Aruba Aloe Factory, the oldest aloe factory globally, you learn about the local plant and its uses. The final stop is Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins on the northern coast, a 19th-century stone structure built in 1872 by the Aruba Island Gold Mining Company to process gold ore extracted from the island—a remnant of the era when mining shaped the island's economy.

The air-conditioned vehicle keeps you comfortable across the four hours, and bottled water is provided throughout. Cruise ship passengers need to supply their ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time at booking so the guide can time your return. Infant seats are available, and the tour suits all fitness levels; children must be accompanied by an adult.

What’s included

Local guide in English, Spanish or Dutch.
air-conditioned bus.
bottled water.
hotel or cruise port pickup and drop-off.
infant seats available upon request.

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats available

Operated by AGW TOURS ARUBA

Is this one for you?Pick this four-hour bus tour if you want to see six distinct landmarks without rushing and still have your afternoon free, or if you're arriving by cruise ship and need a guide who'll time your return to match your ship's departure.