Aruba UTV Tour: Philip's Animal Garden & North Coast Landmarks

Aruba's Rougher Side: UTV, Cliffs & 200 Rescued Animals

You ride a UTV across Aruba's northeast coast, stopping at Philip's Animal Garden to feed rescued animals, then push through a string of landmarks (cliffs, ruins, beaches including a black-sand one, and natural rock bridges) with a local guide explaining the history and geology as you go. Hotel pickup and entry to Philip's Animal Garden are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Philip's Animal Garden20m · entry included
2. Alto Vista Chapel15m
3. Andicuri Beach30m

Explore Aruba's Northcoast highlights

• Visit Philip's Animal Garden
• Stop at Alto Vista Chapel
• See the Natural Baby Bridge
• Explore Wariruri Beach
• Visit Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins
• Stop at Andicuri Beach
• View the Three Bridges Tripod Bridge
• Relax at Black Stone Beach

The experience

The engine rumbles to life and you're rolling out in a UTV, heading straight for Aruba's northeast coast where the island stops looking postcard-smooth and starts looking real. This isn't a bus tour. You're driving yourself or riding shotgun on dirt tracks that cut past limestone cliffs, a black-sand beach, and wind-carved rock formations that the tour guide will explain as you go. The route takes you to Philip's Animal Garden first, a rescue habitat in the hills of Alto Vista where over 200 exotic animals live, and you'll walk through the grounds feeding and interacting with them.

After the animals and a stop at Alto Vista Chapel, the UTV tour heads for the coast: the Baby Natural Bridge, a 25-foot limestone span carved by years of pounding surf, then Wariruri Beach with its massive trade-wind waves and the Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins, black stone remnants from the 1800s sitting by the sea. Your guide handles the history: the chapel at Alto Vista built in 1952, the shipwrecks that scattered treasure along these shores, why the rocks at Ayo Formation still carry Arawak paintings. You're not just passing through. You're stopping long enough to walk, photograph, and absorb each place. The Cave Pool stop (currently closed for inspection) would have been the centerpiece (a natural pool fed by a mountain waterfall where you'd jump off rock ledges into 27°C water), but even without it, the itinerary covers Shark Bay, Andicuri Beach, the Three Bridges formation and Black Stone Beach, each one a different texture of Aruba's wild side.

You're moving between stops the whole time, so it's not a leisurely pace. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, your guide is local and carries the stories, and you get a bandana, bottled water, and entry fees to the animal garden plus a feeding bag. The physical demand is real. You're climbing in and out of a UTV, walking uneven terrain, and the ride itself can be rough if you have back issues. But if you want to see Aruba beyond the resort strip without renting a car and figuring out the roads yourself, this is the shortcut.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off, a professional local tour guide, entrance fees to Philip's Animal Garden with a feeding bag for the animals, bottled water, and a bandana. You'll visit Philip's Animal Garden, Alto Vista Chapel, the Baby Natural Bridge, Wariruri Beach, Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins, Shark Bay Beach, Andicuri Beach, the Three Bridges formation, Black Stone Beach, and Ayo Rock Formations, with stops for walking, photography, and swimming where conditions allow.

Options for this experience

4 options

Two-Seater UTV VehicleGuide in English, Spanish or Dutch · 09:00 and 14:30Seats two side by side, facing forward as in a car. The off-road terrain is dusty, so moderate fitness is advised. Requirements: the driver must be 18 or older and hold a valid driver's license (digital or physical); riders must be at least 4 years old for the Two-Seater UTV. Activities: ride an ATV/UTV to 10 iconic stops along Aruba's North Coast, swim at Andicuri Beach, and feed animals at Philip's Animal Garden. Duration: 4 hours. Included: free pickup and drop-off at most hotels, the Aruba Cruise Port, and Airbnbs; see the Meeting and Pickup section for details. Also included: free entry to Philip's Animal Garden, a feeding bag, a bandana, bottled water, and an expert local tour guide. Excluded: gratuities, goggles, breakfast, lunch, and alcoholic beverages. What to wear and bring: casual clothing, closed-toe or water shoes, and a hat; wear your swimsuit underneath. See Additional Info for the full list. Pickup is included.

Three-Seater UTV VehicleGuide in English, Spanish or Dutch · 09:00 and 14:30Seats three side by side (driver plus two riders). The off-road terrain is dusty, so moderate fitness is advised. Requirements: the driver must be 18 or older and hold a valid driver's license (digital or physical); riders must be at least 4 years old for the Three-Seater UTV. Activities: ride an ATV/UTV to 10 iconic stops along Aruba's North Coast, swim at Andicuri Beach, and feed animals at Philip's Animal Garden. Duration: 4 hours. Included: free pickup and drop-off at most hotels, the Aruba Cruise Port, and Airbnbs; see the Meeting and Pickup section for details. Also included: free entry to Philip's Animal Garden, a feeding bag, a bandana, bottled water, and an expert local tour guide. Excluded: gratuities, goggles, breakfast, lunch, and alcoholic beverages. What to wear and bring: casual clothing, closed-toe or water shoes, and a hat; wear your swimsuit underneath. See Additional Info for the full list. Pickup is included.

Four-Seater UTV VehicleGuide in English, Spanish or Dutch · 09:00 and 14:30Seats four side by side (driver plus three riders). The off-road terrain is dusty, so moderate fitness is advised. Requirements: the driver must be 18 or older and hold a valid driver's license (digital or physical); riders must be at least 4 years old for the Four-Seater UTV. Activities: ride an ATV/UTV to 10 iconic stops along Aruba's North Coast, swim at Andicuri Beach, and feed animals at Philip's Animal Garden. Duration: 4 hours. Included: free entry to Philip's Animal Garden, a feeding bag, a bandana, bottled water, and an expert local tour guide. Excluded: gratuities, goggles, breakfast, lunch, and alcoholic beverages. What to wear and bring: casual clothing, closed-toe or water shoes, and a hat; wear your swimsuit underneath. See Additional Info for the full list. Pickup is included.

Five-Seater UTV VehicleGuide in English, Spanish or Dutch · 09:00 and 14:30Seats five side by side (driver plus four riders). The off-road terrain is dusty, so moderate fitness is advised. Requirements: the driver must be 18 or older and hold a valid driver's license (digital or physical); riders must be at least 4 years old for the Five-Seater UTV. Activities: ride an ATV/UTV to 10 iconic stops along Aruba's North Coast, swim at Andicuri Beach, and feed animals at Philip's Animal Garden. Duration: 4 hours. Included: free pickup and drop-off at most hotels, the Aruba Cruise Port, and Airbnbs; see the Meeting and Pickup section for details. Also included: free entry to Philip's Animal Garden, a feeding bag, a bandana, bottled water, and an expert local tour guide. Excluded: gratuities, goggles, breakfast, lunch, and alcoholic beverages. What to wear and bring: casual clothing, closed-toe or water shoes, and a hat; wear your swimsuit underneath. See Additional Info for the full list. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00 and 14:30

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (4 and older) · Under 4: can't be booked

GroupUp to 50

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Dutch

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Around Aruba Tours

Is this one for you?This tour suits travelers who want to see Aruba's rugged northeast coast and wildlife without arranging their own transport or navigating unfamiliar roads: the UTV and guide handle both, leaving you free to focus on the stops themselves. It requires moderate fitness and comfort with bumpy terrain.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Dutch.

Is the Cave Pool cliff jumping still part of the tour?

Not for now: the Cave Pool stop is currently closed for inspection.

Do I have to drive the UTV myself?

No. You can ride as a passenger. To drive, you need to be at least 18 and carry a valid driver's license.

What's included in the price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, professional guide, entry to Philip's Animal Garden with a feeding bag, bottled water, and a bandana.

Is this tour suitable if I have back or heart problems?

The tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health. The UTV ride is bumpy and the pace includes walking on uneven terrain.

Can pregnant travelers go?

No, the tour is not recommended for pregnant travelers.

What should I bring?

A camera for the coastal stops, a valid driver's license if you plan to drive, and swimwear if you want to swim at Andicuri Beach.