Noord Trip Overview
Ready for a swashbuckling excursion through paradise? This narrated driving tour of Aruba shows you the island’s most beautiful beaches & dazzling vistas, all while filling you in on the piratical adventures which swept through these crystal-clear waters during piracy’s Golden Age. Soak up some sun while learning about Black Bart, Spanish galleons, & the world-renowned Sir Francis Drake!
Recommended: Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together!
Here’s how it works: Within 30 mins, we’ll send you two things: a unique password & an app. Download the app onto your phone, enter the password, and download the tour. When you arrive, go to the first stop, launch the app, and follow the instructions! Stick to our recommended route and speed limit for the best experience.
NO EXPIRATION — THE TOUR IS AVAILABLE FROM THE MINUTE YOU BOOK UNTIL FOREVER!
This is not an entrance ticket to attractions along the route. Check pandemic rules & opening hours before your visit.
Additional Info
Duration: 2 to 3 hours
Starts: Noord, Aruba
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
Explore Noord Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Noord, Aruba, Aruba
Ready for a swashbuckling excursion through paradise? This narrated driving tour of Aruba shows you the island’s most beautiful beaches & dazzling vistas, all while filling you in on the piratical adventures which swept through these crystal-clear waters during piracy’s Golden Age. Soak up some sun while learning about Black Bart, Spanish galleons, & the world-renowned Sir Francis Drake!
Recommended: Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together!
Here’s how it works: Within 30 mins, we’ll send you two things: a unique password & an app. Download the app onto your phone, enter the password, and download the tour. When you arrive, go to the first stop, launch the app, and follow the instructions! Stick to our recommended route and speed limit for the best experience.
NO EXPIRATION — THE TOUR IS AVAILABLE FROM THE MINUTE YOU BOOK UNTIL FOREVER!
This is not an entrance ticket to attractions along the route. Check pandemic rules & opening hours before your visit.
Stop At: California Lighthouse, Hudishibana 2, Noord Aruba
We begin our tour at the California Lighthouse. It’s not named after the state… it’s named after the S.S. California steamship. Let’s go back in time, to September 23rd, 1891.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Ayo and Casibari Rock Formations, northeast of Hooiberg Aruba
You’ll notice the slightly alien appearance of the rock right away. The Arawak people considered such formations to be sacred sites.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Boca Catalina Beach, Aruba
You’ve probably heard all about pirates burying treasure in coves like this one, but don’t get your hopes up for finding any forgotten pirate treasure. Pirate life moved too fast and ended too soon for long-term investments like that.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Alto Vista Chapel, Noord Aruba
Coming up ahead is the little Alto Vista Chapel. While this version was constructed in 1952, the original dates back to the 18th century. Right at the height of piracy’s golden age.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Casibari Rock Formations, Aruba
Casibari really stands out because so few large rocks remain on Aruba. Most have long ago been crushed and eroded into sand. There may once have been lots more formations like this, but they now make up the island’s many beaches.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins, Spanish Lagoon, Oranjestad Aruba
The Spanish first came to Aruba seeking gold, but they didn’t find anything. Of course, their presence meant that pirates roamed these seas too, looking for the same thing. But they also thought Aruba was deserted.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Donkey Sanctuary Aruba, Bringamosa 2Z, Santa Cruz 11111 Aruba
The donkey industry, of course, pretty much vanished with the invention of the car. Slowly, owners of buricos released them into the wild.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Balashi Gold Mill Ruins, Ao lado da Spanish Lagoon, Oranjestad Aruba
As the other mill we visited enjoyed its golden years, another company built this mine, this time with some slightly better planning.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Hooiberg, Oranjestad Aruba
Hooiberg is a huge rocky formation rising 541 feet above sea level. The name is derived from the Dutch word for haystack. From a distance, you can see why they picked this name hundreds of years ago.
Duration: 10 minutes
