A small reef island just off Aruba's coast, booked by one group per day: boat over at 9:30 AM, snorkel, kayak, float in a sea-fed saltwater jacuzzi, eat a freshly made local lunch and have the place to yourselves until late afternoon.
- $1,250 for your group of up to 5
- +$200 per extra guest, up to 12
- 7 hours: 9:30 AM – about 4:30 PM · one group per day
Confirmed within 24 hours, or a full refund.
Castaway for a Day is a private island day trip in Aruba for one group at a time. A small boat takes you from a pier a short drive from Oranjestad to a quiet reef island, a crossing of a few minutes. You stay from 9:30 AM until about 4:30 PM, seven hours in all. The price is $1,250 for up to 5 guests, plus $200 for each extra guest, up to 12. Lunch, unlimited soft drinks, snorkel and swim gear, kayaks, hammocks, swings, shaded decks and the use of a sea-fed saltwater jacuzzi are included. You reserve your date online with a $250 deposit and pay the rest in cash on the day.
Check dates See the price for your group
A private island in Aruba, just for your group
Most island days in Aruba are shared: you buy a day pass and spend it alongside everyone else who bought one. This one works the other way round. The island takes a single booking per date, so when you step off the boat, the mangroves, the reef, the hammocks and the jacuzzi are there for your group and nobody else. There is no schedule to follow and no crowd to beat to the best spot.
It is a simple, natural place rather than a resort: a strip of mangrove and coral rubble with a wooden pier, a few colorful shaded decks, hammocks strung between the trees and clear, shallow water all around. Guides who speak English, Spanish and Dutch look after you, prepare lunch and help with the gear, then leave you to enjoy the day at your own pace.
Private island vs a shared day pass
Both are good days out. The difference is who you share the island with and how the day is priced.
| Castaway for a Day | A typical shared day pass | |
|---|---|---|
| Who is on the island | Your group only: one booking per day | Every guest who bought a pass that day |
| Price | One price per group: $1,250 for up to 5 guests, +$200 per extra guest | A price per person |
| Pace | No set program: you decide when to snorkel, eat or rest | Set opening times and activity slots |
| Setting | Natural reef island with mangroves, hammocks and a sea-fed jacuzzi | Often a developed beach with facilities for larger numbers |
| Best for | Couples, families and groups of friends who want privacy | Visitors who prefer lots of facilities and other people around |
For a couple, a shared pass usually costs less. From about four or five guests the group price starts to make sense, and for a family or a group of friends the island becomes the clubhouse for the day.
How the day goes
- 9:15 AM: meet at the pierThe meeting point is a short drive from Oranjestad. The exact spot and a map are in your confirmation email. Plan a taxi or a rental car: there is no public transport nearby.
- 9:30 AM: boat to the islandA small boat takes your group across. The ride takes a few minutes and can be bumpy and splashy when the wind is up.
- Morning: settle in and exploreA short welcome from the guides, then the island is yours: snorkel the reef, paddle a kayak along the mangroves or claim a hammock.
- Midday: a freshly made local lunchLunch is prepared on the island the same day, in the Aruban style. Soft drinks are chilled and unlimited all day.
- Afternoon: slow downFloat in the sea-fed saltwater jacuzzi, swing over the water, read in the shade or swim again.
- About 4:30 PM: back to the pierThe boat brings you back to where you started, relaxed and sun-kissed.
What’s included
- Boat transfer to the island and back
- A freshly prepared local lunch
- Unlimited soft drinks, chilled all day
- Snorkel and swim gear
- Kayaks
- Hammocks and swings
- Use of the sea-fed saltwater jacuzzi
- Shaded decks to relax on
- Guides who speak English, Spanish and Dutch
Drinks and extras
Alcohol is not part of the price. You have two easy options: add the drinks package (beer and cocktails all day) for $75 per guest when you book, or bring your own beer, wine or spirits. There is no corkage fee. Snacks are sold on the island during the day if you get hungry between meals.
Aruba private island price
The price is per group, not per person. $1,250 covers up to 5 guests; each extra guest adds $200, up to 12 guests in total. Online you pay only a $250 deposit plus a booking fee of $9.55 (together $259.55). The deposit stays the same whatever the size of your group: extra guests and the drinks package are added to the cash balance you pay on the day, in US dollars.
| Group | Total price | Online today | Cash on the day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 5 guests | $1,250 | $250 deposit + $9.55 fee | $1,000 |
| 6 guests | $1,450 | $250 deposit + $9.55 fee | $1,200 |
| 8 guests | $1,850 | $250 deposit + $9.55 fee | $1,600 |
| 10 guests | $2,250 | $250 deposit + $9.55 fee | $2,000 |
| 12 guests | $2,650 | $250 deposit + $9.55 fee | $2,400 |
| Drinks package (optional) | +$75 per guest | nothing extra | +$75 per guest |
Example: 4 guests with the drinks package pay $1,250 + 4 × $75 = $1,550 in total: $259.55 online today and $1,300 in cash on the day. The booking form shows your exact numbers before you pay. Cards are not accepted on the island, so bring the balance in cash. Planning for more than 12 guests? Email us and we check what is possible.
Who it’s for
- Couples. A romantic private day in Aruba: a hammock for two, a jacuzzi at the water’s edge and no one else around. A good fit for honeymoons, anniversaries and proposals.
- Families. Children who swim confidently love the kayaks and the shallow reef. There are no infant seats on the boat and the ride can be bumpy, so it suits older kids best.
- Friends and celebrations. A private birthday or bachelorette day in Aruba, with your own drinks and the island to yourselves.
- Small groups. With one price for up to 5 guests and $200 per extra guest, groups of 6 to 12 can find it good value compared with paying per person.
Good to know before you book
- The boat ride can be bumpy and you may get wet with sea spray. Keep phones and cameras in a dry bag.
- The island and the boat are not wheelchair accessible.
- There are no infant seats on the boat.
- The trip is not recommended for guests with back problems or heart conditions.
- The balance is paid in cash, in US dollars. Cards are not accepted on the island.
- One group per day: once a date is booked, it is gone. Booking early gives you the widest choice.
What to bring
- A beach towel
- Reef-safe sunscreen
- Water shoes, for stepping from the boat onto the reef
- The cash balance in US dollars
- Your own beer, wine or spirits if you are not taking the drinks package
- A dry bag for phones and cameras
Booking, date changes and weather
Choose your date and group size below and pay the deposit online. Dates more than 24 hours away are confirmed by email right after you pay, with the exact meeting point and a map. If your date is less than 24 hours away, your booking is a request: we first confirm it with the island, and if we can’t, you get back everything you paid online, booking fee included.
The $250 deposit is non-refundable, but it can be moved to another available date if you ask more than 48 hours before the 9:30 AM departure. Within 48 hours no changes are possible, because the island is prepared for your group days ahead; the same applies to bookings made less than 48 hours before departure. If the sea is too rough to cross safely, or the day has to be cancelled on our side, you choose: a new date or a full refund of everything you paid online, booking fee included. Read the full booking policy.
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Photos of the island
Check dates Questions? Contact us
Private island Aruba: questions and answers
Is it really a private island day?
Yes. The island takes one booking per day, so your group has it to itself from 9:30 AM until about 4:30 PM.
Who is this private island trip for?
Couples who want a romantic day alone, families with children who swim, and groups of friends celebrating a birthday, a bachelorette or a reunion. It is not suitable for wheelchair users, infants who need a seat, or guests with back or heart problems.
How much does the private island cost?
$1,250 for up to 5 guests. Each extra guest is $200, up to 12 guests. You pay a $250 deposit plus a $9.55 booking fee online and the rest in cash, in US dollars, on the day.
How many people can come?
From 1 to 12 guests on one booking. For more than 12, email us and we check what is possible.
Is food included?
Yes. A freshly prepared local lunch and unlimited soft drinks are included. Snacks are sold on the island during the day.
Can we drink alcohol?
Yes. Add the drinks package (beer and cocktails all day) for $75 per guest when you book, or bring your own: there is no corkage fee.
Can children come?
Yes, children are welcome. There are no infant seats on the boat and the crossing can be bumpy, so the day suits children who swim confidently best.
Where do we meet the boat?
At a pier a short drive from Oranjestad. Please be there by 9:15 AM; the boat leaves at 9:30 AM. The exact spot and a map are in your confirmation email.
Can I change my date?
The deposit can be moved to another available date if you ask more than 48 hours before the 9:30 AM departure. Within 48 hours, and for bookings made less than 48 hours before departure, no changes are possible.
What happens if the weather is bad?
If the sea is too rough to cross safely, or the day is cancelled on our side, you choose: a new date or a full refund of everything you paid online, booking fee included.
Is the deposit refundable?
No. The $250 deposit is non-refundable, but it can be moved to another date under the rules above.
What should we bring?
A towel, reef-safe sunscreen, water shoes, a dry bag for your phone and the cash balance in US dollars. Bring your own drinks if you skip the drinks package.
Can I book for tomorrow?
Yes, from tomorrow onward. A booking less than 24 hours before departure is a request until we confirm it by email; if we can’t, you get everything paid online back.
Looking for more time on the water? See our direct bookings for a private boat charter with sea turtles or a clear boat tour, or browse the best tours in Aruba.