A couple of weeks ago I decided to head to Aruba for 5 days. I had some riding to do, the flights were underpriced, and the weather was cooler and less humid than NYC… say less.

While most people associate Aruba with its pristine white beaches and Caribbean waters, I know it for its wind. Famed for its consistent gales, Boca Grandi on the southeast side of the island is ranked as one of the worlds best kitesurfing destinations. My husband would be kiting most days, and rather than spectating, getting pummeled by windswept sand on the beach, I planned on gravel biking and exploring the island on some solo adventures. Here’s how it all unfolded.

BIKE HIRE

I had originally intended to fly with my gravel bike. If you've ever heard me rave about my how much I love my Curve Kevin, you probably know that would normally be my first choice. However, given the amount of kitesurfing gear we would be carrying, I decided to rent instead. Tribike Aruba offered fantastic options, along with a pick up and delivery service. For $40 a day, I opted for a Trek Checkpoint ALR 5. All I needed to bring were my pedals, a bike computer mount, and a helmet, and I was ready to hit the road.

ROUTES

The guys at Tribike Aruba also offer fantastic routes on their site categorized by types of riding. They even offer guided tours for those who prefer exploring with someone familiar with the local roads. I initially overlooked this option and turned to Strava to explore popular routes, which led me to discover some really fun roads and trails for all types of riding. Here are a few highlights that caught my attention.

1. There’s really good road biking infrastructure in Aruba - route example. Much to my surprise on the northwest side of the island there are stunning dedicated bike lanes with new asphalt completely separated and protected from the roads. If there’s not a dedicated bike lane, you’ll often find wide shoulders, these can be gravel though. Drivers are also largely very courteous and give a good amount of space when overtaking cyclists. 

2. Aruba is a gravel dream - favorite route example. I felt like a kid in a candy shop exploring the diverse terrains available: from smooth champagne gravel to chunky loose gravel, challenging corrugations, and even stretches of sand (manageable on a gravel bike). There were also excellent mountain biking trails with technical rocky terrain. If you decide to tackle this route, proceed with caution. Since I was exploring, expect some imperfections in the mapping. Also, make sure you have an entry pass for Arikok National Park, although mine wasn't checked. The National Park was where I had the most fun—no cars, only emergency vehicles allowed. Real solo adventure riding flanked by cacti and thorny landscapes. Riding with goats, lizards, and your wits to make sure you don’t do anything silly, since cell service to call for a rescue is scarce. If you head into the National Park, particularly if it’s your first time, I’d recommend doing it with a pal so you’re not solo. 

3. There’s been big investments in MTB trails - route example. I realized this when I was exploring by car. Behind the gold mine ranch on the northeast of the island, there are some really fun designated MTB trails. I’ll no doubt be back to explore them on another trip.  

ADVICE

As I ventured around the island solo, I mentally compiled a list of tips for those keen on exploring Aruba by bike. Here's a breakdown of my thoughts in listicle format:

1. The sun is intense! Being relatively close to the equator, take your SPF seriously. The days I rode I was wearing SPF 50 sunscreen, there was cloud cover, and I was out there for no more than 3 hours. Despite all of this, I developed a bad heat rash on the tops of my arms which were most exposed while riding. Next time I’ll be packing UV arm sleeves to protect myself better.

2. Hydration. On the note of intense sun, make sure you’re carrying enough water on you. Some of the trails can get pretty remote and you don’t want to come up short. My preferred method is a hydration pack, easy to drink from on technical trails, plus you can carry a good volume. 

3. Tubeless is the best option. Don’t bother going tubed here. Most roads are lined with thorns and cacti, your best bet is to avoid tubed tires altogether.

4. Dogs. I love dogs, and the dogs of Aruba are ridiculously cute, but when they travel in packs, they’re territorial. While exploring gravel roads, it's common to encounter dogs that may chase you. Dealing with one or two usually involves asserting yourself with a firm "back off!" which they often respect. However, if there are more than two, you'll need to strategize. Based on my experience, if you spot them early enough, consider rerouting to avoid the situation altogether. Before I learned this, I did unfortunately roll into a dog hangout and was chased for quite some time on gravel roads. That wasn’t fun, yelling didn’t deter them, and the gravel was too technical to reach for my bottle to squirt them. Riding fast was my only option, and they eventually backed off. Cell service can be very patchy and you don’t want to get yourself into an emergency situation, so if you can avoid dogs while riding, do.

5. Wind. I mentioned earlier that Aruba is ranked as one of the worlds best kitesurfing destinations, there's a reason for that. Expect prevailing winds from East to West and consider that when route planning so you’re not battling headwinds when you’re exhausted. 

6. Cell service. As mentioned, this can often be limited. Make sure to download offline maps and preload your routes on your bike computer before heading out. Since you'll be discovering some truly breathtaking spots, my pro pro pro tip is to pin locations that pique your interest on Google Maps as you ride so that you can find them and visit them later. I love exploring this way, I’ve discovered so many gems through pinning spots as I ride.

7. Accommodation. I rented an inexpensive Airbnb for this trip with an outdoor pool and was very happy with my choice. There’s nothing quite like finishing a ride and walking kit on straight into your own outdoor shower, and then slamming a coke or ice pop in your private pool. 

This was my first time riding in Aruba and I’ll most certainly be back. I hope these notes serve as a helpful starting point for anyone looking to explore the island on two wheels. I know there's plenty more to discover, so if you have any valuable advice or favorite routes for riding in Aruba, feel free to drop a comment below!