De Palm Island day trip

Flamingos walk the sand on this small coral island off Aruba's south coast, and a regular ticket lets you watch them from a viewing area. Getting close means paying extra for premium seating, a cabana or the flamingo photo package. The ticket covers the short ferry from the terminal past the airport, a lunch buffet of Aruban dishes, a grill in the afternoon, an open bar, snorkel gear with daily guided snorkel tours, unlimited banana-boat rides (age 10 and up), body-drop slides, a kids' waterpark and a splash park. Pickup is included from most of the big Palm Beach and Eagle Beach hotels, and parking at the terminal is free if you drive.

The snorkelling area runs from waist-deep to about 15 feet inside the buoys, with life vests compulsory and blue parrotfish around the coral. The beach is rocky coral rather than soft sand, so bring water shoes (they sell them on the island) and your own towel. The splash park has a 112 cm height minimum and swimmers only. Sea Trek helmet walks and SNUBA cost extra and start at age 8. A standard visit is about six hours.