St Lucia vs Aruba: An Honest Comparison [2023] To Help You Choose!

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If you’re looking for turquoise waters, fantastic beaches, and that laid-back Caribbean vibe, then St Lucia and Aruba are the answer.

However St Lucia and Aruba may surprise you with just how different they are…

For example, if your priority is beaches then Aruba will likely be the best choice. After all, Aruba has better swimming waters and more soft white sand beaches than St Lucia.

But if you’re looking for a holiday which encompasses a bit of adventure, as well as sun, sea, and sand, then St Lucia with its lush scenery and wild landscape will be perfect.

However that’s just the beginning when it comes to how different these two islands are…

Luckily after visiting both, we compare them below, and show you what each has to offer.

We look at which has the better beaches, nightlife, what activities you can do in each, how the vibe compares, and more. All so you can make the best vacation decision!

Aruba vs St Lucia: A Quick Overview & Comparison

For tourists looking to sunbathe and swim, both Aruba and St Lucia offer fantastic turquoise swimming waters.

St Lucia is bigger though, possessing 98 miles of coastline compared to smaller Aruba’s 43 miles.

When it comes to beaches, both islands have great choices.

However Aruba has many iconic white sand beaches – making it the picture-perfect image of the Caribbean. St Lucia has far fewer, and in general the water isn’t as clear there compared to Aruba.

So if breathtaking beaches are one of the main factors when deciding between St Lucia vs Aruba, then Aruba is the better choice.

The scenery in both countries is very different too.

Aruba is mostly flat and there’s little forest and greenery inland. St Lucia, on the other hand, is a volcanic island with a lush mountainous inland made up of 19,000 acres of rainforest. That opens up many opportunities for walking, jungle trekking, wildlife spotting and exploring.

However a big advantage to Aruba is the fact it lies outside of the hurricane belt, so you can expect great weather year-round. In contrast St Lucia has been hit by hurricanes in the past.

Below we look at some of the natural sights and spots you will encounter in both, before comparing what to expect culturally in each country.

Which Has The Better Beaches & Natural Scenery?

St Lucia: Beaches & Scenery

Although St Lucia has some excellent beaches, this Caribbean paradise is a place to enjoy all aspects of nature. It’s rugged, lush, and dramatic, and is perfect for the sun-seeker who wants some adventure too.

It’s an island that feels more cut off from the rest of the world than Aruba too, with its winding roads and quaint villages.

But for great beaches, head to Rodney Bay where you can find Reduit Beach. This is one of the longest strips of sand on the whole of St Lucia. The golden sand, set against lush green hilly vegetation and the Caribbean Sea, makes it a perfect spot to relax.

If you’re looking for white sand, then Anse des Pitons is the place to go.

St Lucia is also home to incredible coral reefs which are teeming with life. For one of the best snorkeling spots in the Caribbean, head to Anse Chastanet.

Not only is the snorkeling world class here, the backdrop of mountains against the beach is spectacular. This dive map shows the best spots on the island.

But the real beauty of St Lucia lies away from the coastline. The phenomenal Pitons – a volcanic mountain range – rise up against the backdrop of blue near the town of Soufrière.

This majestic must-visit World Heritage Site is a great place for hiking and jungle treks – many of which lead to waterfalls. There’s also a cable car that provides a view of the jungle from the canopy top. It’s pretty special.

The Pitons have more to offer than hiking too. They’re home to the world’s only ‘drive-in volcano’. There you can drive to Soufriere Volcano and experience the sights and smells of this dormant monster. Don’t forget to take a dip in the mud baths on the slopes before you leave!

Activities such as bathing in volcanic mud & hiking jungle trails are exactly why St Lucia is perfect for travelers looking for some adventure!

Aruba: Beaches & Scenery

Aruba is much more suited to those looking for sun, sea and sand, rather than adventure.

For a fantastic swimming spot, and a long stretch of white sand, then head to Eagle Beach in the island’s north. It’s the picture perfect image of a Caribbean coastline.

Palm Beach is another very popular spot and fantastic beach with lots of water sport activities.

However what really makes Aruba stand out in the Caribbean is the colorful sealife you can see when snorkeling and diving here, as well as the many exciting shipwrecks you can explore.

Head to the western side of the island to see numerous colorful reef fish, and swim with sea turtles. A great underwater camera – such as this one – is a must.

Malmok Beach is another great beach and snorkeling spot. The water is exceptionally clear – almost glass-like. In fact it’s possible to even see the 400-foot SS Antilla – now a haven for sealife – from the surface. And that’s despite the shipwreck being on the seabed.

Another wonderful spot for wildlife is De Palm Island, a small private island off the coast of Aruba. It’s home to a friendly flock of flamingos!

Unlike St Lucia you won’t find many hiking opportunities or many activities inland. However if you’re looking for beach-based activities then Aruba will be perfect.

It also happens to be a very easy island to get around, whereas St Lucia tends to be more difficult to navigate.

Which Has The Better Culture & Cultural Excursions?

Along with the natural scenery on offer, both Aruba and St Lucia have a wealth of attractions and cultural experiences worth checking out.

Both have a Caribbean feel to them although Aruba does have a bit of an ‘Americanzed’ vibe in the tourists hotspots as a result of its large tourist sector.

However the result of that is Aruba has lots of tourist-orientated restaurants, shopping, and a lively nightlife.

Below we look at the cultural highlights in each island, so you can see which destination may suit you best!

St Lucia: The Culture

St Lucia is a melting pot of cultures, most heavily influenced by African, French and English traditions. And the colorful homes on the island are indicative of the vibrant Kreole culture that has emerged from that mix.

As a country that was fought over for years by colonial powers, St Lucia is home to countless relics.

In the north-west, Pigeon Island National Park has to be visited, and is home to many colonial relics left over from when the French and British battled it out for St Lucia.

Staying in the colonial period, head to Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens in Soufrière. Tropical plants and gorgeous colors are everywhere in this garden that’s set on an estate from the 18th century.

For something more local, modern, and lively, then you must join in the Gros Islet Jump Up.

This street party is full of food, good conversation between locals (and tourists!), and dancing to Caribbean music. It happens every Friday night. The Jump Up is a good example of St Lucia nightlife. It’s laid-back, local, and fun.

Aruba: The Culture

Although officially part of the Netherlands, Aruba has been under Spanish and British control in recent centuries, and all of that has left a mark on the island.

There was a small gold boom in the 19th century, and the ruins from that can be toured.

The old gold smelters, Bushiribana and Balashi, are outside of Aruba’s capital Oranjestad and give an interesting insight into the dash for Aruban gold.

Staying near the capital, the Butterfly Farm is well worth visiting. This is an opportunity to step into a lush forested area and enjoy the colors of thousands of exotic butterflies above your head.

Apart from the beaches, what Aruba is really known for however is it’s nightlife! All major hotel resorts have casinos that are popular when the sun goes down, and Oranjestad has a fun nightlife and shopping scene. That makes Aruba a great place for sunbathing followed by evening cocktails and dancing!

Where To Stay According To Your Budget

A Taste Of The Caribbean: How Does The Cuisine Compare?

Both islands will provide a treat for your taste buds, with cuisine focused around seafood.

St Lucia: The Food

Seafood is a big part of St Lucian cuisine, but in particular shellfish and lobster are favorites here.

When visiting St Lucia, eating freshly caught lobster and lambi (conch) is a must. It’s going to taste great whether from a restaurant or a street vendor.

For a traditional appetizer or side, then baked plantain is the way to go. This is St Lucia’s version of French Fries.

For a very local experience, the quaint fishing village of Anse La Raye is for you.

Every Friday night this tiny village hosts the ‘Fish Fry’ where street vendors sell grilled and fried fish, lobsters, and much more – all with drinks flowing and music playing!

Aruba: The Food

Aruban cuisine is a mix of Caribbean, Dutch, and Latin American influences, which as you can probably guess makes it a pretty good place to visit as a foodie!

Keshi Yena is regarded as the national dish of Aruba. This large ball of cheese is stuffed with chicken (but sometimes other types of meat too), and is a real comfort food.

Trying out the seafood is, of course, an absolute must. Common freshly caught fish here includes mahi-mahi, grouper and lionfish.

Our recommendation is to try out the prawn starters that appear on menus up and down the island. Freshly caught and often cooked with coconut water, they’re a real treat for the taste buds.

For desert, you must try Pan Bollo. This traditional Aruban delicacy is bread pudding often served with rum (what else!) and ice cream. It’s delicious.

St Lucia vs Aruba: Which Is The Better Choice?

Both are great choices, and if you have the time and money, each is worth visiting.

However if the priority is beaches, then Aruba is the best choice. Aruba has better swimming waters and more soft white sand beaches. It also has a more lively nightlife scene than St Lucia.

But if you’re looking for a holiday which encompasses a bit of adventure, as well as sun, sea, and sand, then St Lucia with it’s lush scenery and wild landscape would be perfect.

However this laid-back island can be difficult at times to move around.

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