How To Get a Renaissance Island Aruba Day Pass to Flamingo Beach

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One of the most iconic images of Aruba is of Flamingo Beach, where graceful pink birds tiptoe across powder white sand set against turquoise blue water.

For many people, seeing Flamingo Beach on Renaissance Island is one of the top things to do in Aruba.

Here’s everything you need to know about getting a Renaissance Island Aruba Day Pass to see these tropical birds in real life and spend the day in a private luxury cabana on Flamingo or Iguana Beach!

Where is Flamingo Beach Aruba?

Is it worth it to go to Flamingo Beach? Prior to my recent trip to Renaissance Island Aruba (also known as Flamingo Island Aruba), the last time I swam with a bird was in cottage country north of Toronto.

There, my experience was more battle than bucolic.  A Canada Goose chased me out of the water, smashing me with its powerful wings and splattering me with projectile goose poop.

My avian encounter on Flamingo Beach was much more elegant.

During my day at Renaissance Aruba Private Island, a trio of hot pink flamingos tiptoed by, cocking their heads ever so gracefully, as though asking permission to ripple the calm waters circling my lounger.

But swimming with flamingos is just one of the many unique experience guests enjoy on Renaissance Island. There are lots of reasons to spend a blissful day there.

Originally published in 2017, this guide has been extensively updated with the latest information on day passes, costs and insider tips for 2023.  

How to Get to Flamingo Beach on Renaissance Island Aruba

The first thing you need to know is that Renaissance Island Aruba is a private island.  There are no hotels on Renaissance Island itself.

And there’s no bridge to the island. Access is via an 8-minute water taxi ride by yacht from the Renaissance Marina Hotel in Oranjestad, the capital of Aruba.

It’s not possible to buy Renaissance Island tickets.

To get on the water taxi you need to have either a DAY Pass, a spa appointment at Island Cove Spa or be a hotel guest at the Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort

The sister resort to Renaissance Wind Creek Curaçao, this luxury Aruba resort features over 500 rooms in two settings, the family-friendly Renaissance Ocean Suites and adults-only Renaissance Marina Hotel.

Once you arrive you’ll on the private island you’ll have two choices of where to spend the day.

Comprised of two sections, there’s Iguana Beach (for families) and the aptly-named Flamingo Beach (adult-only).

Check prices and availability at Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort on Booking.com. 

Where to Find Flamingos in Aruba

If you’re wondering which beaches in Aruba have flamingos, Renaissance Island is the most famous (although De Palm Island also has flamingos). 

While you can see wild flamingos on Curaçao and colonies of Caribbean flamingos on Bonaire, they’re not native to Aruba.

So you won’t see flocks of wild flamingos on the island.

There are six flamingos on Renaissance Island. They’re captive as their wings have been clipped. So it’s more akin to an open-air zoo than a natural experience.

But they do wander about freely.

Many people (myself included!) believe spending a luxurious day in a cabana on Flamingo Beach to be one of the top things to do in Aruba.

And it’s not just for Instagram photos.

Read on to discover why and how to visit! 

How to Get a Renaissance Island Aruba Day Pass

1. Stay Overnight at Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort

If you have your heart set on visiting Flamingo Island, it’s wise to book an overnight stay at the Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort.

It’s the best way to ensure you’ll have access to the private island.

Hotel guests have free, unlimited access to Renaissance Island. Each person is required to show their room key before boarding the water taxi to the island.

Another advantage of an overnight stay (at either the adults-only Renaissance Marina Hotel or the family-friendly Renaissance Ocean Suites section) is that only hotel guests can upgrade in advance to a private cabana. 

Note that there is a 2-night minimum stay in high season. 

Flamingo Beach is such a popular attraction many people stay at Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba at the beginning (or end) of their Aruba vacation so they can access the private island.

This luxury hotel is conveniently located just 5 minutes by taxi to Queen Beatrix International Airport, Aruba’s international airport. There’s no free airport shuttle.

Check prices and availability at Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort  on Booking.com. 

2. Purchase a Day Pass

It’s important to note that Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort only sells Day Pass tickets if the hotel occupancy is low.

Hotel guests have priority and unlimited access to the private island.

So there is no guarantee that a Day Pass (known as an Island Pass) to the private island will be available to non-overnight hotel guests.

If you’re interested in a Day Pass and are not an overnight hotel guest at the Renaissance, you can purchase an island pass online.

Every Saturday at 9 am, Island Passes are open for booking for the upcoming Monday until Sunday.

Click here to check availability and purchase a Renaissance Island Aruba Day Pass 

There are no guarantees. If day passes are available, they are sold on a first-come, first-served basis.

Online the cost for a day pass starts at $130 USD per person. It includes a food and beverage credit of $25 at Papagayo Bar & Grill or Mangrove Beach Bar.

Children ages 6-12: $62.50 

Children ages 0-5: Free (one free child admission per adult).  

Maximum of 5 tickets per online purchase.  

This price is effective Sept.12, 2023 and subject to change without notice.

Sales are final. So double-check your dates when booking online!

Another option is to check at the hotel’s front desk (Google Map) one day prior to your intended visit to see if Day Passes are available.

3. Book a Spa Treatment at Island Cove Spa

Another way to get a day pass to Renaissance Island is to book a spa treatment at Island Cove Spa.

Okeanos Spa has two locations. One is at the Marina Hotel location on the mainland and the other is at Spa Cove on Renaissance Island.

Only the Island Cove Spa location includes a day pass to Flamingo Beach and Iguana Beach on the island.

Several spa packages are available.

The Seascapes Package includes a 50-minute massage, an all-day pass to Flamingo Island, use of towels and a drink. It’s available for one or two people.

Price for one person is $160 USD. A package including lunch is $180 USD.

Non Renaissance hotel guests pay an extra $25 per person.

Things to Do on Renaissance Island

There are lots of thing to do on Renaissance Island! It’s easy to spend a full day there and not get bored.

Plan to catch the water taxi early in the day. The first boat leaves the dock behind the Renaissance Convention Center at 7 am and every 15 minutes after that.

The last boat leaves Renaissance Island at 6:45pm.

Flamingo Beach and Iguana Beach are two of the best beaches on Aruba. The water here is very calm and clear. There’s no sargassum seaweed to spoil your day.

A top attraction is the opportunity to feed the flamingos. You can purchase special dry food from the machines on the pier.

The birds are quite calm and accustomed to people so will approach you at the water’s edge on Flamingo Beach.

It’s prohibited to touch or chase the flamingos.

But note that Flamingo Beach is the adults-only section. So if you’re visiting with children you’ll be based on Iguana Beach. Click to see a map of the island.

The good news is that between 9 am and 10 am, children can visit Flamingo Beach to commune with the flamingos. Children must be accompanied by an adult and supervised.

But the flamingos are free roaming so you can sometimes also spot them on other parts of the island.

Be sure to make a stop at the water sports booth when you arrive on the island. This is the place to book activities and rent snorkel gear. If you’ve rented a cabana, full-face snorkel masks are included as part of the rental fee.

On the island you can also enjoy a fitness center, tennis courts, kayaking and nature trails. For dining, Papagayo Bar & Grill features a menu with lots of options from crispy calamari to shrimp tacos and burgers.

You can order drinks and cocktails from the Mangrove Beach Bar.

Outside food and beverages, speakers and drones are not allowed on Renaissance Island.

Should You Get a VIP Cabana at Renaissance Island Aruba?

While a full day on Renaissance Island Aruba is swanky enough on its own, you can ramp up the luxury quotient by renting one of the ultra-private oceanfront cabanas.

Note that you need a hotel confirmation number to book your cabana. So, you must book your room at  Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort in advance.

The cabanas are located on both adult-only Flamingo Beach and family-friendly Iguana Beach. These swanky Caribbean overwater, open-air cabins features lounge chairs, seating area, water hammocks and complimentary beverages.

As part of my introduction to #unexpectedAruba on a media visit hosted by the Aruba Tourism Authority, I was invited to check out the VIP beach cabana service.

I loved it so much they practically had to drag me away at the end of the day. It was the perfect way to spend a day in Aruba.

With the sargassum seaweed problem in the Caribbean the opportunity to swim in these  crystal clear waters is a real treat.

These cabanas are ideal for a romantic couples’ escape, luxury splurge, wedding or honeymoon celebration or girls’ getaway on one of the Caribbean’s most beautiful destinations.

Click Here to Check Availability and Book a Private Cabana on Renaissance Island  

Cost of Private Cabana on Flamingo Beach and Iguana Beach

Rental cost starts at $425 USD per day excluding 15% service charge

Rental period 9 am to 7 pm

Amenities: 2 bottles of Voss still water, 2 bottles of Voss sparkling water, bottle of sparkling wine, refreshing tray‐passed bites, Personalized Cabana Server Service, cold towels, 2 water floats, full-face snorkel masks and wifi.

Private cabanas on Iguana Beach include child-sized snorkel masks.

Maximum of 4 people per cabana.

Cost of Deluxe Private Cabana on Flamingo Beach and Iguana Beach 

The Deluxe Private Cabanas are larger than the Standard Cabanas. They all come with private deck and hanging hammock

Rental cost starts at $500 USD per day excluding 15% service charge

Rental period 9 am to 7 pm

Amenities: 2 bottles of Voss still water, 2 bottles of Voss sparkling water, bottle of sparkling wine, refreshing tray‐passed bites.  Personalized Cabana Server Service, cold towels, 2 water floats, full-face snorkel masks and wifi.

Private cabanas on Iguana Beach include child-sized snorkel masks.

Maximum of 6 people per cabana

These private cabanas sell out months in advance so book early. The cabanas on Iguana Beach are slightly more available than those on Flamingo Beach.

Note: Prices vary by season and are subject to change without notice. Advance reservations are mandatory. Check the cancellation policy before booking.

Check prices and availability at Renaissance Wind Creek Resort & Casino on Booking.com. 

During my visit, I spent a blissful afternoon snorkelling with tropical fish, nibbling on fresh fruit dipped in melted chocolate, sipping bubbly and floating beside graceful flamingos.

By the end of the day, I got to thinking that Canada’s most iconic water fowl should take hospitality lessons from their feathered brethren in Aruba.

With a few lessons in avian etiquette, maybe they too could get a beach named after them some day. Although I have to admit, Goose Beach doesn’t have quite the same ring to it as Flamingo Beach.