Aruba: Glass Bottom Kayak Mangrove Tour & Isla di Oro Stop

4.57

(220 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

Paddling felt weird at first — the glass bottom made it seem like we were floating right over the coral, not in a boat at all. Our guide, Michael, kept pointing out flashes of color below us — parrotfish darting around, a stingray (I almost missed it), and these little clouds of silver fish that scattered if our paddles got too close. The water was so clear you could see every ripple on the sand. At one point I tried to pronounce “Isla di Oro” properly; Michael grinned and said I sounded like his cousin from Rotterdam trying Papiamento for the first time. Fair enough.

The mangroves themselves felt almost secretive — thick roots twisting into the water, everything kind of hushed except for some birds fussing overhead. We couldn’t go through the old tunnels anymore (something about protecting the ecosystem), but drifting along the edge was still peaceful. There was this moment where the sun hit the leaves just right and everything went this wild green color. I remember thinking it smelled half like saltwater, half like something leafy after rain. We stopped on Isla di Oro for a bit; sand stuck to my ankles and there was nobody else around except us and a couple of pelicans eyeing our snack bag.

By the time we reached Mangel Halto Beach my arms were tired in that good way — not sore, just used. The guide handed out slices of watermelon and cold water while we sat under some shade trees. I didn’t expect to feel so relaxed after two miles of kayaking (I’m not exactly sporty), but honestly? I still think about that view through the kayak floor, all those colors shifting underneath us as we drifted back toward shore.