These Programs Allow You To Give Back When Visiting Aruba

by Mia Taylor
Last updated: 2:10 PM ET, Fri May 24, 2024

While voluntourism is not exactly a new concept in the travel industry, it is an approach to exploring the world that continues to have value.

Making a difference and giving back as a traveler, particularly as the planet faces myriad challenges, is an important effort.

For travelers whose plans include the popular Caribbean destination of Aruba, there are many ways to engage in voluntourism and create a more meaningful travel experience.

From beach clean-ups to making donations to local non-profit organizations, there are many options, often made available through local hotels and resorts. Here’s a guide to hotels that offer programs for visitors to give back when visiting Aruba.

vacation, spring break, luxury, resort, pool, aruba, international, island, carribean

Embassy Suites by Hilton Aruba Resort

When travelers book a meeting, event or wedding at Embassy Suites by Hilton Aruba Resort, they are presented with the opportunity to donate to one of three impactful organizations:

Casa Cuna: This organization provides a safe haven for children age 8 and under who have experienced neglect, abuse or other difficult circumstances.

Luna Foundation: Committed to improving the lives of Aruba's street dogs and strays, Luna Foundation offers shelter, medical care and adoption services to these beloved animals.

Ban Uni Man Pa Cria Nos Muchanan: This organization ensures that disadvantaged children in Aruba receive a nutritious breakfast to start the day.

Boardwalk Boutique Hotel Aruba

Boardwalk Boutique Hotel Aruba encourages guests to participate in their Do-Good Program, which is intended to inspire guests to contribute to the local community and environment in Aruba.

The available initiatives include:

Walk, Adopt or Transport a Stray: Guests can help facilitate the adoption of stray dogs by signing up to volunteer or by even adopting a dog. 

Beach Clean-up: The hotel hosts a #Boardwalkbucketchallange where guests are encouraged to take a bucket from the hotel’s bucket station and fill it up with trash gathered from the beach. Guests are also asked to take a picture of their bucket and share it on social media using hashtag #Boardwalkbucketchallange.

From the Sand Bar, Bucuti & Tara in Aruba

Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort, Aruba

Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort, Aruba features a variety of voluntourism opportunities, including:

Monthly Beach Clean-up: Each month, Bucuti & Tara's guests are invited to team up with Bucuti associates for its traditional beach clean-up. The volunteer initiative brings together participants for a focused cause of keeping the beach pristine and free of debris that can negatively impact endangered Leatherback sea turtles, flora, and fauna on land, and marine life just off the coast.  

The Bucuti Tara - GMC Nature Preserve: The Bucuti Tara - GMC Nature Preserve is a protected 30-acre green space. Hotel guests are invited to join resort staff and community members in supporting the island's reforesting non-profit Ban Lanta y Planta. As part of this project, guests help with a planting effort that’s designed to reforest the area. To date, more than 700 trees have been planted.  

Pack for a Purpose: Bucuti & Tara is a long-serving member of the global initiative, Pack for a Purpose. Guests are invited to use a small amount of space in their luggage to pack supplies needed by the local community such as clothes, school supplies, games, and toys for children who are not able to live with family.

Hyatt Regency Aruba

On World Ocean’s Day (June 8), Hyatt Regency Aruba is encouraging all guests to participate in their annual World Ocean’s Day Hike & Beach Cleanup. For the event, the hotel will lead a quarterly beach clean-up along Palm Beach.

Aruba Volunteers

Visitors can get to know locals while helping to make Aruba a better place and have fun all at the same time with Aruba Volunteers.

The organization has several opportunities, allowing visitors to align their volunteering with causes that they care about or opt to learn something new. Arubavolunteers.org features a full list of upcoming volunteer opportunities throughout the island.