Does Secrets Baby Beach Aruba Offer the Most Authentic Experience on the Island?

White sand beaches. Crystal clear waters. Rooms overlooking the Caribbean Sea. These have all brought tourists – many of them repeat guests – to Aruba for decades. The newly opened Secrets Baby Beach Aruba will no doubt attract that same clientele (heck, “beach” is in the name) but is also moving the needle on what an Aruban vacation looks like. 

I stayed at the new adults-only Secrets property in October, just a few months after its opening in June, for a three-night press trip hosted by Hyatt Inclusive Collection. The company gave us the kind of itinerary – a mix of relaxation and exploration – that they hope tourists will follow when they come here. 

On top of what I listed above, Secrets Baby Beach pitches itself as separate and secluded from the main tourist area, with more local experiences and surroundings, and the promise of all-inclusive luxury. It is currently the only resort in the town of San Nicolas and brings visitors closer to this famous art district that many tourists have never even seen before.  

As the first resort on this side of the island, and with visible construction surrounding it that hints at more accommodations coming online in the future, Secrets Baby Beach Aruba could be ushering in a whole new era of tourism for the Caribbean country. 

Although many travelers have been to Aruba, “most people haven’t been to this part of the island,” Ricardo Portillo, the resort’s director of sales and marketing, told us. “We’re trying to create a new destination within the destination.” Here’s how I saw the team at Secrets Baby Beach Aruba making that vision a reality. 

Arrival 

After my direct flight from New York, processing through Queen Beatrix International Airport was quick and smooth. We then had a 30-minute transfer to the resort with De Palm Tours, whose driver was full of fun facts about the island’s history and culture, from its past as an oil refinery – which is still in plain sight, though non-operational – to its present-day, vibrant Carnival culture. 

The drive itself made me feel like I was seeing Aruba in its truest form, as we wound past colorful muraled buildings, wild donkeys, and cacti everywhere. At one point, it appeared as if our driver was taking us straight to the ocean, but in a moment, we veered right and arrived at Secrets Baby Beach Aruba.  

Immediately, I got a sense of the laid-back atmosphere created by both the Aruban staff, who shared their relaxed spirit with us, and simplistic interiors of the lobby and resort grounds. The vibe strikes a great balance of calm but lively from the jump. Staff told us the cloudy weather was uncommon on such a dry island, but still welcomed us with sunny smiles.

This was my first time visiting “One Happy Island,” but compared to stories I’ve heard from others who have visited, I can say with near certainty that my experience at Secrets more genuinely Aruban. As opposed to staying on the main tourist strip where I’d be surrounded by other hotels, here at Secrets, there was nothing but open land. Plus, with all those cacti I saw on the drive permeating through the resort itself, I felt I had room to breathe and enjoy the natural landscape. 

We hung out in the Preferred Club Lounge and ate lunch at the buffet, which is located inside the Oceana restaurant, before our kind and accommodating butler, Anthony, escorted us to our rooms and exchanged numbers so we could be in touch throughout the trip. Each morning, he sent me the daily activities schedule via WhatsApp and kept me briefed on even the slightest changes to service throughout. 

I stayed in a Private Pool King Room in the Preferred Club corner of the resort. The only difference between this room and a Swim-Out King is there are dividers between each section, so you cannot swim over to another guest’s pool.  

That evening, the press group got acquainted over dinner with a menu from the resort’s Tierra restaurant, which serves South American cuisine, and our experience was officially underway. While some of the group watched the MLB playoff games and did karaoke in the sports bar that evening, I retired to the soaking tub on my ground floor pool terrace – far enough away from the liveliness of the rest of the resort for some peace and quiet.

Day 1 – Relaxation  

I began my first full day in Aruba with breakfast at the buffet. Even more than just the flora and fauna throughout the resort, there is a Mangel Coral Well preserved inside this building with a board explaining its historic significance to Aruba as a water source.  

Then, it was time for a sound healing session led by the resort’s Entertainment Team, who seemed to work around the clock to bring guests everything from this serene, meditative experience to exciting dance parties by the pool.  

After feeling nice and centered, I spent time in the the fitness center and Secrets Spa. At the gym, a friendly and helpful instructor greeted me with a towel and water bottle for my workout. And at the spa, I enjoyed a massage session and some hydrotherapy in the sauna, steam room, and pools.  

In both these spaces, I realized that what Portillo told us the night before was true: “The ocean views follow you wherever you go.” The entire resort faces the beach and was the easiest to navigate out of any all-inclusive resort I’ve been to. You can clearly see out to the mountains of Venezuela, which is just 15 miles away from Aruba’s coastline. 

During the day, I participated in poolside yoga and lounged at a daybed in the Preferred section, where we were served champagne and the island’s unofficial drink, the ArubaRiba. I also ate a casual lunch at the Barefoot Grill: hot dog and fries.  

Finally, I indulged in some beach time. It’s a three-minute walk down the hill to Baby Beach, the small, quaint public beach with gorgeous, calm waters to swim in – or snorkel in to try catching a glimpse of the sea turtles. Secrets has its own beach concierge with beach chairs, towels, and beverages, and guests also have the option to ride a golf cart down to the beach. 

That evening, we dined at Himitsu, the resort’s Asan fusion restaurant, and ordered an array of sushi, sashimi, and other classics – like my favorite, the vegetable spring roll – to share. I again enjoyed a low-key night at my private pool, munching on the daily refreshed minibar in my room. 

As you can see, I was aiming for a day of full relaxation, and that’s what I got. For those who want more excitement, the resort offers a whole array of activities: lessons on the native Papamiento language, paint and sips, Bingo, dancing classes, and much more. 

Day 2 – Exploration  

“Usually clients don’t leave a resort, but here, they do,” Portillo told us. “We’re trying to educate that, here, people can leave and explore the island.”   

On our final full day in Aruba, we went off property to experience some of that exploration with De Palm Tours. First, our driver took us barely five minutes away from the resort to Seroh Colorado, a rocky overlook on the ocean’s edge. It was too windy to walk all the way down, but we did get some gorgeous views. 

Next, the same tour guide brought us to Parke Nacional Arikok, where we walked through two caves: Fontein Cave and Quadiriki Cave. We also briefly visited Mangel Halto Beach, a small, highly protected area where locals and visitors alike bring their beach chairs to relax and swim at their own risk.

Throughout our journey, we learned a lot about Aruba; notably, it is the safest island in the Caribbean, which we witnessed firsthand, and is comprised of mostly protected land. We saw many visitors driving around the island in rented cars to see it for themselves. It is a small island – under an hour to get from one side to another – but the Secrets resort certainly brought us closer to the community. 

We completed our 6-hour tour in San Nicolas to see town’s striking murals and eat at a local restaurant. The Artisa art gallery is at the heart of it, and the gallery’s CEO and tour guide, Tito Bolivar, gave us an impassioned tour highlighting all the rich stories behind the murals. We then sat down for lunch at O’Neil Caribbean Kitchen for a taste of the local flavor. Locals had raved about the spot, and we indeed saw large parties there celebrating weddings and birthdays. 

Final Thoughts 

When I returned to the resort that day, I enjoyed the infinity pool and swim-up bar before getting ready for the group’s final meal together. The Secrets team set up a private dinner on the resort’s large, stunning outdoor event space that offers views of both sunrise and sunset and fits 1,000 people total. 

The group had laughs and chats that went deeper than most other press trips I’ve been on, reminding me of a reason Hyatt Inclusive Collection hosted us here: the portfolio’s “Time Here is Worth More” campaign. When I think of a good vacation and time well spent, I think of time slowing down to recharge and connecting with new people and cultures. This trip had all of that, and I left more educated about the world than when I first touched down in Oranjestad because I felt my interactions were genuine. After dinner, we watched entertainment inspired by Aruba’s famous Carnival that runs from January to the day before Ash Wednesday.

For clients who want that combination of relaxing and exploring, where they truly feel they’re seeing a different part of the world, Aruba can certainly be that for them. I didn’t realize that Aruba could be so much more than a tropical beach vacation, but now I do. With Secrets Baby Beach bringing more awareness to this part of the island, I’m sure many more travelers will start to discover this, as well.