One Happy Aruba
Plan your perfect trip
Community FAQWater activities

How does access to Renaissance Island or Flamingo Island work?

Updated Jun 10, 2026

The answer

Booking a stay at the Renaissance resort is the most reliable way to secure access to the island, as hotel guests receive guaranteed entry. Non-guests can purchase day passes, but these sell out quickly and become unavailable when the hotel reaches capacity, making advance online purchase difficult or impossible during busy periods.

Traveler experiences on the island itself vary. Some visitors report positive experiences and plan return trips, while at least one family noted unpleasant odors that detracted from their visit. The island's flamingo attraction remains the primary draw, though opinions on overall island conditions differ.

Historically, the island was restricted to Renaissance property guests only. The introduction of day passes for non-guests represents a shift in access policy, though availability constraints mean the lodging route remains the most practical option for guaranteed entry.

What people are saying

Voices from the community.

  1. 01

    “Hotel guests receive guaranteed entry; day passes for non-guests deplete rapidly and stop selling when hotel capacity is reached.”

    Helpful · 4/5View source post ↗
  2. 02

    “Securing a Renaissance room reservation remains the surest access method, as online day-pass inventory proves unreliable.”

    Helpful · 3/5View source post ↗
  3. 03

    “One family encountered off-putting smells during their island visit that diminished their experience.”

    Helpful · 3/5View source post ↗
  4. 04

    “The island previously served only resort guests; day passes now available represent a policy change from that exclusivity.”

    Helpful · 2/5View source post ↗

Related questions

More from Water activities.

How we know

Answers are paraphrased from public community posts. We don't republish verbatim content. 6 community posts informed this answer. The full story →