Aruba’s Donkey Sanctuary: A Heartwarming Visit to These Gentle Giants

Donkeys have called Aruba home for roughly 500 years, brought by Spanish and Dutch settlers to haul goods across the island’s cunucu — the rugged interior of dirt paths and dry brush. When cars replaced them, the donkeys were simply turned loose. By the 1970s, illness had reduced the wild population to about 20 animals, survivors dodging traffic on roads that kept getting busier. In 1997, the nonprofit foundation Salba nos Burico (Save our Donkey) opened a sanctuary in Santa Lucia as a safe haven for sick, injured, and orphaned donkeys. Nearly two decades later, the operation moved to a larger property in Bringamosa near Santa Cruz, where today it cares for more than 130 rescued animals.

The Donkey Sanctuary Aruba has quietly become one of the island’s most heartwarming family stops — a place where the pace slows, the donkeys walk right up to the fence, and a few dollars in donations keep the whole thing running. This article covers what a visit actually looks like, how the feeding works, what to bring, and how to fit the sanctuary into a broader inland day. Whether you’re traveling with kids who want to hand-feed a gentle animal or just looking for a meaningful detour from the beach, this stop shows you a side of Aruba most visitors never see.

A Brief History of Aruba’s Donkeys

The story of donkeys on Aruba is really the story of the island itself. For centuries, these animals were the primary mode of transport across the interior, carrying aloe, produce, and people. When motorized vehicles arrived, the donkeys were set free to roam — and they did, surviving on the sparse vegetation of the cunucu for generations. By the 1970s, a combination of disease and road accidents had pushed the population to the brink. The sanctuary founded in 1997 at Santa Lucia started with just a handful of animals. After relocating to the current 10-acre property in Bringamosa, the herd has grown steadily. Today the sanctuary is home to more than 130 donkeys, along with peacocks, chickens, and friendly cats and kittens available for adoption. Every animal here has a story — some were hit by cars, others abandoned or born into the herd.

What a Visit Actually Looks Like

You pull into the free parking lot, step out of the car, and within about 90 seconds a donkey has already walked over to the fence. That’s not an exaggeration — the regulars know when visitors arrive, and they come to the fence ears forward, ready for attention. The donkeys are gentle and thoroughly used to people. They’ll stand still for petting, lean into a good scratch behind the ears, and follow you along the fence line as you walk the shaded paths.

The visitor center sits under a covered porch with cold drinks, restrooms, and benches where you can sit and watch the herd. Most people spend 45 minutes to an hour here, though kids who fall for a particular donkey tend to stretch it longer. If you arrive close to opening time, you may be able to help with the morning feeding chores — a hands-on experience that children particularly remember. The sanctuary grounds are basic and sun-exposed, with limited shade beyond the porch area, so a hat and water are essential. The footing is uneven in spots, and you will encounter droppings on the paths — wear closed shoes and watch your step.

The Feeding Experience

You might assume a donkey is skittish or hesitant to eat from your hand — or that a larger animal like this could accidentally bite during feeding. The reality at the sanctuary is the opposite. These donkeys are so accustomed to visitors that they approach calmly, take food gently from an open palm, and wait patiently for the next offering. The research is consistent on this point: reviewers note again and again that the donkeys are sweet, friendly, and never bite during hand-feeding. It’s one of those rare animal encounters where even young children can participate without hesitation.

You can bring your own apples and carrots — the donkeys’ favorite treats — or buy feed bags on site for a small donation. Current pricing runs around $1 for a small bag and $2 to $3 for a large bag, though these figures come from visitor accounts and may shift. Stick to donkey-approved snacks only; the sanctuary asks that you not feed them anything else. The feeding area has a covered section that holds up well in light rain, making this a reliable stop even on a less-than-perfect weather day. Beyond the donkeys, you’ll likely spot peacocks strutting near the fence and cats weaving between visitors’ legs — all part of the sanctuary’s extended rescue family.

Practical Information for Your Visit

The sanctuary sits at Bringamosa 2-Z near Santa Cruz, roughly in the middle of the island. From the Palm Beach and Eagle Beach hotel zones, the drive takes 20 to 25 minutes. The last stretch is a short, well-signed dirt road that any rental car handles without issue. The location is convenient — it’s on the way to Arikok National Park and also near the route to Baby Beach, making it an easy addition to an inland day.

Admission is free. The sanctuary runs entirely on donations, feed-bag sales, and gift-shop purchases. The gift shop sells donkey-themed T-shirts, plush toys, magnets, and other souvenirs, and every purchase directly funds food and veterinary care for the herd. The sanctuary also runs a symbolic adoption program — you can sponsor a specific donkey and receive updates after you fly home.

Regarding hours: the sanctuary is generally open weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and weekends from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., but because it’s volunteer-run, hours can change without notice. Check the sanctuary’s official Facebook page before you drive out, especially during holiday weeks. The sanctuary is closed on January 1. Early morning is the best time to visit — the donkeys are more active, the heat is kinder, and crowds are light. Late afternoon offers golden-hour light for photos but medium crowd levels.

Getting There by Tour

If you’d rather not drive the inland roads yourself, the Half-Day Aruba Animal Sanctuary Guided Tour run by El Tours & Transfers bundles the Donkey Sanctuary with the Aruba Ostrich Farm and Philip’s Animal Garden. The tour includes hotel and port pickup, entry fees, bottled water, and narration. It runs about 4 hours and costs from $57 per person, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before. A portion of the proceeds is donated back to the sanctuaries. This is the most efficient way to see all three inland animal stops in a single morning, and it removes the taxi math between towns.

Heads up: some links here are affiliate links — costs you nothing extra. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

You can check the Half-Day Animal Sanctuary Tour on Viator for current pricing and availability.

DIY Inland Day

With a rental car, you can easily stack the sanctuary with other inland stops. Many visitors pair it with Arikok National Park for a full day — feed donkeys in the morning while it’s still cool, then head into Arikok for caves and coastline, capping the day with a swim at the Natural Pool if you have a 4×4. The drive times between the sanctuary, the Ostrich Farm in Paradera, and Philip’s Animal Garden in Noord are typically 10 to 20 minutes each, tight enough for a single inland loop if you leave early. This trio is widely considered one of the best non-beach days on Aruba.

Before You Go — Donkey Sanctuary Aruba

Is the Donkey Sanctuary free to visit?

Yes — there is no admission fee and parking is free. The sanctuary is a volunteer-run nonprofit, so plan to leave a donation or buy something from the gift shop to support the herd’s food and veterinary care.

Can you feed the donkeys?

Feeding is the main event. You can bring your own apples and carrots or buy feed bags on site for around $1 to $3. The donkeys eat gently from your palm and are safe for children to feed under adult supervision.

How long does a visit take?

Most people spend 45 minutes to an hour. Kids who bond with a particular donkey often stretch it longer. The sanctuary sits on the way to Arikok National Park, so it fits neatly into a half-day or full-day island loop.

What should you bring?

Sunscreen, a hat, closed-toe shoes, and water. The grounds are dusty and sun-exposed with limited shade. Bring cash for feed bags, donations, and gift-shop items. Restrooms with running water and soap are available on site.

Is the sanctuary wheelchair accessible?

Yes — the main paths and visitor center are wheelchair accessible. The terrain is uneven in spots, but the core experience (fence-side feeding, covered porch, restrooms) is accessible.

One Last Thing

The Donkey Sanctuary Aruba doesn’t try to be a polished attraction, and that’s exactly what makes it work. It’s a real rescue doing real work — saving animals that would otherwise die on the roadside — and every visitor who walks through the gate becomes part of that effort, whether by buying a feed bag, adopting a donkey from afar, or just spending an hour scratching a patient ear. For a broader look at the island’s quieter side, including secluded stretches of sand beyond the resort rows, browse our guide to Aruba’s hidden beaches and the inland trails worth your time.

References

Donkey Sanctuary Aruba. “Official Website.” ↗

For more Aruba travel ideas, check out our guides to Arikok National Park’s hiking trails and hidden gems, the island’s best secret beaches, and a culinary tour of local flavors for a complete island experience.