Six Vegan influencers visited the island last weekend to answer the question whether Aruba is Vegan friendly or not.
The decisive answer is, yes, it is, thanks mainly to Meredith Marin who showed up here not too long ago, found nothing to eat and started a one-woman Vegan revolution.
She is today, a helpful resource for recipes on social media, and has helped many resorts and restaurants add vegan options to their menus.
The list of her clients is already long. Additionally, she is raising a family and teaching at UA.
Superwomen come in all shapes and sizes.
The program put together for the six Vegan influencers could not have been put together without the relationship fostered by wheninaruba’s Tina Bislick over the years with local hospitality providers, and thank you Aruba Tourism Authority, for the inclusion in Eat Local month.
The Manchebo Beach Resort & Spa, a trailblazer in the wellness field played gracious host to the group who hailed from North America.
Their first experience set the tone, sunset dinner at Elements Restaurant, Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort. It was fantastic. Food & Beverage Director Marc Giesbers dazzled the group with exceptional flavors and brilliant presentations. @bucutitara,
Breakfast at Eduardo’s Beach Shack, @eduardosbeachshack, the following morning, featured overflowing bowls of fresh exotic fruits, yogurt, and grains. Eduardo transformed the breakfast scene around the highrise resorts, in fact, the shack enjoys long lines of customers the whole day, not just for breakfast.
The group was greeted with super generous tastings of the shack’s colorful specialties.
Their next activity was Stand Up Paddle Board Yoga, SUP Yoga, courtesy of Island Yoga, @island.yoga @yoga_girl, followed by lunch with Rachel Brathen at Yoga Girl’s Nourish Café. @nourish.aruba @island.yoga @yoga_girl, Noord 19A.
The food there is always good, something that even non-vegan would appreciate.
The afternoon Ritz Carlton Spa Experience included a workshop on how to make your own aloe drink, with the bartender lifting the fleshy gel off a leaf, exhibition style, just before plopping it in the blender.
The visitors enjoyed 25-minute Hydro Aloe Body Scrubs, and 50-minute full body massages, at a memorable afternoon @RitzCarlton, creating #RCMemories in #Aruba.
The evening Cocktail Reception at the Manchebo’s Beach Pavilion, @mancheboaruba, included some off-the-chart Vegan sushi from Omakase Sushi Bar, and Chef Sandro’s Vegan paella, which was incredibly tasty; most reception guests went back for seconds.
Dinner at Ike’s Bistro followed. The chefs at Ike’s elevated Vegan food to an art form. @mancheboaruba @ikesbistroaruba
On Saturday, the busy visitors woke up to Sunrise Meditation on the beach, meeting meditation guide Maria Pucci, at the yoga deck adjacent to the Pavilion @cacaoyoga
They had a hearty breakfast at Ike’s Bistro, @mancheboaruba @ikesbistroaruba, before heading out for a sailing tip on board Monforte Luxury Cruise. @monforteluxurycruise, #monforteluxurycruise, #arubaluxurysail, #indulgeinaruba, #privateadventure
The Montforte sailed to Spanish Lagoon, and catered an excellent Vegan lunch on board, snorkeling and kayaking included. It was a glorious day and the super friendly and accommodating crew on board Montforte hand crafted fresh Mojitos and poured bottomless flutes of Roseco, Rose Prosecco.
A Party Bus Food Tour on board Kukoo Kunuku, @kukookunukuaruba, chased the sailing experience with four interesting stops for tastings: 1st Stop: Faro Blanco Restaurant @faroblancoaruba; 2nd Stop: White Modern Cuisine @whitemoderncuisine; 3rd Stop: Hadicurari @hadicurariaruba and 4th Stop: Yemanja Woodfired Grill @yemanjaaruba.
Having enjoyed a light breakfast On Sunday, smoothie bowls at Ike’s Bistro before a Terra Wave Yoga class at the Manchebo’s Pavilion yoga deck with Yoga teacher Carolien @dushiyoga, the visitors took a dip in the amazing ocean @mancheboaruba
Their next experience, at Taste of Belgium, Palm Beach Plaza, where the chef just launched a new vegan brunch menu with gluten free options available, to be served from now on every Sunday. @tobaruba
The visitors then went straight from brunch to a Jeep Tour with De Palm Tours, exploring the Donkey Sanctuary, Arikok National Park, Quadirikiri Cave and Boca Prins, @depalmtoursaruba.
In San Nicolas, they enjoyed a refreshment break by The Little One, @thelittleonearuba, against the backdrop of a gorgeous mural, swinging by the Bushiribana Gold Mine Ruins, on their way back to their resort.
The group’s final dinner party on Sunday evening unfolded at Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino, Sunset Grille restaurant where Executive Chef Matt Boland and his culinary brigade created an array of innovative and delicious vegan specialties in their honor. @hiltonaruba, #hiltonaruba
At the end of that experience, all six Vegan Social Media influencers visiting the island to answer the question whether Aruba is Vegan-friendly or not, provided a decisive, unanimous answer, YES. The island offers plenty of option to the Vegan traveler.
Just before leaving Monday morning, they got one more in. They were the first ones to have breakfast at One Happy Bowl, @onehappybowl, @renaissancemarketplacearuba, and report the place will be opening shortly to provide a healthy, wholesome food option in town.
Check out their weekend impressions:
Remy Park @veggiekins with 9.4k followers
Marina Qutab @ecogoddess with 22.4K followers
Brian Turner @brianturnerofficial with 89.3K followers
Sammy Grimm @sammy_grimm with 16.2 Followers
Chris Petrellese @ consciouschris with 84.8k followers
Jasmine Briones @Sweetsimplevegan with 214k followers
Meredith Marin @VeganAruba
Tina Bislick @wheninaruba
