Friday was our day to climb. We started our adventures at the Casibari Rock Formation. The rocks in the formation are composed of quartz diorite. Quartz diorite is an igneous, plutonic rock that is relatively rich in elements that form feldspar and quartz.

We initially thought it was going to be giant boulders that were randomly found in a large open space. What we found was a beautiful garden area built around these rocks that you could wander through. Some of the rocks had steps built into them to help your climb, while others were climbable on their own.

Our next stop was Hooiberg, a volcanic cone-shaped mountain rising 165 metres above sea level and located in the centre of Aruba. The direct Dutch translation for Hooiberg is haystack. There are about 590 stairs built along the side of the mountain making the climb easier.

At the top were great 360 degree views of the island.

After our hot climb we thought a beach visit was well-deserved. We got a little detoured by the Bright Bakery sign and had to stop for a quick pastry.

Our beach choice today was Mangel Halt on the southwest side of the island. The beach is surrounded by mangroves and is a favorite among locals for a relaxing day on the beach. Mangel Halto is also known as a perfect snorkeling and shore diving spot due to the calm and shallow waters. Unfortunately there were no shady places for us to set up so we made our way back down the coast to Baby Beach for a relaxing afternoon of swimming and reading.