Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins
Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.0
874 reviews
Excellent
279
Very good
356
Average
208
Poor
24
Terrible
7
Kali L
Neenah, WI183 contributions
Jan 2023 • Friends
Made our way to the ruins on our own in a Jeep (ie not with a tour group). The ruins themselves are nice. Not a lot to see but you can get up close and touch and climb which gives you some nice photo ops.
The parking lot had a food truck with good food at standard Aruban prices. Bathrooms in a trailer are also available for $1.
The real gem here is hidden. Just across the parking lot is a wooden ladder that leads seemingly just down to a rock. However, it will take you to a natural pool in the caves. The ladder is wet so use caution. If you don’t like crabs then you won’t want to go down. Also be careful when swimming as the current will occasionally take you into the rocks. It is shallow and has crystal clear water. Was a neat thing to see!!
The parking lot had a food truck with good food at standard Aruban prices. Bathrooms in a trailer are also available for $1.
The real gem here is hidden. Just across the parking lot is a wooden ladder that leads seemingly just down to a rock. However, it will take you to a natural pool in the caves. The ladder is wet so use caution. If you don’t like crabs then you won’t want to go down. Also be careful when swimming as the current will occasionally take you into the rocks. It is shallow and has crystal clear water. Was a neat thing to see!!
Written 29 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
617erinc
Dallas, TX467 contributions
Apr 2023 • Couples
Who would have thought there would be gold to be found on this island. The Dutch did that and this site is part of the operation they had to mine and smelt the gold to get it back to The Netherlands. There are several walls still standing and we were told there was never a roof on the structure. Not only the ruins are interesting but the shoreline here and the stone piles made by those with a wish.
Written 30 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TravelLoverLaura
Silver Spring, MD103 contributions
Jan 2022
The ruins were kind of neat for a short visit, but in January 2022 there was no signage telling about the history of the mill, just a sign saying not to climb on/in the ruins (fair enough!). What we really loved was the "new natural pool" right nearby; we had a rental car and could get there, but not to the "natural pool" by Conchi. If you google "new natural pool" you can find a couple youtube videos to give a better sense than our photos (e.g., there's a place deep enough for people to jump in). The ladder in wasn't scary at all, even for our most cautious and height-averse family members.
Written 12 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shi La M
United States17 contributions
Dec 2021
Shocked you were able to climb in and walk around. Worth exploring if you have time. Got a cool photo at this location. This location is for people who like to explore and tell others about their experiences. Not necessarily someone coming to Aruba to drink and hang out at the beach.
Written 23 January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alicia H
12 contributions
Feb 2024 • Couples
This area of the island is so gorgeous the ruins are amazing to see as is the ocean on that side. Stunning Ocean view! You can drive there in a regular car, but not past the ruins. I did not like that people were climbing and taking photos inside the ruins, when there are signs stating not to do that and how dangerous it is. Other than that it is an amazing, beautiful place to see.
Written 3 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amy E.
New York City, NY56 contributions
Aug 2022 • Couples
We took our own private UTV tour solo, just my husband and I. This was a very cool place. We climbed up and took in the views. I do have to warn to be cautious there is steel pieces sticking up and lots of rocks so just be careful. Very cool place to visit for those who like history. Tour groups come in droves so just be mindful it gets busy, but not bad.
Written 25 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TravelingFam
Omaha, NE940 contributions
Jun 2021 • Couples
Stopped on our self ATV tour. There was a Food truck and bathroom truck on the Sunday we drove thru. This Can be a 5 min to 30 min stop - Up to you.
To get into the ruins you will need to be able to climb “stairs”. Otherwise observe from the road No charge. Can’t miss this I f you are in the right road and will see it from approaching either side.
To get into the ruins you will need to be able to climb “stairs”. Otherwise observe from the road No charge. Can’t miss this I f you are in the right road and will see it from approaching either side.
Written 9 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
worleybird98
Hudson, OH805 contributions
Feb 2023
Felt we need to visit to see the ruins, but there wasn't a whole lot to see. You climb in, then climb up and up (photos inside the ruins with the windows that show the sea can be really cool). I'm not very agile, and was afraid that if I got too high that I would have difficulty scaling the rocks to get back down, but as it turns out at the top you can pretty much just walk out of the ruins on the back side and just walk down and around to the front which was really easy. Cross the parking lot and take a look at the sea wall - super windy but some spectacular waves and crashing up against the shoreline. Tons of UTV tours coming and going through while we were there which made it less enjoyable, but that's just a timing thing I think.
Written 10 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Previa1994
Chicago, IL6,652 contributions
Feb 2023 • Friends
While on a driving tour of Aruba, we stopped at the Bushiribana Ruins which came highly recommended as a point of Aruban industrial history. The parking lot is right near the old gold smelter ruins, and we took a walk up through the ruins on the designated path. Note that one has to be pretty mobile for this activity, but it is a pretty short workout. And, like most other places in Aruba, there is no shade. But we got a panoramic view of lands end from the top of the ruins. Nearby the ruins are also hiking trails some of which are close to the ocean cliffs (unmarked). One has to be very careful not to walk too close to the cliff edges which may collapse as can be inferred from the cliff edges which have fallen into the ocean. All in all, Bushiribana is an interesting stop along a driving tour of the desert area of Aruba.
Written 2 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DSBrandt
Purdue-Indiana369 contributions
Jan 2020
We had a car, tried to find Ayo Rocks, got lost, found the Gold Mill Ruins and north shore. The Ruins seem to appeal to off-roaders and younger people who climb on them. We would have liked more information (there is a small sign). The north shore of many Caribbean islands are rough with lots of waves splashy, and this one was too. If you're bored of the beach, by all means try to take in Ayo, Arikok, Bushiribana, etc.
Written 15 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hallo! Ist es möglich dieses Gebiet auch OHNE 4x4 zu befahren?
Written 31 December 2019
Could you please tell us where you rented the ATV and how much it cost? Is there anything else worth seeing in Aruba. We are heading there in a few weeks.
Thanks!
~Cav
Written 5 January 2017
CarVenience for this type of trip. You are inside the vehicle,not sitting on top of a seat and well protected
Written 8 January 2017
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