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All 3 Santa Cruz Attractions »

Donkey Sanctuary Aruba

Sta Lucia 4A, Santa Cruz, Aruba
Ranked #2 of 2 attractions in Santa Cruz
4.5 of 5 stars 75 Reviews
Type: Nature/ Wildlife Areas
Owner description: Visit Donkey Sanctuary Aruba where you can feed and pet the donkeys from the safety of our enclosed porch. They especially love apples and carrots,...... more » Owner description: Visit Donkey Sanctuary Aruba where you can feed and pet the donkeys from the safety of our enclosed porch. They especially love apples and carrots, so feel free to bring some along. There is no admission fee, though your generous donations are greatly appreciated and are what continue to allow us the ability to care for our donkey family, which has approximately 90 members at the moment. Our volunteers will be more than happy to show you around and answer your questions. And if you get there early enough, you can even help with the daily chores of feeding and caring for the donkeys, a great and educational experience for children! If you’d rather just observe, then you’re welcome to grab a seat on our covered porch, sit back with some coffee or a cold beverage and snack from our concession stand, or take a look inside our gift shop. Whatever you decide, we look forward to seeing you there! « less
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75 reviews from our community

Visitor rating
    44
    24
    6
    0
    1
Date Rating
South Bend
Senior Contributor
21 reviews 21 reviews
Reviews in 13 cities Reviews in 13 cities
8 helpful votes 8 helpful votes
3 of 5 stars Reviewed May 18, 2012

It was nice to hear the history and feed the donkeys. Ten-fifteen minutes is enough time to enjoy this experience. More

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Cabo San Lucas
Senior Reviewer
8 reviews 8 reviews
Reviews in 5 cities Reviews in 5 cities
11 helpful votes 11 helpful votes
3 of 5 stars Reviewed May 12, 2012

I think if you had children, they would really enjoy it, but for adults 5-10 minutes and that was enough. I'm happy that they are rescuing the donkeys and taking care of them, but I wouldn't consider it an attraction. More

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York, Pennsylvania
Reviewer
5 reviews 5 reviews
Reviews in 4 cities Reviews in 4 cities
4 of 5 stars Reviewed April 23, 2012

When we went to the Donkey Sanctuary last week, we were expecting a large entrance, and a zoo-like atmosphere. What we found was a gate with a whole lot of donkeys loose on the other side. We were hesitant to enter, as it had just stopped raining and there were no people to be seen, only donkeys walking around. But... More

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boston
Contributor
12 reviews 12 reviews
Reviews in 4 cities Reviews in 4 cities
2 helpful votes 2 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed April 22, 2012

I have visited the donkeys every year since it opened. I go with cut up fruit and carrots and it is a special treat for them. God bless the staff that oversees the facility. Donations are gladly accepted and they have a nice little shop where you can find a few nice gifts for yourself and friends. You can get... More

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West Chester, Pennsylvania
Senior Contributor
27 reviews 27 reviews
Reviews in 15 cities Reviews in 15 cities
22 helpful votes 22 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed April 21, 2012

If you go and see the Donkey Sanctuary, remember these Donkey's are not native to Aruba, they are endangered and quite often when loose, get hit by cars, trucks, etc., Which is why the Sanctuary exists. My wife and I always go and visit during our trips to Aruba. We wish we could do more for Desiree and the Donkey's,... More

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ann arbor, MI
Senior Contributor
25 reviews 25 reviews
Reviews in 22 cities Reviews in 22 cities
18 helpful votes 18 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed April 16, 2012
1
person found this review helpful

Fun for the kids. Pick up large bag of carrots at grocery store before you head out. Great pictures. More

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Voorhees, New Jersey
Contributor
18 reviews 18 reviews
Reviews in 9 cities Reviews in 9 cities
21 helpful votes 21 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed April 15, 2012

A visit to the sanctuary was the highlight of our trip to Aruba. They organized an Easter egg hunt, which my 6 and 4 year olds loved. Afterward, they provided information on the donkeys which was really fun and interesting. Feeding the animals and interacting with them was priceless. Its a little difficult to find - we drove ourselves and... More

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Bergenfield
Senior Reviewer
7 reviews 7 reviews
Reviews in 3 cities Reviews in 3 cities
5 of 5 stars Reviewed April 1, 2012

I planned on visiting the sanctuary long before we booked the Jeep Tour, as I am a big animal lover. I was not disappointed. The donkeys are adorable and are eager to eat the snacks you provide (which you can purchase for $1/bag). We purchased about 5-6 bags as they were gobbled up quickly :-) A lovely lady from America... More

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vancouve island canada
Contributor
11 reviews 11 reviews
Reviews in 5 cities Reviews in 5 cities
13 helpful votes 13 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed March 20, 2012

went to the visit on our recent trip at Aruba of course took lots of treats with us, we have horses at home so we loved feeding and interacting with these guys, yes its hot where isnt it in Aruba, but there is a terrific shaded feeding area and the donkeys are so adorable. My two teenage girls didnt want... More

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Buffalo, New York
Senior Contributor
22 reviews 22 reviews
Reviews in 12 cities Reviews in 12 cities
12 helpful votes 12 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed March 19, 2012

If you go, print out the directions on the donkey web site. Our concierge got us lost and there is no reliable GPS signal in Aruba to get you there. Bring apples you have cut into slices or carrots in pieces so you can feed the donkeys. It's smelly and dirty - but what would you expect? The gift shop... More

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