Tour and Vacation on the Caribbean Island of Aruba
♦ Routes (free): Detailed travel itineraries in USA
General Information
"One Happy Island" – this is the official motto of Aruba and it is written on all the license plates of the taxis on the island.
Aruba residents are famous for their warmth and friendliness. They are known as wonderful hosts.
Aruba is a small but diverse island. It is easy and convenient to navigate the island and visit it. It is also very easy to fall in love with it. It is considered the island with the highest number of repeat visitors in the Caribbean. Aruba is considered one of the safest destinations in the Caribbean. No wonder it has become one of the "hot" destinations in the Caribbean among Americans. It is considered a particularly friendly destination for families and abounds in family attractions such as a water park, mini-golf, animal farms, etc.
Tourism is an organized and very developed industry on the island. Everyone will find something to their liking in Aruba thanks to the large variety of options it offers. Those who prefer privacy and tranquility will find hidden beaches and peaceful towns on the island, while lovers of activity and hustle and bustle will find a large selection of nightclubs, casinos, discos, and festivals on the island. Nature lovers will enjoy watching the many birds in the nature reserves and the unique desert vegetation. Aruba offers a particularly rich variety of sports of all kinds: 42 diving sites, a wide range of water sports (surfing, water skiing, sailing, etc.), golf, tennis, and horseback riding.
The center of the island is arid with typical vegetation of bent-trunk "Divi-divi" trees, cacti, and aloe vera, among which giant rocks protrude, and they provide an impressive contrast to the magical beaches with white sand and turquoise waters, surrounded by palms that circle the island, giving it a heart-warming tropical look. Friendly iguanas wander on the beaches, between the hotels and restaurants.
Aruba is called the "Las Vegas of the Caribbean" thanks to its desert climate, but no less thanks to its vibrant nightlife and the many casinos on the island.
♦ Book tours and land excursions in Aruba from Viator:
Suitable for cruise ship passengers as well - with pickup from the port:
Recommended tours in Aruba including water or sailing:
With pickup from the port except for the catamaran cruise:
Location and Climate
Map of Aruba Island:
Aruba is the smallest and westernmost of the three ABC islands which include Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao. Aruba is located in the heart of the Southern Caribbean, near the equator, at latitude 12.3 north and belongs to the Lesser Antilles group of islands. It is located 29 km north of the coast of Venezuela and 67 km west of the neighboring Caribbean island, Curacao. The island's area is 180 sq km. It is 32 km long and almost 10 km wide at its widest point.
In the quiet, southern part of the island, there are beaches with soft white sand, while in the north of the island, there is wild scenery with rocks and cliffs, among which are hidden quiet bays ideal for swimming.
The weather on the island is considered the best in the Caribbean. It is considered the driest in the area. It has no rainy season and it is located below the "hurricane belt," so the chance of tropical storms on the island is much lower than in the islands further north. Most days of the year are sunny; the annual precipitation is less than 500 mm.
Temperatures on the island are constant throughout the year. The average temperature is 27 degrees Celsius and there is almost always a pleasant breeze.
Recommended hotels in Aruba:
A high-quality 5-star hotel from the prestigious Ritz-Carlton chain, located on a beautiful beach, with two pools, a spa, casino, children's playground and activities for children, a variety of restaurants and a bar. Free internet and parking.
Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort and Casino
A 4-star resort on the wonderful "Palm Beach." The resort has two swimming pools, a casino, spa, selection of restaurants and bars, kids club, sports facilities and offers guests a variety of water sports options (for an extra fee). The resort has an extensive entertainment program. Free internet and parking.
Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort
A recommended 4-star resort from the Marriott chain with a private beach, three swimming pools, spa, casino, selection of restaurants and bars, a nightclub, evening entertainment activities and water sports activities such as kayaking and diving. Free internet and parking. The resort has regular rooms and suites with a bedroom and living room.
A 4-star suite resort located on the beautiful Eagle Beach. The hotel is built in Dutch colonial style and has studio apartments, one-bedroom apartments with a living room, and two-bedroom apartments with a living room, all with an equipped kitchen. The resort has a swimming pool, restaurants, and a bar. The hotel features various activities, entertainment evenings, and music shows. Free internet and parking.
The main attractions on the island
Arikok National Park
In the center of the island, around Mount Arikok, a nature reserve is located featuring ancient murals of the Arawak tribe as well as walking trails through vegetation unique to the island, such as the bent-trunk "Divi-divi" trees, rare cacti, tropical vegetation, birds, and plenty of iguanas. In the reserve, there is also a typical Aruban house made of mud and grass. The park also has several caves, the most popular of which is Fontein Cave, featuring reddish-brown murals and stalactites and stalagmites that resemble the head of a human and a bison. Another interesting cave with many petroglyphs is the Quadiriki Caves. The reserve takes up about twenty percent of the island's area.
The Natural Pool, known to the locals as "Conchi" or "Cura di Tortuga," is a hidden pool on the wind-swept, stormy side of the island, surrounded by rocks that protect it from the stormy waves of the ocean. The pool is located in the wildest part of the island. The locals like to jump from the high rocks into the quiet pool. It is recommended to watch them but not imitate them. The pool is part of the Arikok National Park.
The Natural Pool:
The Natural Bridge was the most photogenic attraction on the island and a must-visit site. It was considered one of the largest natural bridges of its kind in the world. It was seven meters high and about thirty meters wide. Unfortunately, the limestone bridge collapsed in 2005 and today only its remains can be seen.
California Lighthouse is located at the northwestern tip of the island. It offers a 360-degree view of sand dunes, a rocky shore, and high waves. The lighthouse is named after the passenger ship "California" that sank in 1916 near the coast. Near the lighthouse are sand dunes used as a popular site for dune surfing.
Butterfly Farm – a greenhouse with hundreds of colorful butterflies from all over the world flying among tropical plants. You can observe the life cycle of butterflies and take a guided tour. It is recommended to arrive in the morning and watch many butterflies emerging from the chrysalis.
The farm is located across from the Divi Aruba Phoenix Beach Resort on Palm Beach.
Animal lovers can also visit the Donkey Sanctuary or the Ostrich Farm in Aruba.
Aruba's Beaches
All Aruba's beaches are public and entrance to them is free and allowed for everyone. The umbrellas and lounge chairs belong to the hotels spread along the beaches and their use involves a fee.
Palm Beach is the most popular and busy beach on the island. Most of Aruba's large hotels are located on this beach. It is a long stretch of beach (over 3 km) with soft white sand suitable for sunbathing, swimming, sailing, fishing, snorkeling, and also people watching. Along the beach are many restaurants and cafes. On both sides of the beach, there are piers with a vast variety of water sports options, making it particularly suitable for those looking for more action. Those looking for a quiet and calm place should look for another beach. The beach is located in the northwestern part of the island, about a fifteen-minute taxi ride from the port.
Eagle Beach is located south of Palm Beach and is separated from it by a strip of limestone. This long stretch of beach is also characterized by soft white sand and a fairly quiet sea, and is also suitable for swimming and vacationing. Although you can find water sports of all kinds here too, the atmosphere on this beach is calmer, quieter, and less crowded. Along the beach are shaded picnic spots and two bars.
Baby Beach is an ideal beach for families with small children and for those seeking peace and quiet. It is located at the easternmost tip of the island, about a 40-minute drive from the port. It is protected by a rocky breakwater, creating a warm pool with relatively shallow turquoise waters. Tall bushes provide plenty of shade and protect from the hot sun. Here too, the sand is soft and white. The beach is also suitable for beginner snorkelers. There is a snack and soft drink stand at the beach, restrooms, and no other activities or attractions.
Sports and Active Recreation
Aruba is a wonderful destination for diving and snorkeling, both for beginners and for the experienced.
Snorkeling:
Snorkeling with auxiliary motor: recommended snorkeling tours with the SeaBob in small groups with guides.
♦ Order snorkeling with SeaBob auxiliary motor from Viator - Antilla Shipwreck Seabob Tour Lasts 2.5 hours, a special experience. Includes pickup and return from the port or from a selection of hotels on the island.
Video about snorkeling with the seabob in Aruba:
Diving:
Opportunity to learn diving in Aruba. Take a diving course for beginners, including pool training and then in the sea.
♦ Order diving course with tanks for beginners from Viator -
Small-Group Aruba Scuba Diving for Non-Certified Divers Lasts about 2 hours. Includes pickup and return to the hotel.
Horses:
In Aruba, there are also several companies specializing in horseback riding in magical landscapes of beaches and cliffs.
♦ Horseback riding and swimming in a natural pool -
Horseback Ride Tour to Natural Pool in Arikok National Park Small-group guided tour. Includes pickup and return to the cruise port.
ATVs
Those who want to explore the island with an ATV and discover its secrets can go on a guided ATV tour. Minimum age 18 and a driver's license is required.
♦ Guided ATV tour - Aruba North Coast ATV Desert and Beach Tour
Includes pickup and return to the hotel or cruise port. The tour passes through various attractions on the island. Lasts about 4 hours.
Shopping
Aruba is a paradise for shopping lovers. A five-minute walk from the cruise pier is Caya G. F. Betico Croes (also known as Main Street), bustling and full of shops. Two shopping centers: "Royal Plaza Mall" and "Seaport Village Mall" are located near the port and are crowded with jewelry shops and famous designers.
Royal Plaza Mall:
Because the island is part of the Netherlands, you can also find typical Dutch merchandise such as Delft porcelain, Dutch cheeses, and delicious European chocolates.
More Information:
Aruba has a tourism bureau dedicated to cruise tourism, Aruba Cruise Tourism, which can provide a lot of information to anyone considering a cruise to Aruba or for passengers arriving at it on ships. The bureau is located near the port, its address:
Royal Plaza Mall, Suite 230, L.G. Smith Blvd 94, Oranjestad, Aruba
Phone: 297-583-3648