Need a real vacation and a relaxing break full of romance, passion and adventure? Then welcome to Aruba – a little pearl in the Caribbean, where mañana way of life, balmy weather, fabulous sandy beaches, endless variety of water sports, add to this first-class resorts, gambling casinos, duty-free shopping and dozens of opportunities for dining, combine to create a truly romantic atmosphere sure to take your breath away. Visited by some one million people and cruise passengers per year, Aruba ranks as one of the Caribbean’s most popular vacation spots, along with St. Lucia, Bahamas, Cayman Islands and Puerto Rico among others.
Believe it or not, when in 1513 the Spanish colonists settled in Aruba and her sister islands, they nicknamed them ‘Islas Inútiles,’ that is Useless Islands. Who could imagine that centuries later, this southern Caribbean cluster would become such a great destination with so much to offer its visitors.
Days in Aruba are filled with many adventures and sightseeing.
Scuba Diving
Boasting Crystal-clear waters and great underwater visibility, Aruba is a preferred getaway for divers of different levels looking to explore buried shipwrecks or to study some truly majestic coral reefs up close. The island is home to a large number of outstanding dive sites, most located at the beautiful southside reef and there are also several very good dive operators on the island.
Antilla Wreck is one of the most popular dives sites in Aruba. This is the best wreck in the Caribbean that is referred to locally as the ghost ship. It is a WWII German freighter that was scuttled in 1945. Over 400 feet long, breaking the surface from a maximum depth of 60 feet, the wreck is covered with giant tube sponges and coral formations and teems with many kinds of tropical fish, including mainly angel fish and yellow tails. Other worth-a-visit dive sites include: California Wreck, located at a depth ideal for underwater photography; Malmok Reef, featuring path of wildly spread leaf and brain corals and noted for its huge lobsters and for the unusual number of sting rays that take their siesta here; and Dantchi’s Delight that promises easy and beautiful dive with a lot of orange sponges, staghorn coral and damsel fish.
Explore Aruba’s amazing underwater world full of wrecks and colorful marine life, including interesting coral formations that dominates Aruba’s underwater realm.
Aruba Beaches
Aruba beaches are some of the cleanest, widest and most attractive of the Caribbean. The island’s entire leeward (south/east) and the island’s gold coast (north/west) are filled with beaches, all public and blessed with wide shade expanses, quiet retreats and busy sunbathing and water sports meccas. Swimming, snorkeling, kite surfing, waterskiing, banana-boating, parasailing, and all kinds of wet and wild adventures are just steps away on Aruba’s beaches. Beaches in Aruba are easily accessible with several access and parking renovations underway for favorite spots like Arashi Beach (Arashi meaning ‘storm’ in Japanese) northwest of the island and Baby Beach on its southeastern side.
Palm Beach is one of the most renowned in Aruba, a two-mile-long strip housing amazing high-rise hotels, numerous beach bars, restaurants and shops, not to mention the many water sports concessions and piers. Manchebo Beach, also known as Punta Brabo, is another top-notch getaway visited by many tourists annually. The sand here stretches 110 meters from the shore to the hotels. With no water sports in the area, serenity reigns here, making it an ideal spot for romantics looking for peace and tranquility. Druif Beach is also among the most visited beaches, a long, narrow oval-shaped stretch of ivory sand, and a quiet, relaxing spot for sunning and socializing.
Arikok National Park
Covering almost 20 percent of the island, the picturesque Arikok National Park fosters a wide variety of local flora and fauna with some plants found only on Aruba Island. This geological marvel has some 8,000 acres of space and is an ideal spot for outdoors and nature lovers. Hikers can choose from several hiking and biking trails: the eastern side of the park holds a variety of caves and grottos, as well as what is known as bocas or small bays that are considered some of the most spectacular sights on the island. In a nutshell, this is a place to be seen to be believed. Do not forget your cameras!
Not to be missed are also the Casibari and Ayo rock formations and Indian caves, Aruba Aloe Factory, Alto Vista Chapel, Butterfly Farm and Donkey Sanctuary among other attractions.
Where to Stay in Aruba
Aruba is home to a wide range of accommodation options to suit any budget, from attractive, high-end resorts and luxury villas, to simple B&Bs and everything in between. The hotels and resorts in Aruba offer quality services, comfortable accommodation and facilities, and it’s no wonder why Aruba has one of the highest traveler return rates of any Caribbean island.
