Aruba is located just 15 miles from Venezuala and is 20 miles long by six miles wide, and is a magnet for visitors in search of natural wonders.  The waters of Aruba are always warm (approximately 25C-26C) and are clear and swarming with life.  You will see manta rays, barracuda and the rare green moray.

There are 42 major dive sites around Aruba, including Second World War wrecks at depths of 25-400 feet. 


ORANJESTAD Aruba’s Dutch heritage is always present, and nowhere more so than in the capital of Oranjestad, characterised by pastel-coloured gabled buildings and a windmill brought piece by piece from Holland, now used as a restaurant. There are four museums here open to the public: the Historical Museum, the Geological Museum, the Archaeological Museum and the Numismatic Museum. The first is housed in the Fort Zoutman, the oldest building o­n Aruba (1796) with the Willem III-Tower having been added in 1868.

The Bonbini Festival is held every Tuesday 1830-2030 throughout the year in the courtyard of the Historical Museum and offers the opportunity to get an insight into local customs, music and cuisine as well as a chance to get to know the islanders. Oranjestad has a daily market in the Paardenbaai (Schooner Harbour) where traders sell fresh fish straight from the boat, and fruit and vegetables from the mainland are available. The capital is also famous for its shopping district, centred o­n Caya Gilberto François (Betico) Croes.

One of the roads north from the capital runs inland, passing the Bubali Bird Sanctuary. Birdwatching and natural wildlife tours as well as archaeological and geological trips are available in various languages.

THE COAST Aruba’s principal attraction is its beaches; these include Arashi Beach (near California Point o­n the northwest tip, particularly good for snorkelling), Bucuti Beach (recently rated o­ne of the top nine beaches in the Caribbean and o­ne of the best 100 beaches in the world), Spaans Lagoen and Commandeurs Baai, Bachelor’s Beach (good for windsurfing), and the particularly shallow areas of Baby Beach and the Grapefield (all o­n the south coast). Near Baby Beach, at Seroe Colorado, is Rodger’s Beach, where the surf is a little stronger. Beaches o­n the north coast include Boca Prins, Dos Playa and Andicouri. o­ne of the attractions o­n this shore is the Natural Bridge, an arch carved from coral cliffs by the crashing ocean surf. The bridge is the biggest and highest in the Caribbean and is Aruba’s most famous natural wonder. So too is the surf o­n this coast, but visitors are warned that it can be very rough. Local advice concerning conditions for surfing o­n the island at any particular time should be followed carefully, but there will usually be o­ne beach somewhere to suit all levels of skill and courage. Another favourite pastime is exploring the surrounding shallow water with specially equipped submarine vessels.

Not all of the coast is completely deserted; for instance, much of Palm Beach, the 11km (7 miles) of sand and palm trees o­n the west and southwest shores of the island, has now been developed into a unique hotel resort. Low-rise resort hotels are more common o­n Eagle Beach, located between the point to the west of Druif Bay and south of Palm Beach. Visitors after more isolated relaxation will need to seek out some of the more remote sunbathing and swimming spots (of which there are plenty).

On the northern tip of the island is the California Lighthouse set in an area of desolate sand dunes. Off this coast is the wreck of a German freighter from World War II which is now the home of countless exotic fish and a very popular spot for scuba-divers. The Chapel of Alto Vista at Alto Vista is another popular site o­n the north coast.

In the southeastern part of the island is Aruba’s second-largest town, San Nicolas, which owed its prosperity to the oil refinery, o­nce o­ne of the largest in the world. To the east is the area known as Seroe Colorado, notable not o­nly for several fine beaches but also for being the home of the local iguana community.

THE INTERIOR The Cunucu is a land of cactus, windswept divi-divi trees, old villages and hamlets, unsignposted dirt roads stretching across the often mysterious landscape. The distinctive shape of the divi-divi trees (also known as watapanas) has become Aruba’s unofficial trademark; blown by the northeasterly trade winds, the trees are forced to grow at alarming angles. The island can easily be driven round in a day, and cars can be hired without difficulty; see the Travel – Internal section for further information.

There are several systems of caves o­n Aruba. Fontein was o­nce used by the Arawak Indians who were the original inhabitants of the island. o­n the walls of the caves are ancient drawings thought to be part of the Indian sacrificial rite. Nearby, the caves at Guadirikiri are a haven for bats. Arikok, which has been designated a national park, has by far the best preserved Indian drawings o­n the island. Also interesting is a visit to Frenchman’s Pass, where Arawak Indians defended Aruba against the French in 1700. Inland – in fact almost in the geographical centre of the island – is the old settlement of Santa Cruz, named after what is allegedly the place where the first cross was raised o­n Aruba.

Hooiberg (Mount Haystack) looms out of the flat landscape of the interior to the northwest of Santa Cruz. A series of several hundred steps leads up to the 165m (541ft) peak, from where it is possible to see across to Venezuela. Northwest of Hooiberg is the old town of Seroe Patrishi with historical graves dating as far back as the early 18th century. Further north is the town of Noord, noted for its Church of Santa Anna, the oldest church o­n Aruba, with its beautiful 100-year-old hand-carved oak altar. The road from Noord turns north to the California Lighthouse (see above). North from Santa Cruz, turning back towards the coast, the road to Casibari and Ayo passes spectacular boulders, the result of some unexplained geological catastrophe. The road continues to the coast at Bushiribana, centre of the island’s former gold-mining industry. Gold was discovered here in 1824 and actively mined until the beginning of World War I. Kettles and ovens used in the smelting process have been preserved. Gold was also mined at Balashi in the south.

OUTLYING ISLANDS Surrounded by spectacular corals and sealife, including Aruba’s colourful parrotfish, De Palm Island is a 5 minute ferry ride from the mainland and is a popular site for diving and snorkelling. Ferries depart Oranjestad daily (see Travel – Internal section for further detiails). Windjammer beach, o­n the right side of the island, is a good place to snorkel. Facilities o­n the island include snorkel and dive hire and several bars and restaurants.

SeaTrek is a new underwater park where marine life can be viewed. Meals, drinks and ferry transfers are included in the entry price.