Aruba VacationsAruba, the smallest of the Dutch Islands, it is one of the most popular vacation destinations in all the Caribbean. The ABC Islands are made up of three islands in the Netherland Antilles section of the Caribbean. Bonaire and Curacao make up the B and C part of the island trio. Weather in The Netheland Antilles is always near 82 degrees. It may vary a few degrees in the winter (and I do mean 3 or 4 degrees) so it is always summer. The trade winds that blow from the east over the island offers a nice relief from the heat and is consistent throughout the year, creating a great atmosphere for windsports including windsurfing. You can count on Aruba's weather to let you enjoy scuba diving, snorkeling, swimming and sunbathing the whole year round. You can count on the beaches of Aruba for a wonderful, relaxing day. Now that is a great place to vacation. The ABC Islands are below the hurricane belt so there is no need to worry about the hurricane months that plague the rest of the Caribbean. Aruba is only 15 miles from the coastline of Venezuela and is slightly over 19 miles long. The widest part of the island is about 6 miles wide, so you can tour the entire island easily. OranjestadThe capitol city is Oranjestad and what a lovely sight it is to see. The buildings are painted in bright, colorful pastels, just a preview of the colorful and fun vacation that awaits you there.
The Beaches of ArubaThe beaches of Aruba are very different from the Bonaire Beaches. Most of the beaches of Aruba are white sandy beaches,in fact, some of the beaches on the leeward side of the island are ranked highly among the best beaches in the world, two of the most famous are Palm Beach and Eagle Beach. Palm is the more crowded of the two and it makes the quick trip to Eagle more than worth it for a peaceful day in the sun. Some of the Beaches of Aruba include:
Palm Beach
Eagle Beach
Manchebo Beach
Arashi Beach
Boca Catalina
Malmok Beach
Hadikurari Beach
Druif Beach
Baby Beach
You may want to go to De Palm Island. It is a private island with a beautiful white sand beach.
Boca Prins
Dos Playas where there are two beaches and is a turtle nesting ground.
Andicouri (considered one of the most beautiful black pebble beaches in the Caribbean)
Water ActivitiesAs you can imagine, Aruba is filled with lots of tours and underwater activities for all levels of swimmers, divers and snorkelers. Some of the outings you can enjoy include:
Snuba (Snorkeling with an air hose)
Snorkeling
Scuba Diving (There are over 20 great dive sites) Wreck Diving (There are 11 wreck sites for divers to explore. It is called the Wreck Diving Capitol of the Caribbean!)
Sea Trekking (You don't even have to know how to swim as you walk the bottom of the ocean with a helmet)
The Atlantis VI submarine (A great way to see the underwater world and stay dry)
The Seaworld Explorer ( Half submarine/ half boat. The bottom is submerged, but the top is above the water)
The Glass Bottom Boat (Another underwater viewing boat where you don't get wet)
Windsurfing (Beginners can get windsurf lessons and there are several windsurfing gear rental places)
Cruise (You can sail on a yacht or a catamaran and enjoy the wind, the water and the beautiful view of the shoreline)
Kayak (Small two person water craft that you need to paddle)
Jet Ski Rentals
Banana Boat Rides
Water skiing
Paddle Boat Rentals
Parasailing
Deep Sea Fishing (Go and catch a Yellow fin Tuna, a Barracuda, a Wahoo or some Grouper)
Jolly Pirates
Tattoo Party Cruise
Things to doThere is so much to see and do on this little Netherland Antilles Caribbean Island. Land Activities include: Horseback Riding (Along the beaches or into the interior of the island)
Golf
Miniature Golf
ATV Tours
Biking
Hiking
Rock Climbing
Tennis
Casinos
Theaters
Shows
Things to see include:
Butterfly Farm
The Bubali Plas Bird Sanctuary
The Church of Santa Anna
The California Lighthouse
Chapel of Alto Vista
Bushirbana Gold Mill
You can visit the site of the Natural Bridge, but unfortunately the bridge itself fell into the sea in 2005. It was a grand sight to see and you will see many pictures of it around the island)
Rock Formations
Cura di Tortuga (A natural pond)
The Arikrok National Park ( Interesting rock art, hiking trails and lots of divi divi trees, plants, flowers and cactus)
Cero Jamanota (The highest point on the island where you can see a great view)
Dos Playa and Boca Prins (Great for photographers)
Caves (Including one called The Tunnel of Love)
You can find everything you want in the pretty brightly colored shops that line the Oranjestad streets. You will find Swiss Watches, French Perfumes, Crystal, Cameras, Delft Porcelain and of course Designer Clothes and Jewelry. Don't forget to stock up on Caribbean rums and liquors while your there. As with many travel destinations, most of the stores in Oranjestad accept credit cards, the US dollar and travelers checks. I'm sure you won't be able to use your checks there. You'll also find ATM machines readily available for you if you need them.
AccommodationsResorts and Hotels on Aruba come in all shapes, sizes and price ranges. They range from the Oceanfront Marriott and Hyatt to the less expensive, off the beach, Caribbean Palm Village and Coconut Inn. You can also rent a private home, condo, villa or apartment for your vacation in Aruba. There is no shortage of restaurants for your dining needs and they fit every budget from highly priced to reasonable. All food must be imported so it is more expensive than at home.
Want to Get Married?Want to get married on Aruba? What could be more romantic than getting married on a Caribbean island? Make sure to bring: Your birth certificates Any divorce or death certificates if you have been married before You will need a request for a marriage license in writing. You must file these documents two weeks (14 days)before you pick up the license (You can do this via mail, make sure to use some kind of courier or receipt mail.) Make sure to bring two witnesses when you pick them up!
You can contact the offices at:
Bureau Burgerlijke Stand En Bevolkingsregister, Schoolstraat # 2, Oranjestad, Aruba, Dutch Caribbean Phone # (00-297) 583 4400 Fax # (00-297) 583 9160
Getting AroundWhile your in Aruba listen for the native language of Papiamento. (the same as on Bonaire, but there it's Papiamentu) It's a combination of Dutch, Portuguese, Spanish, English and French. If you speak any of these languages you will be able to catch words you understand a few of the words you hear. The official language of the island is Dutch. If you want a car to get around the island you will find many car rental agencies available, including the ones you will recognize from home Avis, Budget, Hertz, National and Thrifty. Road signs and speedometers are all in kilometers, there is no turn on red anywhere on the island, and you do have to look out for goats and donkeys...something we are not familiar with in the States. You can also use a taxi or the bus system to get around. How to get to Aruba You can fly in to the Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA) or you can cruise in on one of the many ships that come into cruise ship terminal.
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