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14 miles north of Venezuela, Aruba is the smallest and most Western
island of the Dutch Antilles, which, are know locally as the ABCs,
which also include Bonaire and Curacao. With its miles of white,
sand beaches, turquoise-blue waters and guaranteed sun, Aruba is a
great destination for sun-worshippers and a popular stop for cruise
ship passengers. Over a million visitors a year are enticed to
visit this tiny island by its luxury resorts, first-class restaurants,
24 hour casinos and excellent watersports facilities.
Most visitors either stay in the capital, Oranjestad, or just to the north in one of the many resorts on Palm and Eagle beaches. For those who prefer more than soaking up the sun, there is great diving and snorkelling along the reef on the protected leeward coast and windsurfing a little further north at Fisherman's Hut. Deep-sea fishing is also popular in Aruba.
San Nicolas, the island's oldest and largest town which provides a glimpse of old British-Caribbean charm and contains a handful of restaurants and shops.
The most photographed attraction on the island, the Natural Bridge, is halfway along the rocky North Eastern Shore, more than 100 feet across and rising 25 feet above sea level. This natural coral archway spans a small bay and has been carved by thousands of years of strong winds and crashing waves.
Aruba's capital, Oranjestad has a small harbour, once used by fishing boats and schooners which now attracts cruise ships from all over the world. Oranjestad's streets are lined with pastel-colored Dutch colonial houses, a small Archaeological Museum, the restored 18th-century Fort Zoutman, the Museo Aruban, and the Numismatic Museum which has a large collection of coins from over 400 countries, many salvaged from shipwrecks in the surrounding area.
Just north of the capital, Aruba's best beaches extend four miles between Palm Beach and Eagle Beach with endless fine, golden sand and crystal clear shallow waters.
There are no shortage of bars, restaurants, and luxury hotels in Aruba as well as numerous water sports including kayaking, windsurfing, snorkelling, and diving to make Aruba a vacation paradise.
Most visitors either stay in the capital, Oranjestad, or just to the north in one of the many resorts on Palm and Eagle beaches. For those who prefer more than soaking up the sun, there is great diving and snorkelling along the reef on the protected leeward coast and windsurfing a little further north at Fisherman's Hut. Deep-sea fishing is also popular in Aruba.
San Nicolas, the island's oldest and largest town which provides a glimpse of old British-Caribbean charm and contains a handful of restaurants and shops.
The most photographed attraction on the island, the Natural Bridge, is halfway along the rocky North Eastern Shore, more than 100 feet across and rising 25 feet above sea level. This natural coral archway spans a small bay and has been carved by thousands of years of strong winds and crashing waves.
Aruba's capital, Oranjestad has a small harbour, once used by fishing boats and schooners which now attracts cruise ships from all over the world. Oranjestad's streets are lined with pastel-colored Dutch colonial houses, a small Archaeological Museum, the restored 18th-century Fort Zoutman, the Museo Aruban, and the Numismatic Museum which has a large collection of coins from over 400 countries, many salvaged from shipwrecks in the surrounding area.
Just north of the capital, Aruba's best beaches extend four miles between Palm Beach and Eagle Beach with endless fine, golden sand and crystal clear shallow waters.
There are no shortage of bars, restaurants, and luxury hotels in Aruba as well as numerous water sports including kayaking, windsurfing, snorkelling, and diving to make Aruba a vacation paradise.
Guide created: 02/11/06 (updated 10/07/06)
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