The Charms Of Aruba Island

There is more to West Indies than Cricket. It is also home to a number of beautiful Islands.

Aruba is a part of the Islands of West Indies, also referred to as the Caribbean Islands. Together with Bonaire and Curacao Isles, it forms the ABC Islands of the Caribbean.  It is at about 15 miles to the north of Venezuela.

To be exact, it belongs to the Lesser Antilles that arc from Puerto Rico to the northeastern coast of South America, the group of Islands in the southeast of West Indies. The West Indies separate the Caribbean Sea from the Atlantic Ocean.

Over 3000 Islands of West Indies are scattered in the Caribbean Sea or form the bridge between the Caribbean and the North Atlantic Ocean.

The Bahamas in the north with over 3,000 individual islands and reefs, the Greater Antilles in the central West Indies that include countries of Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, Dominican Republic (Hispaniola) and Puerto Rico and the Lesser Antilles in the Southeast are three of its main island groups. The latter are further divided into the Leeward Islands and the Windward Islands.

The 193 square kilometer Aruba Island is part of the Netherland Leeward Islands. Its capital is Oranjestad.

When to go

Aruba’s proximity to the equator gifts it a tropical weather with temperatures around 28 degrees Celsius on an average throughout the year. Most of the rainfall occurs from October to January as short and erratic bursts.

The best time to visit Aruba is from December to March, during the month of winters.

How to reach

There is an international airport at Aruba – The Queen Beatrix International Airport. You can also cruise to Aruba. Most flights from US are nonstop to the Caribbean.

Attractions in Aruba

Long Beach stretches, Dutch colonial architecture, excellent snorkeling and water sports sites, rock formations, caves, natural creations are just few of the many things that Aruba offers to its tourists.

The beaches here with their reefs are a haven for all kinds of water sports under the sun. It’s perfect of course, even if you want to sit by and enjoy some quiet time while sunbathing or reading a book.

Most of the beaches on the west coast cater to the needs of tourism, while those offering and an untouched charm are on the windward coast.

Palm Beach is one of the vibrant beaches here, complete with beach bars, restaurants, shops and other tourist delights and calm water that’s inviting for swimmers and snorkelers. For a pensive moment, a walk here while sunset can be worth it.

On the Island’s southeastern end is the Baby Beach in Seroe Colorado. The shallow water here has the colourful corals and tropical fishes waiting for the snorkelers. Close by is the Rodgers Beach, good for boating.  Another good snorkeling and diving spot is the Malmok Beach with reefs and sunken wrecks. You can also go to Boca Catalina, a secluded bay if that’s what you want.

To the north of Malmok beach is the Arashi Beach, good for snorkeling. Trail along it leads to the California Lighthouse.  Though closed to the public, the lighthouse is an important landmark of Aruba. The calm western waves meet the rough waves of the east here.

The Eagle Beach is popular among the locals, especially during the Easter Week when families camp here. The Bubali Bird Sanctuary is another attraction close by.

Not far from the Island’s Capital – Oranjestad, the Druif Beach too is good to chill out at. So is the Manchebo Beach on the Island’s most western point. A popular water sports place here is the Fishermen’s Hut or the Hadicurari Beach where you can also go kite-boarding.

On the southeast coast, in Pos Chiquito, is the Mangel Halto beach, another good snorkeling and diving site where you can spot octopi, morays, barracuda, parrot fish and other marine life.

The wreck of Antilia between Arashi and Malmok beach, wreck of Jane See, the Spanish Lagoon, Commanders Bay, Little Lagoon, Bird Roof and reefs off the Bachelor’s Point are some of the good diving sites here. The Natural Pool is a small area that attracts snorkelers.

There are a couple of historic sites worth visiting in Aruba. The rock formations with Indian paintings known as Ayo, the old stone walls of the Bushiribana Ruins dating back to the 19th century, the Casibari boulders that a trail to its top are some of sites here.

The Natural Bridge that stood 7.3 meters above the sea level at Anicouri, formed by wave erosion is a good picnic spot here, even though it collapsed in 2005.

The Island has a couple of farms and parks that make for an entertaining tour. The Arikok National Park offers an excellent hiking trail. It is home to Cunuco Arikok, where you can spot boulders that adorn Indian carvings. Among the wild life here, you ca spot hares, iguanas and wara-wara.

The Aruba Ostrich Farm here also shelters emus. The Wihelmina Park is at its best with blooming flowers in June, September or October. A marble sculpture of Wihelmina adds to the beauty of the park.

The Alto Vista Chapel or the Pilgrim’s Church built in 1750 and the neo-gothic St Anna Church opened in 1756 are other landmarks of Aruba.

If you are keen on horse riding, the Rancho Daimari is the place you should head to.

Aruba’s capital – Oranjestad, is worth a walk tour. The city’s buildings reflect the Dutch Colonial architecture with Spanish and Caribbean influences.  The Access Art Gallery here features contemporary national and international artists. A major attraction here is the Butterfly Garden, wherein is the enclosed tropical garden.  Displays here show the growth of butterfly from larva to adult.

The Fort Zoutman is a cultural centre of Aruba. Worth as visit here is the King Wilem III Tower, built as a lighthouse originally and now a venue for Bon Bini Festival from May to December. The Aruba Historical Museum here has a good display on the history of this Island.

From Oranjestad, you can go for excursions that include snorkeling and sightseeing on its Strea Charters.

Aruba’s south end has some good attractions for tourists. Worth exploring here are the Ameridian Caves with pre-Columbian petroglyphs, stalagmites and stalactites. The Balashi gold mining site, dating to the 19th century is worth a visit and so are the ruins of old gold smelters nearby and Frenchman’s Pass.

For a view from the top, you can climb up the Hooiberg mountain, 165 meter high and feast your eyes with the view of the coast of Venezuela.

Other places worth a visit are the fishing village of Savaneta, the abandoned settlement of Seroe Colorado and St Nicolas, the second largest city of Aruba which has an oil refinery since 1929.

A great time to visit Aruba would be in late January and early February, during the Carnival.

For golfing, there is the Aruba Golf Course at the south end and the Tiera del Sol at the north end of the Island.

The Aruba Island is as exciting a place for the lovers of water sports as for those who just want to have a nice time by the beach. For the rest, there are historical sites, hiking trails and other activities to get engaged with. When you are planning a trip to Caribbean, you certainly are spoiled for choice with so many pretty Islands here.