Aruba is a popular Caribbean island only 18 miles off the Venezuela coast. It is only 19.6 miles long and 6 miles across at its widest point, approximately 70 square miles. It is one in a group of three islands called the "ABC" (Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao) islands. These islands have a definite Dutch flavor as they have been closely tied to the Netherlands since 1636. Although the island now has control over its own internal affairs, it is still considered part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and prostitution is legal. The Netherlands retains control of Aruba's waters within the three-mile limit of international law. This is under the jurisdiction of a contingent of Royal Dutch Marines stationed on the island.
It is a flat, windy and desert-like island and is on the southern fringes of the hurricane belt and NOT outside the hurricane belt as commonly believed. The main area of accommodations is along the west coast, where a series of high and low-rise hotels and casinos draw visitors from around the world. Timeshares, condominiums and restaurants are gradually being developed inland from this west coast. Aruba has more timeshares than any other island in the Caribbean and depends heavily on the tourist industry as almost everything has to be imported including fruit.
The official languages are Dutch and Papiamento, but English, German and Spanish are widely spoken. Most natives speak several languages. Major chain resorts usually have staff speaking Dutch, English and German at a minimum. Many expatriates have come to work in the tourist industry and often speak only their native language.
There is only one airport on Aruba, the Queen Beatrix International Airport (Code: AUA). Flights (both scheduled and charter) arrive and depart frequently every day to and from the United States, Canada, South America, Europe and other Caribbean islands. Over 25 airlines serve this airport.
The main activities are sunbathing, gambling, shopping and watersports. If you want to try something different, take a day trip over to Boca Prins and do some sand dune sliding. You'll get a little dirty from all the sand in your shorts, but it's something that not all tourists do. For those interested in seeing the island from a different viewpoint, visit the caves. Some require a lot of climbing and appropriate attire, so be prepared!
If you just want to "look around" you can rent a car and drive around the island.
One of the best way to explore the island is buy a good map before your arrival (many web sites like Amazon offer good ones), then rent a smaller 4x4 car with a roof (to stay dry during spotty showers) and you can access all the terrains. Plan your activities well because even one week on the island is not enough time to explore everything, as well as getting in beach and plenty of watersport time. The California Lighthouse at the north end of the island has an interesting history, and the surrounding views are some of the best on the entire island.
There are many excellent restaurants, but again, plan your dinners at the best ones well in advance because they require reservations. Sometimes calling ahead 24 hrs. is not enough time to get in.
If you're in good shape and don't have phobias about the dark or being in tight spaces, take the Tunnel of Love self-guided cave tour. Very interesting and fun if you have kids old enough to appreciate something like this. Unfortunately the Natural Bridge collapsed Sept. 2005 and is no longer an attraction, but there is a smaller natural bridge right next to it. You won't be wasting your time going to see them because there's lots of other beautiful natural scenery along the way. There is parking, a restaurant/snack bar and gift shop. There is a charge for use of the rest rooms.
Malmok Beach and Baby Beach are the best snorkel spots accessible from the shore, altho Baby Beach often gets crowded and the water was murkier from all the tourists walking on the sandy bottom nearby the snorkel areas. Much more sea life and corals at Malmok, but bring water shoes to walk on the gravelly beach at Malmok if you have tender feet.
The Eagle/Manchebo Beach areas is also known as the low rise area and has several European (not high rise) style resorts. Because of this it is a favorite of European visitors to Aruba, on the beach topless sunbathing is common. Palm Beach was just voted #1 beach in all of the Caribbean by the 2006 Caribbean Life Readers Poll. It is the beach that sports the famous, old knarling looking divi-divi trees you see in so many photos and postcards.
There's also no bug problems like you find on so many other Caribbean islands, but the lizards do roam freely and are harmless. (Be sure to find them sleeping high in the trees at night.)
If you travel over the Christmas/New Year's holiday, aerial fireworks are on display every night somewhere on the island and can usually be seen from just about any vantage point. During the day, bands of roving groups with loud noisemaker type firecrackers set off wild displays of noise in the middle of the streets all day long. Streets are temporarily closed by the police for these displays, so you might be caught in a traffic jam if you have to wait for the display to finish. They usually last 5-10 minutes, but it's like nothing else you'll ever see or hear in the States and something to experience once in your life.