Aruba, a small Caribbean island 29 km north of Venezuela, is a part of the ABC islands - Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao, which form the Dutch Caribbean and is a part of the Netherlands. It is famous for its white-sand beaches.

Where to stay

Aruba Downtown is very far from the impressive beaches in the northwest. Choose a hotel/resort/Airbnb near the world-famous Eagle Beach or Palm beach. Public transport consists of a bus that takes 5.2 US$ on a single ride and runs almost once an hour. Taxis, just like everything else, on the island, are expensive.

Things to do

1. Island tour - on a Jeep or a UTV. We did the Jeep Safari tour, whose highlights were an animal garden, Arikok national park, and the natural pool.

   

   

   

   

2. Animal Garden - we did this as a part of Safari, but if you are not doing that, it is worth checking out the animal farm on its own.

   

   

   

3. Scuba Diving - Mangel Halto beach is famous for Scuba diving. It has both rich flora & fauna and a shipwreck.

   

   

4. De Palm Island - I didn’t do this experience since I was going Scuba. But if you aren’t, then this could be an excellent half-day trip.

5. Butterfly Garden - I skipped it since I was going to the animal farm. But if you aren’t, then this might be an excellent short trip for a few hours.

Notes

1. Given its location, the island is hot year-round. The island is semi-arid due to the low rainfall.
2. Sunlight is strong in Aruba, so do carry a hat, sunscreen, and skin creams to keep yourself safe. Everything is imported and expensive.
3. Aruba is more famous among American tourists, while Europeans usually go to Curaçao.
4. Tap water is potable (drinkable) everywhere, thanks to the massive investments in desalination plants.
5. English is widely spoken. English + Spanish would give you 100% coverage, though.