Aruba Travel Guide

Aruba Travel Guide and Online Tourist Information including beaches, attractions, maps, hotels, tips and more

Introducing Aruba

Aruba Travel Guide; Truely Paradise for Vacation

Palm Beach, Aruba
Palm Beach, Aruba - photo by djKianoosh (flickr)

An Autonomous Country in the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Basking in the warm sun that constantly shines in the southern Caribbean Sea, the tiny 21 mile long island of Aruba rarely disappoints visitors. The cactus filled landscape and arid and dry climate, along with the fact that it sits outside the hurricane belt make this Dutch paradise the perfect place to spend a holiday. Aruba has a land mass of 75 square miles and sits just 17 miles off the coast of Venezuela.

The Caquetios Amerinds Indians from South America traveled by canoe to Aruba and settled the island in the 11th century. Europeans found the island in 1499. A Spanish governor was appointed in 1508, but the Dutch took over in 1636 and have been there ever since, although the United Kingdom did occupy the island from 1799 to 1816. In 1933 Aruba pushed to become an autonomous state within the Netherlands. That status was finally granted in 1986.

About Aruba Today

Bucuti Beach Resort, Aruba
Bucuti Beach Resort, Aruba - photo by Hornplayer(flickr)

There are five main industries that fuel Aruba’s economy. Tourism, aloe exports, phosphate mining, gold mining and petroleum refineries. Aruba is well known for its beautiful white sandy beaches on the southern and western coast of the island. Those areas are sheltered from the fierce ocean current that batters the eastern and northern coast, so all of the development is located on the west side of the island. Two other islands to the east of Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire are also part of the Netherland Antilles, so this group of islands has been nicknamed the ABC islands.

Oranjestad is the capital of Aruba
Oranjestad is the capital of Aruba - photo © atomicshark

The island has a population of 100,000 residents and 33,000 of them live in Oranjestad. The rest of the population is found in the six other cities on the island: Barcadera, Noord, Santa Cruz, Savaneta, Seru Colorado and Saint Nicolass. The rich cultural heritage of the island offers tourist a chance to participate in several holidays celebrations throughout the year. Carnival is important in Aruba and so are the American holidays of Thanksgiving and Halloween, in fact there is a holiday celebrated in almost every month of the year. Christmas and New Year’s Day, as well as the island’s national day on March 18 are always celebrated in typical island fashion.

Aruba in a Few Words

Aruba is one of those islands that’s filled with Caribbean charm and European elegance in a very laid-back way.

The island offers visitors a chance to relax in a part of the world that has not been spoiled by cultural wars or natural disasters. It’s a stress-free place where life is lived in the moment and nature expresses itself in color and beauty without restrictions.

Aruba is known for its hospitality, pristine beaches and incredible sunsets. A trip to Aruba is a step back in Caribbean time. That step is unforgettable and will forever change the way you think of a beach.