Introducing Aruba, the Dutch Caribbean Destination!
Aruba is a small Caribbean Island which lies north of Venezuela’s coast. This island is a part of The Netherlands and is famous in North America as the perfect destination known for its scenic beaches, tropical climate, and pleasant weather. Aruba’s capital, Oranjestad is a beautiful city with rich Dutch colonial heritage buildings which are fully restored and painted in pastel colours. These buildings have been converted into boutique hotels, restaurants, shopping plazas, art galleries, and museums.
The island of Aruba is divided into two regions – the northeast and southwest coasts. The northeast coast of Aruba is known for its rocky coastline, cold waters of the Atlantic, fewer white sand beaches and offer plenty of solitude. The southwest region is the more popular touristy region with plenty of white sand beaches, and turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea with warm waters. Aruba is a flat island and has a few hills in the middle of the island. This island is mostly arid and has desert vegetation of cacti, mangroves, and palm trees, mostly seen around the landscaped areas of resorts and tourists.
Holidays to Aruba are very popular among travellers from the United States of America, most of them escaping the cold winters and taking refuge in Aruba in the southern Caribbean. Aruba is famous for its long white-sand beaches, plenty of all-inclusive resorts, weather full of sunshine, world-class diving spots, and the perfect temperature to spend hours lazing on the beaches and venturing into the waters of the Caribbean. The island has typical Dutch culture that has fused with the Latin American and Caribbean cultures to create a mixed culture that is very much Europeanized.
How to Reach Aruba
Queen Beatrix International Airport (IATA Code- AUA) is the island’s only airport and lies in Oranjestad. The airport has flight services to the United States of America, Canada, and a few cities in Europe including the Netherlands, the northern coastal countries of South America, and the nearby islands of the Caribbean.
Aruba Airlines is the island’s official flag carrier. The major airlines flying from the United States are American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Delta Air Lines and JetBlue Airways. KLM is the official airline of the Netherlands and covers European destinations.
Aruba is also a popular cruise destination in the Caribbean. The island’s main port, Port of Aruba, lies in Oranjestad and is catered by cruise liners like the Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, and Royal Caribbean International.
Visa Policy and Documents
Aruba allows a visa-free stay for a period of 30 to 60 days for citizens of the European Union, Canada, the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland. Citizens of the Netherlands can stay on the island for 6 months visa-free.
Documents Required:
- Travellers must have a valid passport upon entry and the duration of their stay on the island.
- Travellers must have a valid visa on their passport.
- Filled and signed Embarkation and Disembarkation card (ED Card).
- Must have valid return or onward journey tickets.
- Proof of accommodation in Aruba
- Financial proofs
Best Things to See and Do in Aruba Holidays
- Check out the stunning beaches in Aruba
The charming island of Aruba is full of stunning beaches which are the main highlights of the island. The northwest coast of Aruba has a long stretch of 11 kilometres of a continuous stretch of white sand beaches with emerald waters. This long stretch of sand is known for Druif Beach, Eagle Beach, Palm Beach and Malmok Beach. Surfers looking to catch some waves often congregate at the beaches of the windy east coast – Bachelor’s Beach, Boca Prins, Boca Grandi, Dos Playa, etc. The southeast coast has calmer beaches including the Baby Beach, which is good for swimming and venturing into the water with calm waters.
- Take a city tour of Oranjestad
Oranjestad, Aruba’s capital is a beautiful city and a cruise port with a rich Dutch colonial culture and heritage. This city is full of striking Dutch colonial heritage buildings in various pastel colours and hosts several shops, restaurants, museums, art galleries and entertainment venues. Check out the Aruba Historical Museum to get a glimpse of the island’s history. Visit Wilhelmina Park located along the water’s edge and is full of native plants. In case you are a shopaholic, we recommend the Renaissance Shopping Mall which has high-end fashion stores of Chanel, Gucci, Cartier, etc. Families with kids must head to The Butterfly Farm to see colourful species of butterflies and native plants.
- Admire the marine world at Aruba’s diving sites
Aruba is a popular island in the world known for offering plenty of diving sites known for shipwrecks and sunken vessels. Aruba’s diving spots are home to sunken tugboats, cargo ships, and plane fuselages which are now home to several species of marine life. The diving site of Antilia is the largest shipwreck in the Caribbean which is immensely popular among snorkelers. There are wrecks including the English freighter Jane Sea and the oil tanker Pedernales. The coral reefs around the island are available and some of the popular ones are Mas Bango Reef, Plonco Reef and Skalahein Reef.
- Explore the nature at Arikok National Park
The rugged Arikok National Park is dotted with cacti, caves, dunes, and unique rock formations. This area is known for several large boulders that are covered in historic native paintings and withered by the trade winds from the sea. These rocky boulders are best explored by hiking on a trail and climbing on top of the rocks to enjoy scenic views of the park. Look out for some wildlife as the park is home to Parakeets, goats, lizards, snakes, and iguanas. Check out the remains of the 19th-century Bushiribana Gold Mill. Travellers can enjoy 4WD adventures, 2WD vehicles, and horseback rides.
- Enjoy sunset at California Lighthouse & California Dunes
One of the picture-perfect images of Aruba is the famous site of the California Lighthouse which continues to feature extensively on Aruba’s postcards, tourist brochures and websites. Named after the sunken British steamship of S.S. California which sunk off the coast. Today, this iconic lighthouse is known for offering sweeping views of the waters, stunning sunsets, and an amazing dining experience at the nearby restaurant. Travellers can explore the surrounding area, known for its rugged terrain and dunes, known as the California Dunes.
