Things to do in Aruba

It should come as no surprise that a Caribbean island is noted for seafood. Indeed, many visitors eat nothing else during their stay and are happy to do so. Fresh fish and shellfish abound at Aruba's many local restaurants. Because the island is a wildly popular haven for New Englanders of every stripe during the winter months, there's no shortage of popular American chain restaurants, but you'll be doing yourself a disservice if you don't venture off the beaten path at least once to sample truly local flavor and its limitless offering of seafood. For those who prefer turf over surf but still want to be adventurous and "go native" during their stay, Iguana soup is a popular local dish. 

Equally unsurprising is that Aruba is world-famous for its beaches and astoundingly ideal climate. Don't like winter? This is the island getaway you've been dreaming about. Don't like heat? You're in luck there too; the tropical marine climate makes for endless sunny days, but a near-constant breeze makes Aruba more than livable. The many beaches of Aruba are varied but all equally compelling. Baby Beach offers some of the best snorkeling in the Caribbean, while Arashi Beach, with its white sand and shady...  

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It should come as no surprise that a Caribbean island is noted for seafood. Indeed, many visitors eat nothing else during their stay and are happy to do so. Fresh fish and shellfish abound at Aruba's many local restaurants. Because the island is a wildly popular haven for New Englanders of every stripe during the winter months, there's no shortage of popular American chain restaurants, but you'll be doing yourself a disservice if you don't venture off the beaten path at least once to sample truly local flavor and its limitless offering of seafood. For those who prefer turf over surf but still want to be adventurous and "go native" during their stay, Iguana soup is a popular local dish. 

Equally unsurprising is that Aruba is world-famous for its beaches and astoundingly ideal climate. Don't like winter? This is the island getaway you've been dreaming about. Don't like heat? You're in luck there too; the tropical marine climate makes for endless sunny days, but a near-constant breeze makes Aruba more than livable. The many beaches of Aruba are varied but all equally compelling. Baby Beach offers some of the best snorkeling in the Caribbean, while Arashi Beach, with its white sand and shady huts, should be the number one destination for beach bums whose main priority is lounging. And not to be missed, Eagle Beach is often considered among the top 10 beaches of the world.

Contrary to popular belief, and though there's plenty of it to be found at the Aruba airport, Aruba is not a duty free island. Still, Aruba's economy being as reliant on tourism as it is, the shopping scene on the island is robust and quite reasonable. American dollars are accepted throughout the island, and you'll find that even street vendors offer competitive prices and seldom try to gouge their customers (though some caution and common sense is, as always, recommended.) If local shops and vendors aren't your speed, the Renaissance Mall in Oranjestad features an impressive selection of European and American major label brand stores. 

Aruba is a prime destination for folks who want to cool (or warm?) their heels on immaculate beaches, but for those who prefer to stay active and adventurous on vacation, it's an equally compelling option. If you're staying at a resort, chances are you can find most any activity imaginable through the front desk or concierge, though adventure is far from limited to resort guests. Jeep safaris to the more far-flung, uncrowded beaches of Aruba offer a great way to get out of the city and see the more remote regions of the island. Horseback riding and rock climbing are also popular choices. And, it goes without saying, every kind of watersport is represented on the island, and the fishing (both coastal and charter deep sea trips) is top notch.

Aruba may be the smallest of the ABC Islands, but its southwest coast is a tourist favorite thanks to white sand beaches, aquamarine waters and vibrant casinos. Stirred by trade winds, the air is clean, dry and temperate, with a daily average of 82 degrees Fahrenheit. Palm Beach, the center for all activities on the island, offers resort-quality hotels, numerous casinos, and a variety of restaurants whose cuisines range from Belgian and German to Caribbean and Brazilian. Nightlife is just as varied, furnishing visitors with beachside barbecues, steel-drum bands and a Carnival-esque atmosphere. For those seeking physical activity, Aruba provides primo dive sites, an ATP-sanctioned tennis club, horseback riding, and championship-caliber golf courses. Since Aruba lies outside the hurricane belt, it gets less rain than almost any other Caribbean island and doesn't offer a lush interior. However, nature lovers can still enjoy over 100 species of birds at the Bubali Bird Sanctuary and nature walks through Arikok National Park. A visitor must is taking a few snapshots of the famous divi-divi trees, which are permanently bent by trade winds at a striking 45-degree angle. Aruba's Dutch heritage inspired the early 20th-century...  Read more »

Aruba may be the smallest of the ABC Islands, but its southwest coast is a tourist favorite thanks to white sand beaches, aquamarine waters and vibrant casinos. Stirred by trade winds, the air is clean, dry and temperate, with a daily average of 82 degrees Fahrenheit. Palm Beach, the center for all activities on the island, offers resort-quality hotels, numerous casinos, and a variety of restaurants whose cuisines range from Belgian and German to Caribbean and Brazilian. Nightlife is just as varied, furnishing visitors with beachside barbecues, steel-drum bands and a Carnival-esque atmosphere. For those seeking physical activity, Aruba provides primo dive sites, an ATP-sanctioned tennis club, horseback riding, and championship-caliber golf courses. Since Aruba lies outside the hurricane belt, it gets less rain than almost any other Caribbean island and doesn't offer a lush interior. However, nature lovers can still enjoy over 100 species of birds at the Bubali Bird Sanctuary and nature walks through Arikok National Park. A visitor must is taking a few snapshots of the famous divi-divi trees, which are permanently bent by trade winds at a striking 45-degree angle. Aruba's Dutch heritage inspired the early 20th-century architecture along Wilhelminastraat, and Fort Zoutman and the Willem III Tower museum will draw history buffs. Aruba is a definite match for travelers who seek world-renowned hospitality and an island paradise that remains pristine and wary of over-development.