Island of Aruba

The island of Aruba is a small island and a self-governing state entity of the same name. The island of Aruba is located in the southern Caribbean Sea near the coast of Venezuela. It is the westernmost island among the Lesser Antilles. It is a federal subject within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

. Contents

General Information

Aruba’s unique beaches have made the island one of the world’s most fashionable resorts. Their white sand is considered a true miracle, as it remains cool and does not burn your feet even during the sweltering daylight hours. Aruba is also called the “Monte Carlo of the Caribbean.”

.

The island has an area of only 193 km². By its origin, Aruba belongs to the volcanic type islands, although there are no high mountains on the island. Aruba’s highest points are Mount Yamanota at 188 meters and Mount Oyberg at 165 meters. The terrain is mostly hilly with flat areas near the coast. The coastline is relatively straight and does not form deep inlets and bays. Off the southwestern coast of Aruba stretch two relatively small islands, De Palm and Renaissance.

.

Origin of the island’s name

The island’s name comes from a Native American word combination consisting of the words “ora” (“shell”) and “oubao” (“island”).

.

History

Aruba’s history dates back long before its European colonization. People are known to have inhabited the island since as early as 2000 BC. The Arawak tribes were forced out of the island around the 14th century by the warlike Carib tribes.

.

For Europeans, the island was discovered either by one of the ships of Alonso de Ojeda or during the expedition of Amerigo Vespucci in 1499. There is no precise data on this point. In 1513, the Spanish, who saw no prospect of colonizing the small islands, forcibly removed the entire population of Aruba to work in the mines on the islands of the Greater Antilles. In 1634, the Dutch fleet that had previously captured the island of Curaçao, fearing that the neighboring islands of Bonaire and Aruba might be used as bases by the Spanish, eventually captured them as well. Britain captured Aruba twice during the Caribbean Wars with the Netherlands, but eventually did return it to the Dutch Crown.

In 1920, a new era in the island’s history began as Venezuelan oil began to be refined here. World War II did not bypass the island and it was repeatedly attacked by German submarines. In the post-war period Aruba was part of the Netherlands Antilles.

.

On January 1, 1986, Aruba withdrew from the Netherlands Antilles, but remained under the Kingdom of the Netherlands with extensive administrative powers. The island still has this status today, building its economy on oil refining, offshore activities, and tourism.

.

Climate

The climate of the island of Aruba is tropical dry. Temperatures do not fluctuate too much during the year and on average stay at +28 °C. Precipitation in the form of short-term showers fall on the island rarely, and even then in the fall, and their amount does not exceed 440 millimeters. Tropical storms do not bother the island, usually passing nearby.

.

Currency

The currency unit of Aruba is the Aruban florin (AWG, code: 533), also called the Aruban guilder in some sources. The Aruban florin consists of 100 cents.

.

Population

The population of Curaçao exceeds 105,000. The people of Aruba call themselves Arubans, and ethno-racially they are divided into descendants of Indians, Negroes imported as slaves, emigrants from Asia (Filipinos, Indians and Lebanese) and immigrants from Europe (Dutch, Portuguese and Spanish). The official languages are Dutch and Papiamento Creole.

.

Cities

The administrative center of Aruba is the city of Oranjestad, which is located on the northwest coast of the island and is populated by approximately thirty-five thousand inhabitants. Other significant cities on the island include Sint Nicolas and Noord.

.

How to get there

Getting to Aruba is fairly easy for tourists and visitors to the island. It can be done either by sea mode of transportation or by air. On the southern and southwestern coast of the island there are quite a lot of small convenient bays and coves, where small yachts and passenger ships can dock. Ocean cruise liners moor in Oranjestad and the port of Baysadera. The Aruba Reina Beatrix International Airport (Aruba Reina Beatrix Airport), which was built in 1986 near Oranjestad, is available for tourists who prefer air transportation.

.

Accommodation

Tourists and visitors to the island can stay in 42 two hotels of varying degrees of comfort. As a rule, these are hotels in the coastal zone in the southwest and south of the island, where they are erected near the beaches. Some hotels have their own beaches and recreation areas with appropriate organization and infrastructure. Among the best hotels in Aruba are such hotel complexes as Bucuti & Tara Beach Resorts Aruba, My Aruban Home, Manchebo Beach Resort & Spa, Marriott Aruba Resort & Stellaris Casino and others.

.

Aruba’s Best Beaches

Aruba has amazing beaches. Their main feature is that even in the hottest weather, the white sand doesn’t get very hot and doesn’t burn your feet. Combined with the emerald color of the coastal waters, it gives an unforgettable experience to beach lovers who come to the island in abundance.

.

In Aruba, several beach complexes and areas can be distinguished, among which, naturally, there are some gems. Baby Beach is simply created for beach vacations with small children. Here at the service of holidaymakers rather shallow coastal waters, dazzling white sand and well-organized service.

.

Arashi Beach and Hotel Complex will satisfy the demands of even the most sophisticated beachgoers. Here you can admire the clear emerald coastal waters, lying on the sand or on the balcony of one of the hotels, which are almost directly adjacent to the water.

Eagle Beach provides a lot of fun for lovers of active recreation. All conditions for snorkeling, diving and windsurfing are created here.

.

On the east coast of the island is Andikuri Beach, which is a center for surfing. Fans of this activity come here from almost all over the world, as the waves here are quite high throughout the year.

.

Diving

The scope of organization of services for diving in Aruba is somewhat inferior to the islands of Curacao and Bonaire, but still there is no shortage of divers here. Diving is carried out by them, as a rule, in the early morning, as in this period is not too windy.

.

Popular for diving are places where the bottom rests on the hulks of sunken ships in different times and eras. The German ship Antilla and a tanker sunk by the German submarine Pedernales are targets for underwater exploration. Diving gurus can dive in places where the passenger ships “Jane C” and “California” lie at fairly deep depths. Also on every dive you can endlessly admire the flora and fauna of Mangel Halto Reef, home to countless giant sponges among the black coral forests.

.

Island Attractions

For connoisseurs of wildlife and local attractions, Aruba is a godsend.

.

The first place to start exploring Aruba is Arikok National Park, which is home to the island’s highest point, Mt. Yamanota, as well as the 95-meter-long heart-shaped Guadirica Cave, called the Grotto of Love.

In the town of Norddeep, you can find the highest peak on the island, Mt. Yamanota.

In the town of Nord it is worth visiting one of the masterpieces of the local medieval architecture – the Church of St. Anne, which includes the Alto Vista Chapel.

.

In Oranjestad you should definitely visit the old defense structure – Fort Zoutman.

.

Parque Velhelmina is famous for its endless tropical gardens, with herbaceous and woody plants collected from various places on the island.

.

Oranjestad is also home to the Numismatic Museum, which exhibits a rich collection of various Aruban currencies from different eras.

.

The Archaeological Museum contains exhibits from excavations on the island, as well as fragments of meteorites.

.