|
Get to know Aruba & get the most from your Aruba vacation
Aruba is the westernmost of the Caribbean islands, Aruba lies just 18 miles off the coast of Venezuela. Aruba covers an area of 70 square miles. Approximately 81,000 people reside in Aruba full
time, and more than 540,000 visit during the course of a year. The southern, leeward side of Aruba is famous for its long stretches of powdery white sand beach, while the northern coast features a rugged and
dramatic landscape and secluded coves ideal for swimming.
Things to do on your Aruba vacation
Those who prefer privacy can find a secluded stretch of beach or go exploring through the countryside on their own, while those who are more outgoing can take
advantage of Aruba's vibrant nightlife, the casinos, the discotheques. Sports enthusiasts can go scuba-diving in any of the 42 different diving sites around Aruba, engage the incredible island winds by
windsurfing, rent water-skis or parasail, or charter a boat and go deep-sea fishing. Aruba offers two golf courses, one of which is professional caliber, an ATP sanctioned tennis center and horseback riding. The
different hotels on Aruba provide a whole range of activities for singles, honeymoon couples, and families with children. Whatever kind of vacation you are looking for, the odds are you will be able to find it in
Aruba.
General Information for your Aruba vacation
Currency: The Aruba florin is the standard currency of the country, but U.S. Dollars are accepted everywhere.
Electricity: Electricity on Aruba operates on 110 volts alternating current, 60 cycles, and American appliances should work without the need for converters or adapters.
Language: Nearly everyone on Aruba is able to speak English and Spanish, in addition to Dutch, which is the official language of Aruba.
Drinking Water: The water on Aruba has been desalinated and purified, so it is safe for drinking.
Time Zone: Aruba follows Atlantic Standard Time year
round. During the fall and winter, noon on the East Coast of the United States is 1pm on the island. During U.S. daylight savings time, the hour is the same on the Eastern Seaboard as it is on the island.
Driving: Jeeps, scooters, and bicycles may be rented for getting around or for going off on one's own. Cars and motorcycles may also be rented at the Aruba airport. Taxis should have a fixed price schedule for most destinations on the island. On Aruba everyone drives on the right-hand side.
Climate to expect on your Aruba vacation
Aruba enjoys a dry and sunny climate which is kept pleasant and temperate year-round due to the cooling effects of the trade winds. The average annual temperature is 83 degrees, and rainfall
amounts to just 17 inches a year, most of which occurs during the months of October, and November. Aruba is located well below the hurricane belt.
Beaches on Aruba
The southern, leeward coast of Aruba is lined with beautiful, sparkling white
sand and is commonly known as the Turquoise Coast for the colorful tint of the water. There are many secluded sections of private beach or more popular strips by the hotels. Baby Beach down at the eastern tip of
Aruba is a natural wading pool that is perfect for families with small children. The northern coast is more rugged.
Sports, Activities & thinks to do on your Aruba vacation
Deep Sea Fishing: Boats can be chartered to fish for sailfish, marlin, tuna, bonito and wahoo or just to go out watching for dolphins off the coast of Aruba.
Water Sports: Most of the hotels on Aruba, in addition to the sporting shops, offer equipment and instruction in water-skiing, parasailing, windsurfing, jet-skiing, and
sailing. Aruba's fame as a windsurfing destination has attracted some of the most skilled competitors, and instructors, in the world. Aruba has earned the name of the Windsurfing Capital of the World.
Scuba Diving and Snorkeling: The waters which surround Aruba offer great visibility of up to 100 feet. The 42 major dive sites provide an amazing variety of underwater activity: numerous shipwrecks from 25 to 400 feet deep are waiting to be explored, and the waters are teeming with sea life including manta rays, barracuda, and the rare green moray. All levels of diving from beginning to advanced are available. For the less adventurous, glass-bottomed boats and submarines make trips out to view many of the aquatic sites near Aruba.
Golf: There are two golf courses on Aruba, the professional caliber 18-hole Tierra del Sol designed by Robert Trent Jones II and the 9-hole Aruba Golf Course.
Other: Tennis, Horseback riding
Food and Drink: On Aruba restaurants cater to a wide variety of tastes and feature such specialties as French,
Indonesian, Argentinian, Japanese, Dutch, Italian, and Latin American cuisine's. A gratuity of between 10% and 15% for service is usually added to the bill automatically. To round out the evening, the island's
nightclubs offer dancing to many different kinds of music including: jazz, pop, rumba, salsa, reggae, calypso and soca.
Nightlife: There are many comfortable, charming and exciting nightspots in Aruba with dancing, entertainment, and lively action-filled casinos. Most of the hotels have their own special night of entertainment. The action in the Aruba casinos is constant and the atmosphere charged with excitement and expectation. There are many relaxing activities for those who prefer a slower paced evening; a tropical drink on a moonlit patio under a star studded sky, a quiet stroll on a peaceful beach or dinner in a quiet restaurant.
Casinos: Gaming is legal on Aruba and there are many casinos from which to choose. In addition to blackjack, poker, craps, roulette, baccarat, and hundreds of ringing slot machines, Aruba's casinos offer Caribbean Stud Poker, invented in 1988 in Aruba and currently skyrocketing in popularity all over the world. In Caribbean Stud Poker, as in blackjack, each player vies only with the dealer. Unlike blackjack, however, Caribbean Stud Poker offers players the thrill of a progressive jackpot that can reach into the hundreds of thousands of U.S. dollars.
Shopping: Most of the best shopping on Aruba is to be found in the downtown area of Oranjestad, the capital, but many of the shops have satellite branches in a few of the larger hotels. Quality merchandise from all over the world, particularly Latin America and Europe, attract many shoppers looking for bargains. Store hours are typically 8 am to 6 PM with a two-hour break for lunch between noon and 2 PM.
Clothing: Dress is casual informal summer wear. Dress-up clothes are recommended for a night out in one of the island's elegant restaurants, nightclubs or
casino's. Most casino's require jackets for gentlemen. Bathing suits are not permitted in the shopping and business districts on Aruba.
|
