Aruba, one of the most popular islands in the Caribbean, welcomes more than 1.5 million visitors a year. Most visitors come over from America and nearby Venezuela, but lots of travellers from the UK book flights to Aruba; it’s definitely worth the long journey over. And the minute you step off your Aruba flight and drive to your hotel the long stretches of white sand beaches will take your breath away.
Oranjestad, Aruba’s capital, is where all the action is. It’s full of restaurants, casinos, nightclubs and shops and strolling through this small town is delightful. Dutch and baroque architecture with a Caribbean twist are dotted along the streets and the bustling waterfront welcomes cruise ships, yachts and fishing boats, some that dock for a day, some that stay for months. A 20-minute walk west of Oranjestad is the beach town of Eagle Beach. There you’ll find a variety of accommodation from small boutique hotels to large all-inclusives which tend to cater more for the budget-conscious. Or, for those looking for a little more glitz and glamour, the next town after Eagle Beach is the swanky Palm Beach with upscale resorts along the famous Waikiki strip.
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With an average temperature of 28 degrees Celsius, Aruba is kept relatively cool by the constant trade winds. The peak tourist season is between mid-December and mid-April, and if you can visit outside this period you can expect room rates to be almost halved. Rainfall is infrequent, but likely to occur between October and January, if at all.
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Peak Season:
Wintertime here is peak season for visiting Aruba, roughly from December to March. Book ahead for accommodation.
Off Season:
The temperature on the island is good throughout the year, an average of high 20s Celsius, so any time you visit will be hot. Prices fall drastically outside the peak season. Most of the rainfall is between September and December; if you arrive in this season, bring a waterproof jacket.
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The Arubus departs from Oranjestad to destinations through the island. Pay the bus driver as you enter, and hold on tight. Roads are poor in most of the country and the drivers can seem foolhardy to tourists… The service, however, is cheap and the buses connect with many of the beach resorts.
Taxis can also be taken from the town and main resorts.
To see much of the island, you’ll need to hire a car. Four-by-fours are recommended due to the bad roads.
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- Most of the tourism in Aruba is concentrated round Oranjestad. To explore the island further, you’ll certainly need to hire a car. Four-by-fours are necessary as the roads are poor. It’s well worth the effort though. On the North coast you can visit a natural pool – a swimming pool created by an enclave of rocks from the sea – and enjoy the landscape of a much more craggy coastline of rocks and crashing waves.
- Aruba has one national park, which covers approximately 20 per cent of the island. Arikok National Park includes a lava formation, a quartz formation and a limestone formation as well as wildlife. There are also the oldest Arawak cave paintings on the island. Again, you will need a four-by-four to visit. Once you arrive you can continue offroading, or follow one of the well-marked hiking trails.
- Aruba’s carnival is a popular event, which lasts for months, rather than just weeks. The event starts with the New Year celebrations on January 1 and carries on all the way through to Ash Wednesday. It’s a lively, colourful, buoyant couple of months, filled with dancing, music, floats and celebrations. Inevitably, it is also when many tourists visit the island, so if you are planning on arriving in this time make sure to book accommodation and flights well in advance.
- Oranjestad is the capital and the main arrival point for holidaymakers. Many choose to stay here. It’s also the point where the cruise ships arrive so the town can become very busy when a ship is docked. The town is where many of the excursions or water sports can be booked – snorkelling, windsurfing, even a trip in a submarine. Away from the beach, however, there are lots of museums, shops and restaurants to explore.
- To save money on lots of tourist activities, get a VisitAruba card, available from the tourist centre. It offers money off car rental, accommodation, entrance to water sports parks, restaurants, shopping and more…
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Reina Beatrix (AUA) is 2.5 miles southeast of Oranjestad. To/from the airport: Taxis are available. Regular buses run from just outside the airport. International and local car hire companies are based at the airport. Facilities: Duty-free shops, souvenir shops, bank, restaurants and internet access.
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All passports must be valid for period of intended stay. Visitors must hold sufficient funds, onward or return tickets and all documents for next destination.
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UK nationals require a valid passport and irrespective of endorsement, British passport holders may stay for a maximum of three months without a visa.
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