GENERAL INFORMATION:

Discovered and claimed for Spain in 1499, Aruba was acquired by the Dutch in 1636. The island's economy has been dominated by three main industries. A 19th century gold rush was followed by prosperity brought on by the opening in 1924 of an oil refinery. The last decades of the 20th century saw a boom in the tourism industry. Aruba seceded from the Netherlands Antilles in 1986 and became a separate, autonomous member of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Movement toward full independence was halted at Aruba's request in 1990.

This parched speck of an island off the coast of Venezuela has guaranteed sunshine and is blessed with beaches that make you say 'ahhh'. Tourism is the big business here and it's served in a double scoop of Latin coastal coasters and sun bunnies from North America and Holland. Although large-scale tourism dominates the island (read: luxury resorts from here to sunset), there are still undeveloped areas on the exposed northern coast, and much of the interior is inhabited by nothing more than goats and contorted divi-divi trees. In this region, a triple whammy of a dry climate, salt-loaded seaspray and relentless trade winds has created a wonderfully surreal landscape with more than a passing resemblance to the images Pathfinder sent back to Earth from Mars.

• Full country name: Aruba
• Area: 75 sq km
• Population: 68,675
• Language: Dutch, Papiamento, English, Spanish; Castilian
• Religion: Roman Catholic (82%), Protestant, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim
• Government: autonomous state within the Kingdom of the Netherlands
• Head of State: Governor Fredis Refunjol
• Head of Government: Prime Minister Nelson O. Oduber
• GDP: US$1.5 billion
• GDP per capita: US$22,000
• Inflation: 3%
• Major Industries: Tourism, transshipment facilities, oil refining, offshore banking, phosphates.
• Major Trading Partners: USA, EU, The Netherlands, Japan

ORANJESTAD - THE CAPITAL CITY

Located on Aruba's picturesque southern coast, Oranjestad is the historical Dutch capital city where the tall multicolored houses of Wilheminastraat combine carved wooded doors and traditional Dutch tiles with airy open galleries and sloping, Aruban-style roofs. Along the wharf, merchants come to sell fresh fish and produce right off the boats every morning. All of Aruba's government buildings and main offices are located in the capital city,

Oranjestad is also the place to shop or to browse in the marketplace for Aruban art and local handicrafts. Depending on the time of year, you could also find yourself in the middle of Carnival, a summertime festival, the New Year's fireworks, or even a parade in honor of the Queen. At any time of year, Oranjestad is the bustling meeting place of tourists and locals alike.

Oranjestad

SAN NICOLAS AND NEARBY DISTRICT

The second largest city in Aruba, San Nicolas is a modern development that rose with the island's oil boom. The area has a typical British Caribbean heritage. For years, one of the main reasons that visitors have found their way to this end of the island was to drop in at Charlie's Bar. This bar has become famous since the 1940's when scuba divers began to hang their underwater discoveries on the walls there. It's become a bit of a museum in the decades since!

This city has recognized that Charlie's Bar has brought famous people from around the world to its small town and is just now starting to develop itself into an "alternative" tourist destination. Hotels are being built or renovated to reflect the city's history when seamen from around the world took shore leave to enjoy the local hospitality.

Fort Zoutman

De Oude Molen Windmill

FOLKLORE & TRADITIONS

Aruba has a mélange of people from the South American and European continents, also from the Far East and other islands of the Caribbean. These different settlers have added a unique flavor to the lives of the inhabitants of the island.

When you drive about the island you will see housewives sweeping their dirt yards. This is to keep the yards clear from insects that may enter their homes. A tradition maintained from early Indian custom.

Some Arubans believe that it is necessary to go out the same door one entered.

Still a mystery is the fact that if one wanted to get rid of an unwanted guest is to stand a straw broom upside down against an outside wall. Apparently this truly works.

A red ribbon suspended over a doorway protects the house or place of business from evil Spirits. Newborns and small children wear a chain with a red and black seed which is thought to keep the "evil eye" away.

The gel of the aloe plant is well known for healing burns and cuts. A traditional and regularly used plant brewed into tea for stomach aches is made from black sage called Basora pretu (black broom) and has the medicinal properties used by pharamaceutical companies in pill or liquid form.

THINGS TO SEE

BEST BEACHES IN ARUBA Aruba's beaches consist of white sand and calm waters, each with it's own flavour to suit your taste. They are considered to be some of the best beaches in the world. (Go to Aruba Travelguide for some excellent 360 degree panoramic views of the beaches.)

Hadikurari Beach is located just south of the lighthouse near the northwestern tip of Aruba and is known for terrific snorkeling.


Hadikurari Beach

Palm Beach is famous for calm waters and is located right in front of the luxurious high-rise hotel stretch of the island.


Palm Beach

Eagle Beach is a well-visited public beach for locals, replete with shaded picnic areas and plenty of parking right off the main road. Several low-rise hotels are nearby, just off the street from the beach.


Eagle Beach

Rodgers Beach features a slightly rough surf. It is located close to the Baby Beach, offering shady areas and shower facilities. It was a popular place for those that worked at the oil refinery and their families.


Rodgers Beach

Baby Beach is located in the area known as Seroe Colorado at the southeastern end of the island. It got its name because the calm and shallow waters make it ideal for children and/or inexperienced swimmers. Snorkelers will enjoy gorgeous coral heads in the channel.


Baby Beach

ARIKOK NATIONAL PARK The Government of Aruba has dedicated approximately 18 percent of the island to this national park. It has many walking trails that are well kept and open to the public for exploring. Some tour companies offer guided tours through this massive protected area that is teeming with unusual plants and wildlife. The park is safe to explore if you stay on the main path. You may find some big green lizards but they are harmless like most of the other animals that inhabit the area. It is located near Mt. Arikok, close the center of the island and is a natural preserve which features some of the oldest Arawak drawings, as well as trails that showcase Aruba's great variety of plants and animals like the divi-divi and kwihi trees, rare and exotic cacti, aloe, tropical flowers, birds and iguanas. The government is very concerned about the environment and strives to maintain the park by employing only high quality, nature friendly and environmentally sound organizations to beautify the island for the Aruban community. Arikok National Park was first designated as an area of significant national importance in the early 1980's. It is an area of unique scenic beauty, flora and fauna, geological formations and cultural resources. The highest points in Aruba are located in the park and include Arikok and Jamanota hilltops.


Arikok National Park

CAVES Colorful tales of pirates and buried treasure have a long tradition of being circulated by the locals of Aruba. The island's name of Aruba means "red gold" in Spanish, and exploring the caves along the southeast coast can be a swashbuckling experience in getting a feel for Aruba's golden history. The Guadirikiri Cave is famous for its two chambers where sunlight shines through and is the perfect backdrop for unique pictures. Be adventurous and dare to go down the 100 foot long tunnel, home of hundreds of harmless bats. Although its exact history is not known with any certainty, caves like this one are said to have been the hiding places of pirates! The Fontein Cave is the most popular of the caves as it is the only one that has the drawings of Arawak Indians on the ceilings, providing a real sense of island history to this cave. The Huliba Cave is also known as the Tunnel of Love because of the heart shaped opening at its entrance. You will need flashlights to explore the 300 foot long passage way.


Guadirikiri Cave

CHURCHES The picturesque Chapel of Alto Vista, the first chapel of Aruba, exudes tranquility on its dramatic setting above the sea. The chapel was built by the Indians and Spanish and is often referred to as the Pilgrim's Church. The bright yellow chapel is reached by a winding road lined with white crosses marking the stations of the cross. For local Arubans especially, it is a special place for peace and contemplation. The carved oak retable in the Church of Noord is a fine example of neo-Gothic sculpture. It was created in 1870 by Hendrik van der Geld. The retable, the communion rail and pulpit won a prize at the first Vatican Council held in Rome in 1870. They originated in the Netherlands, in the province of Noord-Brabant, but were later placed in Scheveningen church and finally in the Church of Noord. The Church of Noord is the third to be built on this spot and was constructed between 1914 and 1919. The rectory, built in 1877, is now the oldest rectory in Aruba. This site is well worth visiting whilst traveling around the island. The Santa Ana Church is also a popular tourist attraction in Aruba. It features a 100-year old hand-carved oak altar.


Alto Vista Chapel

NATURAL BRIDGE The island's most photographed attraction is located on the north east coast. It's called the Natural Bridge because it rises 25 feet above the sea and spans a hundred feet of rock-strewn waters carved out of solid coral by centuries of relentless pounding by the Atlantic surf. It is the Caribbean area's highest and most dramatic coral structure, a fact that is confirmed by the multitude of pictures and postcards that feature the distinguished natural attraction. It is easy to drive to the bridge by car as the roads to it are well paved. This coastal area of Aruba features very high crashing waves, but in this case, the bridge acts as a buffer between the sandy beach and open ocean. Many people come to swim and picnic. A store is located close by offering light lunches, cool treats, refreshments and souvenirs.
Natural Bridge

NATURAL POOL (Cura di Tortuga) The Natural Pool or "conchi" called "Cura di Tortuga" is a secret, hidden pool on the windward coast surrounded by rocks and is a perfect getaway for a moment of total relaxation. The location of the Pool is surrounded by some of Aruba's most rugged terrain, so a visitor truly gets the feeling of having "discovered" something when their eyes focus on the site. Diving from the rock cliffs into the protected pool of ocean seawater is the main reason why so many venture here off the beaten path. To reach this destination you will need to have a 4-wheel drive vehicle or you can ride on horseback. There are many road signs warning you that cars are not the preferred method of travel to this swimmers' paradise. Make sure you bring refreshments and a camera with you because this area is as remote as it is picture perfect!


Natural Pool

ROCK FORMATIONS For such a flat sandy island, the presence of unusal mountains and huge monolithic boulders that dot the countryside are truly an enigma. These strange puzzling geological formations contain large quartzdiorite stone and provide adventure seekers with an "unexplained" mystery. They also provide good vantage points to view the island from a high elevation. Casibari Boulders Just north of Hooiberg, another rock formation rises up from the desert soil. The boulders' freshly strewn appearance have created some unique scenery for the area. Some of the boulders weigh several tons and feature peculiar forms. The Government of Aruba has created walking trails and steps through the boulders, allowing hikers to reach the top to obtain breathtaking views of the island. Ayo Rock Formations. It's often been described as the cartoon town of "Bedrock" seen in the animated TV show "The Flintstones." The stone formations at Ayo were once the dwelling place of an ancient race of people that left petroglyph markings on the stone boulders. The area is surrounded with huge stones that look as if they had been stacked on top of each other by giants. Scientists still have not been able to explain how these rocks got here. Modern pathways have been constructed to allow the visitor to explore this ancient site.

SAND DUNES Aruba's desert landscape lends itself to trademark images of cacti, aloe and huge areas typified by gigantic hills of sand. Many people that are touring the island by jeep or scooter enjoy driving around spectacles such as the massive sand dunes at Boca Prins on the north east coast. But the best way to enjoy them is to don some hardy clothing and do a little dune sliding. Although some have claimed a bit of sand burning, many can attest to the good fun it can be to catapult yourself from the top of a sand dune to the bottom! "California Dunes" at Hudishibana Popularly named for the offshore wreck of the famous ship "California," the isolated northwestern tip of the island features some of the most spectacular scenery, with large rolling sand dunes and an old stone lighthouse. Exploring these dunes using a four wheel drive jeep is highly recommended.

California Lighthouse

Bushiribana Gold Smelter Ruins

SHOPPING Downtown in Oranjestad is no bargain, especially if you have ever been to St. Thomas or St. Martin. It is located between the airport and the majority of the hotels. If shopping is a must there is Little Switzerland, Colombian Emeralds, Maggie's, Hilfigger, Coach, Gucci, Cartier, jewelry, perfume, cosmetics, local crafts, souvenirs, fresh fruit and vegetables. No K-Mart here, but there is a shopping mall and McDonald's, Wendy's, Taco Bell- the whole run of fast foods are all within walking distance of one another. There are tons of restaurants, most of them excellent.

Aruba isn't actually a duty free port, however the duty is low enough that it's possible to find some excellent buys here, especially on items such as jewelry, perfume, fashions and electronic equipment. Citizens of the United States who have been out of the country for a minimum of 48 hours and who have not used their respective duty free allowance within 30 days are entitled to a $600.00 duty free tax exemption. Families traveling together can pool their exemptions, meaning a couple with two children can bring back $2400.00 worth of articles. Canadian citizens who have been outside Canada for a minimum of 7 days are permitted a duty free exemption of $500.00 Canadian dollars. Citizens are also permitted a duty free exemption of $200.00 each time they are out of the country for more than 48 hours. Exemptions cannot be pooled with spouse and/or children.

HANDYCRAFTS You will be pleasantly surprised to find a wide selection of hand crafted items made by native Arubans. Quite often the process of producing them is carried on right in front of your eyes, on the beachfront and at concession stands set up along the harbor. The wharf at Oranjestad's colorful harbor side can be a bargain hunter's dream. Paintings, T-shirts, photographs (some of them historical), pottery and jewellery are all set up along the main street. Transactions are carried out in both dollars and florins, and bargaining is expected

SOUVENIRS Aruba is an island with historical roots from Holland. Icons such as windmills and wooden shoes are blended together with handicrafts that feature colorful cunucu houses that can be seen throughout the countryside. T-shirts are popular with the tourists because they are well made, and some are considered designer fashion!

An excellent site with information on sightseeing, travel info and events in Barbados is at Aruba Tourism Organization.