Destination Aruba

While a visit to the Caribbean might sound like a great chance to lounge on beaches, there is much more to Aruba than white sand. This island haven is home to numerous attractions. Stay active, go shopping, or gain new knowledge while soaking-up the sun.

There are farms and sanctuaries on Aruba devoted to the preservation of certain animals. Visit a tropical world of butterflies, or pet friendly donkeys. Explore Bubali Bird Sanctuary, and if you really like birds, there is also an ostrich farm on the island.

Parts of Aruba are especially interesting to individuals who enjoy studying the natural world. Bring your binoculars and a pocket field-guide with you on a trip to Arakok National Park. A number of animal and plant species which are unique to the island can be spotted here.

The Park is a natural treasure, but it might also spark an interest in the history of Aruba. Remains of European and indigenous settlements have been found here. There are also relics from the days when mining took place at this location. Continue your historical research by visiting museums such as the Archaeology Museum with its interactive displays.

Shopping is a popular activity in this part of the Caribbean. Several malls welcome shoppers who look forward to purchasing brand-name goods at prices that are well-below those charged for the same goods in the United States. At least one shopping center provides a place where children can play. Malls double as entertainment centers, where aquatic displays will amaze viewers and cinemas draw them in out of the sunshine.

Stay at a villa, a hotel, or an all-inclusive resort. While some of these take the shape of high rises, others resemble European buildings. Book a room in a large facility where hundreds of other guests are situated, or select more intimate accommodation. Golf courses, pools, bars, and restaurants can frequently be found on-site.

Outdoor-activity is a big part of what draws tourists to the island. Thanks to a gentle wind, the temperature does not become uncomfortable. Meanwhile, the wind helps windsurfers and kite surfers to get moving.

Marine sports-enthusiasts will have plenty of activities to choose from during their stay in Aruba. Parasailing and tubing will get you onto the water. Snorkeling and diving will lure visitors under the surface to explore the aquatic creatures that live beneath the waves. There are numerous wrecks and reefs to explore. Get a good view of the waves from atop California Lighthouse if you prefer to stay dry.

Many people are thinking about going to vacation in a place like Aruba, and in fact, this island of the Lesser Antilles located in the Caribbean Sea is one of the most popular tourist destination around the world. Although its climate is fairly dry and its landscape arid, it has one of the most reliable sunny and warm weather anywhere. Get your information in the paragraphs below.

What a lot of people may be surprised to find out is that this island is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and in fact, its citizens are all Dutch. This island lays outside of the hurricane belt and enjoys a very stable climate. As far as terrain goes, this island is very arid, which means that there is not a lot of rain, but it is also cooled by amenable winds.

Most people know this island for its many white sandy beaches, and in fact, they are some of the most beautiful and unique in the world. The island itself is relatively flat, with very few low lying hills, and there is no inland water. This means that vegetation is fairly limited and most of the inland terrain is dominated by rocky features.

However, this island is noted for its uniquely stable weather. Year round the temperature rarely strays far in either direction from 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The waters surrounding this island are also notoriously clear and calm, another factor that contributes heavily to tourism.

What many people may not know is that while the official tongue of the people of this island is Dutch, most of them actually speak a creole known as Papiamento. Papiamento uses many words that have been borrowed from languages such as Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, and various West African Languages.

It is also notable that the inhabitants of this island enjoy the highest standard of living in the Caribbean region. There is very little unemployment. Oil processing used to be the dominant industry on this island in the past, however, starting in the latter half of the 20th century, tourism took prominence. Today, more than three quarters of the gross national product of this island country is made through tourism.

The culture of Aruba is a unique mix of Dutch, Spanish, and Native American influences which have shaped its populace into what they are today. This unique culture, along with its beautiful beaches and sunny weather, make this island a great tourist destination.

Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao, make up the Lesser Antilles. These islands are located about 133 kilometers off the north coast of Venezuela.

Also known as the Netherlands Antilles, these islands are part of the Netherlands and their citizens carry Dutch passports. Aruba has its own government, but it is closely tied to the Netherlands.

It was first explored by the Spanish in the summer of 1499 when Amerigo Vespucci, whose name North and South America comes from, discovered it along with Alonso de Ojeda. The Caquetios Indians, who already inhabited the area were quite tall, so the Spanish referred to it as the "island of giants".

Ojeda called it "Oro Huba", which in Spanish means "it had gold". If you say "oro huba" fast, you can hear where the current name of the island comes from. When the two explorers reported back to Spain that the island was filled with gold, Spaniards flocked to the island to colonize and develop it. The Spanish ruled the island for the next 100 years.

Unfortunately, gold was not discovered there until 300 years later. It is unknown whether Ojeda saw gold when there, or was just promoting it to be colonized.

Starting in 1636, the Dutch took over, and their rule has lasted until the present. Today, gold mining, tourism, oil refining and exporting aloe are the primary industries for the islanders.

The beaches on the lee side, south and west sides, are sheltered from the winds that sweep across the Atlantic from the east; the beaches on those sides are the iconic, beautiful beaches you see on postcards. Hotel and tourist attractions have developed primarily on these sides. The eastern side, where the currents and winds are stronger is still mostly not developed.

The Lesser Antilles are sheltered from the harsh tropical storms and hurricanes that sweep across the northern part of the Caribbean. The entire island doesn't get much rainfall during the year and has large patches of desert scrub. This moderates the weather for pleasant temperatures and climate. All throughout the year, the temperature rarely moves above or below 28 degree Celsius (about 82 degrees Fahrenheit).

The population is relatively small at approximately 100,000 people, so it has a very high standard of living for the Caribbean, which makes it a comfortable and safe destination.

With many flights from Europe and North and South America, Aruba may be the perfect tropical paradise for your next getaway. The weather is perfect all during the year.

Aruba is a couples getaway that seems to be hidden many times, there is a mystery that seems to surround this area and often it is a once in a lifetime trip that a couple will have to make at least once in their life. There is a wealth of options that are able to give a person the best vacation possible.

Taking a little of the time needed to book through a travel agency, will allow the couple to have the best outcome from their efforts. There is a great amount that can come from a little romantic getaway for the two of you, there is a great amount that will be able to be seen when it is a matter of these two lovebirds rediscovering the real reason that they fell in love in the first place.

Para-sailing is one of the activities that can be enjoyed just the two of you. This is especially romantic at night and will bring a new spark to the marriage that may be seeing a little in the way of a faltering from time to time. This can bring things back to a new level and allow these two to fall in love once again.

The beaches that this area presents to the couple will be second to none and will show these two that the beauty is truly in life and all that surrounds us. This is an important part of the entire process and will as a result send these two people into a new level of love when taking a romantic walk on the beach.

Dining is an adventure all it self. This is related to the fact that a great number of these restaurants will provide a person the opportunity to take their loved one for a romantic dinner and show them that food can have a sensual side as well. This is one of the more important aspects that have to be addressed in this area of expertise.

No matter where the Aruba trip takes the individual, make it a point that the trip is prepared for correctly and that you are packing the needed things to have an effective trip and not be caught in a bad situation. This is an important aspect which should be given a decent amount of thought.

The stories that you will tell your kids will make them want to take their loved one here as well when it comes time for their honeymoon and anniversary.

A lot of people dream about going to vacation to Aruba. This small island, part of the Lesser Antilles located in the Caribbean Sea, is known for being one of the more popular tourist destinations worldwide, despite its dry climate and arid landscape, as travelers can expect a very reliable, sunny, warm weather. This island is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Many people may not know that all citizens of this island are Dutch. The capital of the island is Oranjestad. This island is not part of the hurricane belt, and as such has a relatively stable, warm climate. The island is mostly arid, meaning that it does not rain a lot, but it also does not get quite as hot as some other dry areas.

This island is best known for its beaches, which are filled with characteristically white, soft sand. The most of the island is composed of flat terrain, with no rivers and very few hills. There is actually no inland water and not much in the way of vegetation.

The most striking feature of this island and the basis for much of its tourism is the fact that its climate is very reliable and steady. It usually doesn't get much warmer or hotter than 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Along with this, the surrounding waters are very clear and calm, making it very popular for tourists.

The official language of this unique island is Dutch; however, the predominant language is Papiamento. Papiamento is actually a creole language that is composed from words from a variety of languages, including Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese, and various West African Languages. Much like many other islands in the region, it is also notable to mention that many people speak Spanish.

What many people may not know is that this island has one of the highest standards of living in the entire region, including a very low unemployment rate. In the past, oil processing was the dominant industry but since then, tourism has taken over and today three quarters of the gross national product is earned through tourist activities.

In fact, it is for tourism that Aruba is mostly known as, and it makes a great destination for a one of a kind vacation. With its unique culture, heavily influenced by Dutch cultural practices but also a mix of Native American and Spanish influences, and its warm and unique weather, this island is a favorite location for vacationers everywhere.