Aruba is flat (highest peak: 617 feet), generally windy, dry (avg. annual rainfall: less than 20 inches) and every bit the tourist trap most uncommon travelers think it is… but that doesn’t mean you should avoid this multi-cultural southern Caribbean gem. On the contrary, the island’s well-trod attractions and Spring Break-style party scene are confined to the island’s western regions, specifically the areas around Palm Beach, Eagle Beach and the capital, Oranjestad. That leaves the vast majority of Aruba’s 70 square miles open and available for the type of uncommon exploration and unique experiences we love! Check out small fishing villages like Savantea, where you can enjoy the freshest seafood on the island. Journey to San Nicholas, Aruba’s “Second City” located on the southeastern shore, and stop in for a friendly drink and an introduction to Aruba’s history and gritty underbelly at Charlie’s Bar. Nearby Baby Beach is a well-kept secret among locals for offering all the natural splendor of Aruba’s more famous sandy stretches… except crowds, high-rise hotels and glitzy casinos. The island’s north shore reveals even greater uncommon pursuits harkening back to Aruba’s Amerindian history and Gold Rush period.
No matter where you go in Aruba, you’re sure to encounter some of the friendliest and most diverse people anywhere in the region. Just about everyone speaks Dutch, Spanish, English and Papiamento, a unique Afro-Portuguese dialect that even has some Arawak Indian thrown in, spoken only in Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao. Aruba’s melting-pot of cultures is reflected in local cuisine, cultural events, native arts and crafts, music and dance traditions, leaving much to be discovered outside of the party zone…
Where to stay on Aruba
More about Aruba
Travel to Aruba Just Got More Expensive…Thankfully!
Added fees are generally NOT something I enjoy paying. The new Sustainability Fee on travel to Aruba, though, is an exception.
Baby Beach Aruba: Aptly-Named, If Only Unofficially
Any visitor to Aruba with even half-an-ounce of an adventurous spirit knows Baby Beach Aruba. Less-known, though, is this beach's real name.
Where NOT to Stay in Aruba
The Bucuti and Tara Beach Resort is where NOT to stay in Aruba for a broad spectrum of travelers. This is a very good thing.
Kitesurfing Hadicurari Beach (Aka: The Huts) in Aruba
Experts and amateurs rarely mix well in the world of kitesurfing. This isn't the case, though, for those keen on kitesurfing Hadicurari Beach.
Turtle Travel – Align Your Next Aruba Escape With Leatherback Hatchlings
Aruba's Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort has launched a Sea Turtle Countdown Calendar making it easier for turtle travel dreams to come true.
Aruba Reef and Beach Clean Up: One Voluntourism Initiative That Works
The Aruba Reef and Beach Clean Up is the Happy Island’s largest volunteer initiative, bringing together hundreds of visitors and locals.
Arikok National Park Echoes of the Australian Outback
Crowded beaches and watered-down piña coladas so emblematic of the typical Aruba experience are close by, but Arikok National Forest feels worlds away.
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Super Spectacular Sunset at Amuse Sunset Restaurant, Aruba
Sunsets are seriously just super spectacularly sweet in Aruba, nowhere more so than at Amuse Sunset Restaurant, Aruba.
Boca Ketu, Aruba: Uncommon Envy
In addition to wild hiking adventures to such notable attractions as the Conchi Natural Pool, Arikok National Park is also where you'll find a series of sublime little coves tailor-made for uncommon exploring and the type of secluded beach fun we love. Among them: Boca Ketu.
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