Dutch Colour, Desert Light and Easy Sunshine
Aruba is a Caribbean island and a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, lying in the southern Caribbean just off the coast of Venezuela and known for white-sand beaches, steady trade winds and dry, sunny weather. Oranjestad, the capital, has pastel-painted Dutch colonial buildings along its harbour, and the island is only about 20 miles long, so almost everything is within a short drive. Aruba is part of the ABC islands with Bonaire and Curaçao, and its landscape is more desert than jungle, with cactus, aloe and wind-bent divi-divi trees.
That dry light gives the island a character of its own. Papiamento, a Creole language, is spoken alongside Dutch, English and Spanish, and many residents move easily between all four. Local food mixes Caribbean, Dutch and South American influences: keshi yena, cheese stuffed with spiced meat, and pastechi, a savoury pastry, are staples. Neighbouring Bonaire and Curaçao share the Dutch heritage and are easy additions for those exploring the wider ABC group.
Eagle Beach, Palm Beach and Arikok's Wild Side
Beaches anchor the experience. Eagle Beach is wide and relaxed, known for its lone fofoti trees and a long run of low-rise hotels, while Palm Beach is livelier, with resorts, restaurants and water sports along its length. In the south-east, Baby Beach offers a sheltered lagoon of shallow water, and the windsurfing at Hadicurari, or Fisherman's Huts, draws sailors from around the world. Further inland, Arikok National Park occupies a large part of the island, with caves, rugged coastline and desert trails.
Natural landmarks are easy to reach by jeep or guided tour. The Natural Pool, a rocky pool sheltered from the open sea, Casibari's boulder formations, and the Ayo rock formations with ancient petroglyphs reveal a stranger, more rugged Aruba. The California Lighthouse, on the north-west tip, gives wide views at sunset. A tourist board can present a balanced offer of beach days, adventure and culture, and guests who want more reef can also take an easy flight to Curaçao.
Read the full Aruba guide on Visit Travel Group, or see VisitAruba.co.uk on Visit Travel Group.