Aruba
"One Happy Island." This, the official motto of Aruba, is plastered on each taxi's license plate. Surely Arubans are happy to see cruisers: Aruba's economy is fueled by tourists' dollars, and much of the island is heavily developed for them -- perhaps even more so than neighboring islands Bonaire and Curacao. (Together, the three make up what's known as the ABC chain of islands in this deepest part of the Southern Caribbean.) Most Arubans speak English and accept U.S. currency.
Beyond that, Aruba has a rich, layered heritage. The first people to inhabit the island were a nation of Arawak Indians. (The name Aruba seems to have derived from the Arawak Indian word oibubai, which means guide.) In 1499, the Spanish explorer Alonso de Ojeda laid claim to the territory for Queen Isabella. Nearly 200 years later, the Dutch captured the islands of Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire from the Spanish, and much of that heritage can be seen in its pastel Old World architecture.
But let's face it -- we don't come here for the history. We come here for the diversions, and Aruba is the Caribbean's theme park. There are casinos, duty-free shops, more than two dozen dive sites, noteworthy shipwrecks and a championship golf course, lined with cacti and populated by friendly iguanas. Aruba's trademark divi divi trees always point in a southwesterly direction (due to trade winds that blow from the northeast), but we like to think they're leading the way to the sandy beaches that ring the island in the shape of a cheery smile. Try the legendary Pink Iguana -- a concoction of frozen strawberries, pineapple, rum and coconut cream -- at Iguana Joe's Caribbean Bar & Grill - we did. Had one with our lunch there - see the pictures below p>
Best of all, there really is no bad time to visit Aruba. Located only 20 miles north of Venezuela, temperatures are consistently pleasant (lows in the 70's, highs in the 80's), there's no "rainy" season, and its location is far below the Atlantic hurricane belt, so it's less likely to be impacted by storms. Aruba's dry climate is home to large Mondis (forests of cacti), and you may feel like you are in Arizona, rather than the Caribbean!
Great shopping, dining and bar-hopping are within walking distance of the dock. Several malls are located right across the street from the terminal, and a stroll along the waterfront is a great way to take in the Dutch colonial architecture and tropical pastels. It's an easy five-minute walk from your cruise ship to downtown shops and restaurants; a trip to any of Aruba's beaches requires a taxi or car ride. Taxis are readily available on the dock; they do not have meters, so be sure to settle your fare up front. A ride from downtown to Palm Beach, 10 minutes from the terminal, costs about $14. If you want a two-hour island tour, plan to pay $35 per car per hour for four people in a car.
Links to my pages on these social media sites
Browse through the picture galleries below relating to this page and you will get a much better idea than just reading my words! Each page has it`s own set of relevant images - where possible taken by us.