Aruba is most famous for its incredible beaches with almost impossibly white sand and bright turquoise waters. Palm Beach (as the name suggests) is filled with palm trees and backed by glamorous high-rise hotels. The calm waters are ideal for watersports and swimming plus there are plenty of beach bars on offer to sample the country’s signature cocktail, the Aruba Ariba (vodka, local Aruban rum, fruit juices, Crème de Banana and Grand Marnier).

Just south of Palm Beach lies award-winning Eagle Beach which is quieter and less developed boasting wide sweeps of soft white sand dotted with beautiful Divi Divi trees. Mangel Halto and Baby Beach further south on the island are shallow lagoon beaches perfect for lazing in the warm waters and snorkelling.

 

Aruba lies beneath the hurricane belt so is very unlikely to be affected by tropical storms and hurricanes. The island also has very low annual rainfall and no rainy season making it the perfect year-round sunny destination!

 

There are plenty of exciting activities to enjoy in Aruba, both land and water based. The crystal clear waters are ideal for snorkelling and diving with a coral reef, colourful fish, turtles, shipwrecks and even a plane wreck to discover and catamaran tours are a dreamy way to take you between the best spots.

Arikok National Park offers a rugged, desert-like landscape filled with craggy cliffs and giant cacti where you can hike, visit caves, swim in a natural pool or take a jeep tour. ATV tours are a fun way to explore the island and there is also fantastic shopping on offer from designer shops to local markets.

 

The capital of Aruba is a bustling harbour city well worth visiting for its brightly coloured Dutch architecture, diverse culinary scene and interesting museums and monuments.

 

Some exciting nightlife can be found in Aruba from the glitzy casinos located at many of the larger hotels to a fantastic variety of restaurants, bars and clubs. Whether it’s a relaxed beach bar, lively cocktail bar, sing-along piano bar or a dance club there is something for everyone. The Palm Beach area and downtown Oranjestad are the place to be.

 

At only 70 square miles (half the size of the Isle of Wight) Aruba is one of the easiest Caribbean islands to explore. Visitors can walk, cycle, pick up an e-scooter, jump on the bus or hire a car to get around. Recommendation - head south to discover the creative town of San Nicolas filled with over 40 giant street art murals, art galleries featuring local artists and boutiques selling had crafted accessories.

 

Fun fact – there are more than 90 different nationalities present in Aruba and most Arubans speak four languages with the most commonly used being Papiamento – Portuguese based creole language.

For more inspiration, take a look at our Aruba Holidays pages.