Aruba is one of the top three beach lover destinations in the world. So when you get here, you're going to want to spend most of your time catching rays on golden sand. If and when you get restless and want to do other stuff, there's an impressive array of sightseer stops.
18 percent of the island is dedicated to the Arikok National Park. With its well kept walking trails that take you through some unusual plant and animal life like divi-divi and kwihi trees, exotic cacti, aloe, tropical birds and flowers, the park is a lovely place to spend some relaxed hours.
Along these lines, a place to visit is the Butterfly farm. It's a 3000 square foot enclosed garden with waterfalls and fish ponds. Hundreds of species of butterflies will visit you softly as you walk around to music.
The California lighthouse offers some spectacular views of the island along with an area called California white sand dunes which are popular with kids who go dune surfing. The lighthouse is names after a wooden ship that ran aground while sailing to Venezuela. A restaurant nearby offer refreshments by day and fine dining by night.
A very sad loss to Aruban tourism is the falling of the Natural bridge. If ever, a la Bridges of Madison County, you had wanted to be proposed to on a bridge, this god-formed coral structure just 25 feet above the sea, was the place to do it.
It's gone now but plans are on to pay tribute to it. We can't mess with Mother Nature.
But you could venture to the Natural pool hidden in Aruba's most rugged terrain. It's remote and perfect for quiet relaxation. It's tough to get to it but worth the trouble to watch the ocean surf break over the rocks and cascade into the basin. You can't snorkel in the churned up waters but just dip in and cool off.
There would be little point in going to Aruba without visiting at least one of the gold mills responsible for the islands name. The Bushiribana and Balashi gold mills are remnants of a history of adventures and quests with gold and treasures as the prize.
The Antilla was a German freighter that sank during World War II. It makes for a very popular dive site. The Debbie II, a 120 foot barge, submerged at North Point is another great diving experience.
The Alto Vista Chapel built by Spanish missionaries in the 18th century is a little yellow building thought to be the first church in the Caribbean. Services are still conducted there and maybe you want to attend one in a place of historical significance.
If you haven't been to the original... Aruba offers its own mysterious Stonehenge. The Ayo rocks have long puzzled geologists and house rare burrowing owls too for keen bird watchers.
A unique Roman Catholic shrine built into rocks is the Lourdes Grotto. A statue of the Virgin Mary weighing 700 kilos has been placed in the rocks and is lit through the night.
You can hand feed an ostrich at the Aruba Ostrich Farm. Besides seeing and touching these rare creatures, you could even balance yourself on one of their eggs!
Birdwatchers will enjoy Bubali Pond, where pelicans, black cormorants, sandpipers and wood storks fish, bathe and play in a picturesque waterscape.
The beaches in Aruba are varied... active, relaxed, secluded, thronging... name it and you have one to every taste. Palm Beach and Eagle beach are the more active and popular sunbathing, windsurfing spots. Manchebo beach is far more tranquil though still fronted by hotels and resorts. Hadicurari is a popular wind surfing destination while Baby beach, true to its name is calm enough for a baby to paddle in.
Picture Courtesy: www.flickr.com
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