A Postcard from Aruba, the Caribbean’s “One Happy Island”

Aruba. Where was that again?

To be completely honest, I knew very little about Aruba until I found out we would be spending four days there thanks to a work trip hosted by the company my husband works for. As I soon learned, this tiny island – 19 miles long by six miles wide – lies just north of Venezuela, sits outside the so-called hurricane belt, and has more sunny days than any other Caribbean island.

I was also surprised to learn that Aruba is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which in practice means the Netherlands is responsible for all foreign affairs and defence, but Aruba handles the rest. In its early history, Aruba was a fishing outpost for Amerindians, and from the 1400s onwards, changed hands from the Spanish to Dutch colonial powers, eventually gaining “Status Aparte” – its current political set-up with the Netherlands – in 1986.

This history is why you’ll see colonial Dutch architecture in the capital, Oranjestad, and Dutch names on street signs.

But Aruba is extremely multicultural, home to more than 100 different nationalities. We were told by one local that by the time they leave school, Aruban children have learned four languages: Dutch and Papiamento (the country’s two official languages), as well as Spanish and English.

When we arrived, I also discovered that Aruba is a very popular destination for US tourists. So much so, in fact, that US dollars are accepted as payment in most places alongside the Aruban Florin; you don’t need to take a plug adaptor if you have a US one; and if you’re looking for your favourite American chain restaurants or brand name shops, well, you’ll find them all here too. Plus, it’s a relatively quick four-and-a-half-hour flight from New York, with only an hour of a time difference during the winter, after daylight savings starts.

The real draw of Aruba for me, though, wasn’t its US-style conveniences, or it’s sunny weather, but its nature. The landscape is arid and dry, with cacti and rock formations looming high, framed against the sky as you drive inland through the desert and towards the quieter, more rural east coast. And that coastline? I’m not sure I’ve ever seen water so many brilliant shades of blues, greens and even purples before; it truly looked like every picture-perfect postcard image you’ve seen of a tropical island.

With four days in Aruba, we covered a lot of this “one happy island,” as the country’s slogan goes.

From jeep safaris to snorkelling excursions, city walks to cocktails by the pool, it was a perfect reset for early autumn, and a chance for a last burst of sunshine before winter rolled in to the north east coast of the USA.

So if you’re planning a trip to the Caribbean, and searching for inspiration on things to do in Aruba, here’s a look at what we got up to, as a place to being your brainstorming…

A tour of the island on a Jeep Safari

On our first full day in Aruba, we were up bright and early for a jeep safari with ABC Tours. Six of us bundled into the back of a large, brightly coloured jeep, commandeered by our local driver, Ken. (He introduced himself as “Ken with no Barbie,” and played an excellent selection of cheesy 90s and 00s pop tunes as we drove through the desert.)

We passed the Ayo Rock Formations, massive boulders that were once considered a sacred site, and bumped along the sparsely populated north east coast of the island to the Natural Bridge. Until it collapsed in 2005, the Natural Bridge – caused by limestone being hollowed out by the ocean waves – was one of the most popular tourist attractions on the island. Although the smaller Baby Bridge is still intact next to it, I didn’t fancy taking the risk of walking across it myself, but instead stood at a safe distance and watched the waves rolling in beneath.

From there, we drove north along the rugged coast to the Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins, a now-partially collapsed mass of brick built into rock that processed ore from nearby mines during Aruba’s gold rush in the 1800s. After scrambling over the ruins and admiring the far-reaching views, we then made our way to the Alto Vista Chapel, and were finally all set to visit the California Lighthouse at the very northern tip of the island for some birds-eye views when the unexpected happened: the heavens opened!

The jeep ride had already felt a bit like being on a rollercoaster, but the downpour was so sudden it became more akin to a water park ride. Although we missed visiting the lighthouse and Arashi Beach due to the weather, we didn’t mind – situations like these are what you make of them, and we all had a good laugh at both the bumpy journey and the unexpected storm.

A snorkelling excursion off the west coast of Aruba

As an islander, there’s little I enjoy more than being on, in, or by the water, so a morning’s sailing on a catamaran, with swimming, snorkelling, and food and drink thrown in, was right up my alley.

Our Pelican Adventures Catamaran left from Palm Beach, and took us to two snorkelling spots: the shipwreck of the SS Antilla, and Catalina Bay. The wreck of the Antilla, a German ship scuttled in the early days of World War II, is one of the largest in the Caribbean, and a popular diving and snorkelling spot. Although I love swimming in the ocean, I’m not a fan of snorkelling, and dipped my head under just long enough to catch a glimpse of the ship – but a lot of our fellow travellers went down far enough to get a good look.

My favourite moment of our entire four days in Aruba might have been at the next stop, when – with no flippers and no snorkelling mask – I was floating in the clear waters of Catalina Bay, colourful fish and coral reefs below, pelicans above, and the shimmering, undulating swell of the ocean helping to keep me afloat. The water was so clear and calm I could have swum to shore (and almost did, until I decided encroaching on the pelicans’ resting area might not be the best idea!).

A morning wander around the capital, Oranjestad

Oranjestad was the first place I had come across online when I found out we’d be visiting Aruba, and its colourful buildings intrigued me. The capital of Aruba is a small port town, and after hopping on the bus from our hotel, it took us just a morning to stroll through its main streets, which are home to the aforementioned brightly painted Dutch colonial buildings, high-end shops and casinos, and a handful of museums. We visited Fort Zoutman, the country’s oldest building, constructed in 1798 to protect Oranjestad from pirates; popped into the Historical Museum inside the fort’s walls; and climbed the Willem III Tower for some city views.

Lots of relaxing by the pool and the beach

If there’s one thing that Aruba does well, it’s relaxation. As someone who likes to constantly be on the go when they travel, ticking everything off the sightseeing list, being essentially forced to slow down on someone’s else’s schedule was just what the doctor ordered.

Although we didn’t visit it ourselves, the consensus seems to be that Eagle Beach, near Oranjestad, is the jewel in Aruba’s crown, as it’s regularly named the Caribbean’s best beach. Where we relaxed during our four days in Aruba was at the Hyatt Regency Resort at Palm Beach, and the adults-only pool was the perfect tranquil oasis to escape to after our excursions. The hotel grounds opened right onto the beach, so I made the most of some quiet early morning strolls by the water, too.

While we by no means saw everything during our four days in Aruba, we did cross off a lot on the tourist list of things to do.

My impression of Aruba after our quick trip was that it’s perfect for two types of holidaymakers: those who want to relax in the sun by the water, and those who are into outdoor adventures like snorkelling, diving, and ATV tours. While a pool-focused holiday isn’t my typical trip, it turns out it was exactly what I needed after a busy few months. Sometimes, you just need to sit by a pool with a pina colada and a good book, and simply… relax!

____________________

Have you ever been to Aruba, or would you like to visit? What kind of holidays do you usually go on? Let me know in the comments – I’d love to hear from you!