Discover a captivating submarine world of coral reefs, relax in large white sandy beaches, or swim in the peaceful Caribbean blue waters: Aruba has something to offer the world (map)

In Aruba, the smallest and richest of the ABC islands, you’ll find cosmopolitan commercial centers, elegant restaurants, an almost deserted inner land, where you can go on tour, apart from 11 km. of white sandy beaches at the Caribbean peaceful and blue waters.

For more than 50 years, the huge oil refinery at Lago in St. Nicholas was the island’s major income soured, apart from employing a major part of the population. Lago financed schools, doctors, houses and even a golf field for the employees. The unexpected closure in 1985 was a major setback for the island, with almost 75,000 people.

Unemployment increased dramatically, and the economic problems were further aggravated, with the beginning of Aruba’s self-government. The island then, gambled on tourism as a possible solution to the delicate economic situation they were passing through. Their bet was a success, and now tourism industry is their major income source, and each year hundreds of thousands visitors arrived from all around the world, especially from the Netherlands, US, and close South American countries. Soon great hotels were built behind the palm trees of the Eagle Beaches, and the streets of Oranjestad, the capital, became attractive commercial centers. Shrewd businessmen developed tourist industry having in mind the complete satisfaction of clients. Therefore, people going to Aruba will find lots of opportunities: to dive along the natural reef surrounding the island, and explore the ships and planes lying at the bottom of the sea, to have meals with candle lights on board of a yacht, to go on bus from one party to another, to go to, Las Vegas style, shows of the Alhambra, apart from trying your luck at the casinos.

A Tourism Paradise
No doubt here the client is the king, of course if you have enough money to afford it, because, as you know, perfect service has a price. More than half a million tourists, each year spend their vacations in Eagle Beach and Palm Beach, apart from another 320,000 coming on the cruisers to visit the bars and boutiques in Oranjestad, to buy at duty free shops. To buy in these shops, with an exquisite attention, is always a temptation, and sometimes expensive, especially if you are looking some European articles like English or German porcelain, Belgian chocolates or Swiss watches. Aruba didn’t suffer the horrors of the colonial age, due mainly that, at that time; the inhabitants were some colonists and European soldiers, apart from the Indians of the caiquetios tribe. Agriculture, cattle rising and farming, were their only activities, allowing them to live properly. The Papiamento, the Creole local language, sounds here more Spanish than in any other Caribbean island.

Oranjestad an Elegant City
Some commercial streets, administrative buildings, churches and a small port with a dock, where cruisers arrive, apart from some few hotels, appropriately restored, commercial galleries and casinos, are the Oranjestad downtown. Relaxing in one of the many cafes and bars, around the sporting port, you can enjoy the sea sight and understand the joyful nature of the people in this sunny city. Once you get “tired” of sitting down the sun, you can walk by the downtown streets, with colorful buildings, and visit the few monuments and museums in Oranjestad.

The two places of historical interest are, the little Fort Zoutman (open from Monday to Saturday; entrance fee), and the Willem III Tower, that are also the oldest buildings in the island. The fort was built in 1796, next to Paardenbaii, and now the ancient walls host the History Museum, where you can see, among other things, a sea shells and coral collection, furniture from the XIX century and a little Italian organ. From the top of the watchtower, is a great view of the island, with only 30 km long x 9 km at its broadest point. Every Thursday, at 18:30 h, inside the fort is celebrated the Bonbini Festival, where you can taste different kind of dishes, apart from traditional beverages.

At the Archeological Museum (Boerhaavestraat, next to the Presbyterian church of St. Francis of Assisi; open from Monday to Friday, entrance fee), funeral urns, jewels and common tools of the caiquetios Indians and other pre-Columbian tribes, are exposed.

The streets around the noisy main street, Caya G.F. (Betico) Croes (called formerly Nassaustraat), are where islanders usually go shopping. There are still standing some traditional Aruba style houses.

A Rustic Coast and Dazzling Beaches
The northeast coast of Aruba, with landscapes of hidden sand dunes, huge limestone caves and spiny shrubs, contrasts radically to the tourism regions of the west coast. Eagle Beach is a precious beach, that at some points has a width of 120m; along the beach line up a series of hotels of the so called “small size”, in harmony with the surroundings, despite the colorful mixture of styles. Of similar beauty is Palm Beach, with mild and white sands, but with huge hotels next to the beach. At the highway, with various rails, that leaves Oranjestad to the north, you’ll find signals indicating the way you have to take to reach these hotels, providing clients total luxury, and the best offers for all water sports.

Furthermost, there’s a swollen sea, but this is exactly what surfers are looking for, they gathered specially in front of the Malmok coast. Scuba divers enjoy exploring the rests of the Antilla, an old German warship that sunk in front of Aruba, during the World War II, exactly on May 10,1940. The Dutch fleet had encircled the Germans, and their captain had no other option but to surrender. However, instead of waving the white flag, he set the ship on fire and sunk it in front of the astonished Dutch. The German crew was captured, and kept prisoners until the end of the war. Afterwards, some former prisoners, in love with this region, decided to establish here definitively.