S
seagarsmoker
Guest
Weekly Caribbean island article - Aruba
LOCATION AND SIZE
Aruba is located in the heart of the southern Caribbean, 15 miles (20 kilometers) off the coast of Venezuela. It is 19.6 miles long and 6 miles across, at its widest point, with an area of approximately 70 square miles.
POPULATION
Aruba's population of about 100,000 inhabitants is made up of a broad international mixture of well educated people with a pleasant nature and a zest for hospitality. The modern Aruban is generally of mixed ancestry, claiming Caquetio Indian, African and European roots. However, the face of Aruba is in continuous flux with the island, drawing individuals from all over the world. Today, the island claims over 40 different nationalities, which live and work peacefully on the island.
WHAT TO DO
An abundance of daytime sports and adventure tours include windsurfing, diving, sailing, deep-sea fishing, hiking, horseback riding, SNUBA, 4x4 safaris, snorkeling tours and even a submarine ride. After a day of adventure, meet new friends at one of the many nightspots and cafes where you can enjoy live music, exotic drinks, exciting shows and a welcoming atmosphere.
The slow rise of the trail reveals a landscape full of surprises with cacti-studded views opening up to reveal the stretch of rock-hewn coastline and the jump of salt spray with the incoming tide. Accompanying the scene are the reliable sounds of a horse’s hoof beat, the hum of an ATV or even the steady rhythm of your own breath as your group travels along bike and hiking trails lined with the silent sentry of ancient rock formations. Gambling is legal in Aruba, so a trip to a local casino may pay for your trip!
SHOPPING
The stores of Aruba are stocked with well-priced imported merchandise. Aruba is a "Shopper's Paradise," with perfume, liquor, linens, jewelry, watches, cameras, designer fashions, crystal and china among the luxury items available at excellent prices. Many stores also feature local handicrafts. There are best buys in hand-embroidered tablecloths, Spanish porcelain figurines, Danish silver and pewter, European crystal ornaments, Brazilian and Italian leather goods, one-of-a-kind handcrafts from Indonesia and South-America and Arabian designed t-shirts. World-famous Dutch cheeses are also available in large assortments. Most stores and boutiques are located in Oranjestad, but excellent shops can also be found at the larger hotels and at the airport. Aloe is abundant in Aruba and skin care products are manufactured right on the island.
Note that shopping in Aruba is not precisely duty-free. Only the airport departure lounge shops are technically duty-free. The rest of the shops on the island do offer discounts on some items, as much as 25%, but do some comparative shopping before plunging into big-ticket purchases.
The Royal Plaza Mall, a colorful center with colonial Dutch building lines on L.G. Smith Blvd., hosts a number of shops. Next door is the 90-shop Seaport Village Mall, part of it underneath the Renaissance Aruba Beach Resort & Casino, and across the street on the piers is the large 60-shop Seaport Marketplace. These three shopping areas, plus a number of shops on Main St. (Caya G.F. Betico Croes), a couple of blocks from the waterfront, should pretty well sate anyone searching for jewelry, crystal, per-fumes, cosmetics, leather goods, boutique items, cigars, and souvenirs.
BEACHES
Aruba's beaches consist of white sand and calm waters, each with it's own flavour to suit your taste. They are considered to be some of the best beaches in the world.
Hadicurari Beach is located just south of the lighthouse near the northwestern tip of Aruba and is known for terrific snorkeling.
Palm Beach is famous for calm waters and is located right in front of the luxurious high-rise hotel stretch of the island.
Eagle Beach is a well-visited public beach for locals, replete with shaded picnic areas and plenty of parking right off the main road. Several low-rise hotels are nearby, just off the street from the beach.
View a Live Webcam from Eagle Beach
Rodgers Beach features a slightly rough surf. It is located close to the Baby Beach, offering shady areas and shower facilities. It was a popular place for those that worked at the oil refinery and their families.
Baby Beach is located in the area known as Seroe Colorado at the southeastern end of the island. It got its name because the calm and shallow waters make it ideal for children and/or inexperienced swimmers. Snorkelers will enjoy gorgeous coral heads in the channel.
SNORKELING
De Palm Island • A PRIVATE ISLAND
Just seven minutes by ferry from the mainland, De Palm Island takes visitors into a postcard-perfect world of tranquil beaches and crystal clear waters that invite snorkelers to explore its abundance of underwater treasures.
De Palm Island is the "hot spot" for snorkeling in Aruba. Abundant with spectacular coral formations and colorful marine life, this island paradise is a "must see" during your visit.
For those looking to cool down, with an adult beverage or two, in Oranjestad you will find the following: Carlos & Charlie's; Iguana Joe's Caribbean Bar & Grill; Mambo Jambo; Scandals.
If you find your self in San Nicolas, Charlie's Restaurant and Bar is highly recommended. Not only can you sip on a cold beer, Charlie's keeps them coming back with some very good seafood. Try the Creole squid and "shrimps jumbo and dumbo." (Dumbo because they got caught!) Charlie's also cooks a mean Argentine-style steak, and their trademark "honeymoon sauce" is fabulous, and hot, hot, hot!
Follow up posts:
Posted by: Cruise cutie
a list of some of our favorite retaurants...
1. El Gauchos for Argentinian Beef..5*****
2. The Buccaneer Restarant for Seafood..4****
3. First and last night meal 20 feet from shore at tables watching the Sunset..at The Divi Phoenix -Sunset Beach Bistro..all kinds of food..5*****
4. Alfredo's Ristorante next to the Black Hog Saloon..( )....outstanding Italian for a fussy boots Italian girl like me...5**** perfection.
5. Hooters..awesome burgers in a FAMILY style "girlies less flashy setting. yummo....4****
6. Chalet Suisse, mostly beef (Argentinian).5***** the Beef Stroganoff- sheer perfection..
connie seabee
We enjoyed our visit to Aruba and hope to go back in the near future. However, next time we will try another beach. We went to Baby Beach next time we will try Eagle Beach.
Thanks for reading and please add any comments or information that would be helpful for other cruise @ddicts members.
LOCATION AND SIZE
Aruba is located in the heart of the southern Caribbean, 15 miles (20 kilometers) off the coast of Venezuela. It is 19.6 miles long and 6 miles across, at its widest point, with an area of approximately 70 square miles.
POPULATION
Aruba's population of about 100,000 inhabitants is made up of a broad international mixture of well educated people with a pleasant nature and a zest for hospitality. The modern Aruban is generally of mixed ancestry, claiming Caquetio Indian, African and European roots. However, the face of Aruba is in continuous flux with the island, drawing individuals from all over the world. Today, the island claims over 40 different nationalities, which live and work peacefully on the island.
WHAT TO DO
An abundance of daytime sports and adventure tours include windsurfing, diving, sailing, deep-sea fishing, hiking, horseback riding, SNUBA, 4x4 safaris, snorkeling tours and even a submarine ride. After a day of adventure, meet new friends at one of the many nightspots and cafes where you can enjoy live music, exotic drinks, exciting shows and a welcoming atmosphere.
The slow rise of the trail reveals a landscape full of surprises with cacti-studded views opening up to reveal the stretch of rock-hewn coastline and the jump of salt spray with the incoming tide. Accompanying the scene are the reliable sounds of a horse’s hoof beat, the hum of an ATV or even the steady rhythm of your own breath as your group travels along bike and hiking trails lined with the silent sentry of ancient rock formations. Gambling is legal in Aruba, so a trip to a local casino may pay for your trip!
SHOPPING
The stores of Aruba are stocked with well-priced imported merchandise. Aruba is a "Shopper's Paradise," with perfume, liquor, linens, jewelry, watches, cameras, designer fashions, crystal and china among the luxury items available at excellent prices. Many stores also feature local handicrafts. There are best buys in hand-embroidered tablecloths, Spanish porcelain figurines, Danish silver and pewter, European crystal ornaments, Brazilian and Italian leather goods, one-of-a-kind handcrafts from Indonesia and South-America and Arabian designed t-shirts. World-famous Dutch cheeses are also available in large assortments. Most stores and boutiques are located in Oranjestad, but excellent shops can also be found at the larger hotels and at the airport. Aloe is abundant in Aruba and skin care products are manufactured right on the island.
Note that shopping in Aruba is not precisely duty-free. Only the airport departure lounge shops are technically duty-free. The rest of the shops on the island do offer discounts on some items, as much as 25%, but do some comparative shopping before plunging into big-ticket purchases.
The Royal Plaza Mall, a colorful center with colonial Dutch building lines on L.G. Smith Blvd., hosts a number of shops. Next door is the 90-shop Seaport Village Mall, part of it underneath the Renaissance Aruba Beach Resort & Casino, and across the street on the piers is the large 60-shop Seaport Marketplace. These three shopping areas, plus a number of shops on Main St. (Caya G.F. Betico Croes), a couple of blocks from the waterfront, should pretty well sate anyone searching for jewelry, crystal, per-fumes, cosmetics, leather goods, boutique items, cigars, and souvenirs.
BEACHES
Aruba's beaches consist of white sand and calm waters, each with it's own flavour to suit your taste. They are considered to be some of the best beaches in the world.
Hadicurari Beach is located just south of the lighthouse near the northwestern tip of Aruba and is known for terrific snorkeling.
Palm Beach is famous for calm waters and is located right in front of the luxurious high-rise hotel stretch of the island.
Eagle Beach is a well-visited public beach for locals, replete with shaded picnic areas and plenty of parking right off the main road. Several low-rise hotels are nearby, just off the street from the beach.
View a Live Webcam from Eagle Beach
Rodgers Beach features a slightly rough surf. It is located close to the Baby Beach, offering shady areas and shower facilities. It was a popular place for those that worked at the oil refinery and their families.
Baby Beach is located in the area known as Seroe Colorado at the southeastern end of the island. It got its name because the calm and shallow waters make it ideal for children and/or inexperienced swimmers. Snorkelers will enjoy gorgeous coral heads in the channel.
SNORKELING
De Palm Island • A PRIVATE ISLAND
Just seven minutes by ferry from the mainland, De Palm Island takes visitors into a postcard-perfect world of tranquil beaches and crystal clear waters that invite snorkelers to explore its abundance of underwater treasures.
De Palm Island is the "hot spot" for snorkeling in Aruba. Abundant with spectacular coral formations and colorful marine life, this island paradise is a "must see" during your visit.
For those looking to cool down, with an adult beverage or two, in Oranjestad you will find the following: Carlos & Charlie's; Iguana Joe's Caribbean Bar & Grill; Mambo Jambo; Scandals.
If you find your self in San Nicolas, Charlie's Restaurant and Bar is highly recommended. Not only can you sip on a cold beer, Charlie's keeps them coming back with some very good seafood. Try the Creole squid and "shrimps jumbo and dumbo." (Dumbo because they got caught!) Charlie's also cooks a mean Argentine-style steak, and their trademark "honeymoon sauce" is fabulous, and hot, hot, hot!
Follow up posts:
Posted by: Cruise cutie
a list of some of our favorite retaurants...
1. El Gauchos for Argentinian Beef..5*****
2. The Buccaneer Restarant for Seafood..4****
3. First and last night meal 20 feet from shore at tables watching the Sunset..at The Divi Phoenix -Sunset Beach Bistro..all kinds of food..5*****
4. Alfredo's Ristorante next to the Black Hog Saloon..( )....outstanding Italian for a fussy boots Italian girl like me...5**** perfection.
5. Hooters..awesome burgers in a FAMILY style "girlies less flashy setting. yummo....4****
6. Chalet Suisse, mostly beef (Argentinian).5***** the Beef Stroganoff- sheer perfection..
connie seabee
We enjoyed our visit to Aruba and hope to go back in the near future. However, next time we will try another beach. We went to Baby Beach next time we will try Eagle Beach.
Thanks for reading and please add any comments or information that would be helpful for other cruise @ddicts members.