ARUBA TRAVEL
GUIDE
Information for the traveler of the Island of Aruba
Getting
Around | Rental Cars |
Taxis | Beaches
| Weather in Aruba |
Shopping |
Oranjestad |
Palm Beach Plaza |
Supermarkets |
Aruba History, Development and
Government | Aruba Photo Gallery |
Buy Airfare & Hotel
|
Purchase Aruba Photos |
LukeTravels.com Home Page
Getting Around
Island of Aruba is not large, so it's very easy to get around.
Most of you will arrive at
Queen Beatrix International Airport via charter and scheduled
flights. Cruise ships often dock
at our island and use it as a starting point for Caribbean
cruising.
While you may opt to get around to restaurants and nightclubs by
taxi, many have discovered
that Aruba's bus system is efficient, easy to use and quite
affordable. The bus runs frequently
between the main bus station in downtown Oranjestad and the
entire hotel strip.
If you'd like to explore the whole island, you can rent a
scooter, or a motorcycle. Car rentals
are available, but most people prefer to rent a 4-wheel drive
jeep because Aruba's terrain can
be rugged in remote areas. Luxurious motorcoach tours are also
available that will pick you up
at your hotel.
Driving is on the right side of the road, foreign and
international driving licenses accepted.
Free parking throughout the island; no right turns on red
lights.
Rental Cars
If you are adventurous and want to explore all Aruba has to
offer, it's a good idea to rent a
four-wheel drive vehicle. The roads to many great sights are
often rugged and not suitable for
a car. Make sure that your spare tire is full of air before
heading out into the rough terrain.
4-wheel drive vehicles are numerous but they are often hard to
get because they are used for
"Jeep Safari," popular sightseeing day trips.
Taxis
The taxi dispatch office, which can also arrange taxi tours, is
located at Pos Abou z/n in
Oranjestad, behind the Eagle Bowling Palace on the Sasaki road.
Taxis do not have meters; rates
are fixed and should be checked in advance. Most taxi drivers
have participated in the
government's Tourism Awareness Program.
Beaches
Fringing turquoise Caribbean waters, kissed by the sun and
cooled by constant trade winds,
Aruba’s beaches include wide shaded expanses, quiet retreats,
and busy sunbathing and water
sports meccas. Much of the seven-mile strip along the west coast
is lined with resorts and
packed with activity. Beachgoers relax on their comfortable
lounges, lost in their favorite
book or enjoying people-watching. Swimming, snorkeling,
kitesurfing, waterskiing, tubing,
parasailing, banana-boating, and all kinds of wet ‘n wild
adventures are just steps away.
In contrast, the beaches along the windward coast are in more
secluded and undeveloped areas.
Here magical coves carved out of limestone and inlets formed by
the relentless pounding of
waves are overlooked by craggy desert terrain. Because of strong
undertow and crashing waves,
swimming here is not recommended. But the beaches on Aruba’s
wild coast do afford tranquility,
privacy and unique natural phenomena. Both coasts afford
spectacular, glittering Caribbean
views that will surely take your breath away. All beaches are
open to the public.
Palm Beach
The renowned two-mile-long strip known as Palm Beach is home to
glamorous high-rise hotels and
dotted by water sports concessions, piers, beach bars,
restaurants and shops. Calm waters make
this a comfortable haven for swimmers and snorkelers. A walk
along the coast at dawn or sunset
is perfect for exercise and quiet reflection. Taking in the
magnificent tangerine sunset or
enjoying candle-lit, barefoot dining on the beach can be the
perfect finale to a lazy or
exciting day of sun and sea.
Baby Beach
Baby Beach is located in Seroe Colorado at the southeastern end
of the island. This area was
once known as “The Colony” because executives and their families
lived in a gated community
during the bustling half-century operation of the Lago Refinery.
Baby Beach is a sandy half-
moon sandy expanse in a calm lagoon, with a refreshment stand
and huts. The waters are shallow;
swimmers can wade out for a long distance and still touch the
sea bottom. Where the bay opens
out to the sea, snorkelers will behold a colorful kaleidoscope
of coral and tropical fish, but
watch out for strong currents here. Rodgers Beach is a narrow
powdery white strip close-by,
where fishermen anchor their boats, protected by the calm waters
of the bay.
Malmok Beach
Malmok Beach is a narrow sandy stretch that is home to sprawling
homes and a variety of modest
windsurfing residences; its shallow clear waters make it a
popular snorkeling spot. Here
catamarans and sailboats stop for a daytime snorkeling stop just
off the shoreline. Reefs and
sunken wrecks nearby afford excellent diving. Boca Catalina is a
small, secluded bay accessible
by steps, perfect for a private swim.
Arashi Beach
Arashi Beach is located north of Malmok Beach, at the edge of a
lovely residential area. It
skirts a barren lunar landscape and the winding road that leads
up to the majestic California
Lighthouse. This is a quiet narrow stretch of beach with
makeshift huts and a large parking
area. A favorite with locals, Arashi Beach boasts gentle
currents and abundant underwater life,
making it a perfect spot for snorkeling.
Eagle Beach
Eagle Beach is a popular public area fringing the main road,
affording clear, sparkling seas,
ample parking, shaded picnic areas, some huts, and a variety of
motorized water sports. Several
hotels are nearby and just across the road; some provide cabanas
and lounges for their guests.
During Easter week, tents dot the coastline as local families
enjoy the tradition of camping
out.
Druif Beach
Druif Beach, a long, narrow oval-shaped stretch of ivory sand,
is home to the casual low-rise
resorts. Here, rooms are just steps away from the relatively
calm Caribbean waters. Though not
too far from bustling downtown Oranjestad, Druif Beach is a
quiet and relaxing spot for sunning
and socializing.
Manchebo Beach
Just past the low-rise resorts is Manchebo Beach, a very
private, undisturbed area named after
an Arawak chief. This very wide stretch of flat beach is dotted
with swaying palms and the
occasional beach lounge. Jutting out at the island’s most
western point, this location is aptly
named Punta Brabo for some angry surf resulting from converging
currents.
Hadicurari Beach
Hadicurari Beach (Fisherman’s Huts) is a rocky strip out past
the Marriott Aruba Resort, where
windsurfers slice the water and the aeronautics of colorful
kite-surf crescents punctuate the
horizon. Once home to the island’s fishermen, it is a popular
spot for surfing enthusiasts and
the venue for sporting events and tournaments throughout the
year.
Mangel Halto
Mangel Halto is located in Pos Chiquito on the southeast coast
just south of the Spanish
Lagoon. It is a perfect sunning and snorkeling spot with calm,
shallow waters rich in sea life
supported by an intriguing network of mangroves. It is a
secluded beach area perfect for
picnics with white powdery sand and huts for shade. An excellent
shore diving site, it is
possible to walk out to the edge of the reef to behold such fish
as parrotfish, yellowtail
snapper, sergeant majors and blue tangs as well as deep water
gorgonians, sponges and anemones.
The reef plunges to depths of 110’ where octopi, morays and
barracuda abound.
Weather in Aruba
Aruba’s residents and visitors are blessed with clear skies,
bright sunshine and cooling trade
winds practically every day of the year. Except for a few
scattered weather events annually and
perhaps some limited showers on some days (very welcomed by our
tropical plants!), the sun does
indeed always shine here! Wonderful weather is one of the many
reasons for Aruba’s highest
return-visitor rate in the Caribbean.
On average, Aruba receives yearly only 408.9 mm (16 inches) of
rain, where the greatest
likelihood of precipitation from October through January.
The average air temperature is 27.8 C (82 F). The hottest months
are from May through October
and the coolest months are from December through March.
Aruba's tradewinds blow from the Northeast and the Southeast 95%
of the time. The wind speed
average is 17 miles/hour (27 km/hr). The minimum wind speed is
observed in November and the
strongest wind is observed in May through June.
The official Atlantic hurricane season generally extends from
June 1 through November 30, with
peaks from mid-August till mid-October. Aruba lies on the
southern fringes of the hurricane
belt and the likelihood of a direct hit is extremely small.
Shopping
Aruba offers a bountiful selection of newly constructed
shopping/entertainment centers in the
high-rise resort area and downtown store-lined streets and
upscale malls, as well as a
potpourri of unique boutiques and emporiums. Gleaming shops are
brimming with diamonds, gold
and silver jewelry, timepieces, perfumes and cosmetics,
state-of-the-art electronics, beach and
resort wear, designer apparel and accessories, lingerie, fine
linens and china, collectables,
handicrafts and souvenirs. Friendly, knowledgeable and
multilingual salespeople will assist you
wherever you go.
With a modern bus station, sparkling new shops, prestigious
international brands, and restored
historic buildings, downtown Oranjestad has a fresh face. A few
miles away, the high-rise hotel
area has recently added three new and exciting shopping centers
complemented by restaurants,
movie theatres and nightly entertainment to the jumping,
bustling strip.
Downtown stores are open Monday through Saturday from 9:30 am to
6 pm; if a cruise ship is in
port, some open on Sunday. Shopping hours vary in and around the
hotels; some stores remain
open to 9 pm. Though personal checks are not accepted, major
credit cards, travelers’ checks,
and US currency are welcome.
Duty Free Shopping
Aruba isn't actually a duty free port, however the duty is low
enough that it's possible to
find some excellent buys here, especially on items such as
jewelry, perfume, fashions and
electronic equipment.
Citizens of the U.S. who have been out of the country for a
minimum of 48 hours and who have
not used their respective duty free allowance within 30 days are
entitled to a $600.00 duty-
free tax exemption. Families traveling together can pool their
exemptions, meaning a couple
with two children can bring back $2,400.00 worth of articles.
Canadian citizens who have been outside Canada for a minimum of
7 days are permitted a duty-
free exemption of $500.00 Canadian dollars. Citizens are also
permitted a duty-free exemption
of $200.00 each time they are out of the country for more than
48 hours. Exemptions cannot be
pooled with spouse and/or children.
Downtown Oranjestad
Oranjestad remains a haven for shoppers who will find a
world-class selection of merchandise
within scores of stores located in several malls and along Caya
Betico Croes, the original Main
Street at the heart of town. Impeccably merchandised stores of
gleaming stainless-steel
fixtures brimming with prestigious designer labels hobnob with
one-of-a-kind retailers and
small department stores. Small malls with Dutch Caribbean
façades are located along Havenstraat
(behind the Main Street); other shops are found along a
labyrinth of narrow downtown side
streets. Parking is available in the free lot behind the bus
station; taxi and bus service will
also get you downtown in minutes. Regular shopping hours are
from 9 am – 6 pm, Monday –
Saturday, but there are sometimes extended hours when cruise
ships are in port. Check with your
hotel concierge or front desk for holiday closings.
Royal Plaza
Royal Plaza is the three-storied shopping
center opposite the harbor markets. With Dutch
Caribbean touches and pink and white paint, it resembles a rich
wedding cake. Retailers here
specialize in jewelry, apparel, accessories, linens, perfumes,
cigars and souvenirs. Stop here
for a bite or a cocktail; the harbor view is awesome and there’s
even an after-hours club. The
mall has an escalator and elevator.
Renaissance Mall
Renaissance Mall is home to an exclusive
international group of luxury retailers of simply
fabulous jewelry, ready-to-wear, perfumes, shoes, accessories,
beachwear and more. Enjoy
Belgian chocolates, gelato, cappuccino, rice and noodles, or a
light snack while shopping. The
Crystal Casino and Crystal Theatre are just up the escalator.
Renaissance
Marketplace
Renaissance Marketplace nestled between the yacht-lined
boardwalk and Queen Wilhelmina Park
boasts an eclectic array of retailers, special holiday
activities and live entertainment. A
recent facelift has given the marketplace a sophisticated new
allure; several new eateries have
recently opened their doors. The Seaport Casino and Seaport
Convention Center are located here
as well.
Alhambra
Nighttime Shopping Bazaar
Adjacent to the Alhambra Casino, this small complex has ten
unique shops, an internet café,
hairstylist, and fast food outlet. New shops are on the horizon.
Paseo Herencia
Paseo Herencia entertains shoppers with liquid fireworks,
synchronized swimmers, Carnaval
shows, live music and six movie theatres while they explore the
eclectic roster of fifty retail
stores and seven restaurants. The entire center is indeed a
“walk through history” and is
dedicated to Juan Chabaya “Padu” Lampe, Aruba’s legendary
composer and musician; the
amphitheatre is named after Edgar Connor, father of steel pan
music. Throughout the year there
are themed events, fashion shows, talent shows and performances.
Restaurants serve everything
from Belgian waffles and frites, ice cream, sushi and Caribbean
seafood to burgers, fajitas and
ribs. Waltzing waters provide an ever-changing music and light
show; the music of local bands
and jazz performers fills the air.
Palm Beach Plaza
Palm Beach Plaza is an impressive new multi-level shopping mall
with ample ground level parking
located in the high-rise area, one block from the Holiday Inn
Aruba. The largest mall in the
southern Caribbean, Palm Beach Plaza is an all-day family
entertainment center with prestigious
retailers, an eight-screen movie theatre Mega Plex, post office,
mini-market, restaurants and
food court. The children’s entertainment floor features a kiddie-train,
rock climbing wall,
bowling alley, electronic game zone, thrilling cable slide, and
indoor supervised playroom.
The Village
The Village, recently opened across from the Radisson Resort,
boasts live entertainment as well
as various shops and unique restaurants serving fajitas,
barbecue chicken and ribs, and French
Caribbean fare.
South Beach Mall
Relax at a giant sports bar, hard rock or Dutch café, al fresco
bar or coffee house, or enjoy
some Oriental cuisine while exploring all the shops. The
enormous parking area makes the
shopping experience hassle-free.
Arawak Garden
Arawak Garden is located right across from the Allegro Aruba
Resort. A jumping spot, especially
at night, Arawak features a line-up of Italian, seafood, Dutch,
steak and fast food
restaurants, as well as a popular piano bar. Kiosks and small
shops with handicrafts, jewelry,
souvenirs, aloe and more border the complex. Parking lot behind
restaurants.
Supermarkets
In addition to a host of small markets found along every road,
Kong Hing, Ling & Sons,
Certified, and Super Food are mega-supermarkets with ample
parking clustered outside of
downtown Oranjestad past the low-rise area; they are generally
open until 8 am – 6 pm daily,
and 8 am - 1 pm on Sunday.
Certified Mega Mall is a complex of fifty shops that offer a
broad range of services including
ATM machines, shoe repair, bakery and coffee shop, fast food
outlets, café/restaurant, travel
agency, fitness center, photo finisher and dry cleaner.
At the island’s supermarkets, not only will you find everything
you have at home, but also
international gourmet delights and unique local products. Dutch
cheese, confections and exotic
condiments, international wines and liqueurs; local spirits,
produce and hot sauces; Aruba aloe
products; and homemade baked goods and snacks such as the
pastechi (a deep-fried half-moon
pastry with savory fillings) and pan bollo (Aruban bread
pudding) are just a few of the
temptations that await you. Prices are in Aruban currency; to
arrive at the dollar equivalent,
divide the price in half and add 10%.
Special thanks to the authors of
Wikipedia for this content. This content is the property of its
authors and is copyrighted.
This content is used strictly for personal and educational use
for the visitors of this site.
Getting
Around | Rental Cars |
Taxis | Beaches
| Weather in Aruba |
Shopping |
Oranjestad |
Palm Beach Plaza |
Supermarkets |
Aruba History, Development and
Government | Aruba Photo Gallery |
Buy Airfare & Hotel
|
Purchase Aruba Photos |
LukeTravels.com Home Page
|