Aruba has to be on any one's top 10 best Caribbean vacation destinations. Aruba is part of what is known as the Lesser Antilles and is located just off the coast of Venezuela, which means it is about as far as you can get from the U.S. mainland. Unlike some Caribbean nations which are made up of several or hundreds of islands, Aruba is just one island. The island itself is about 33 miles long, a large portion of which is uninhabited desert. The capital and principal city is Oranjestad, which if you know Dutch will give you a good indication of the heritage of this island nation as it has been under the control of the Dutch since 1636. Dutch is the official language but many Arubans speak English.
Aruba enjoys a higher than average standard of living for the Caribbean. The currency in Aruba is the Florin which is set to exchange at the rate of 1 Florin to 1.77 U.S. Dollars. Aruba has experienced an explosion in population growth since 1987, growing from just over 60,000 to over 100,000 residents today. I wonder if the Beach Boys song "Kokomo" which came out about that time had something to do with it.
Downtown Oranjestad is renown for the colorful Candyland looking architecture. It's kind of interesting as I wonder where this architecture came from as Holland doesn't look like Disney's Mainstreet.
One notable consideration about Aruba is the climate. Unusual for a Caribbean vacation destination is Aruba's relatively dry climate. Most islands in the Caribbean receive abundant rainfall, which is why they are so lush and green. Some Virgin Islands for example receive over 45 inches of rain per year, Aruba receives only 18 inches per year, which explains the desert landscape. The good thing is you don't have to worry that your vacation will be soaked with rain every day, as rain is rare. Plenty of hot sunny weather! Also, unlike some islands such as the Virgin Islands, Aruba is flat which makes getting around a bit easier, though a bit less scenic. Most all the development on the island is on the West side as the East side is rugged and has more surf.
The beaches of Aruba are not as abundant as some Caribbean islands, but what they do have are as spectacular as any. Palm, Eagle and Baby beaches are the most famous. In fact, many will tell you not to miss Baby Beach. As you can see from the photo, it is a nice cove which ensures little to no waves in the crystal clear water. Great for small children.
If you're interested I listed the top 5 best Aruba resorts on Palm/Eagle beach here.
There's no question that Aruba has to be one of the very best Caribbean vacation destinations.
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