Aruba: One Happy Island

Feb 1, 2019
3 min read

Updated: Oct 23, 2021

Welcome to Aruba!

Envision pristine beaches, turquoise waters, and lazy, sun-kissed days. Picture yourself on this idyllic island where the culturally diverse and multilingual people welcome you with gracious smiles and a proud tradition of warm hospitality.

World-class resorts, fabulous culinary experiences, action-packed casinos, exciting nightlife, duty-free shopping, rejuvenating spas, and a bevy of land and sea activities and adventures combine to create the perfect Caribbean vacation experience.

Aruba is located 15 miles north of Venezuela in the warm waters of the southern Caribbean and is home to beautiful white-sand beaches, 82-degree days and some of the warmest people in the world.

Why Aruba?

The Beaches Eagle Beach is one of the top ten beaches in the world.

The Sunshine Aruba has the most of sunny days of any island in the Caribbean, making for the perfect beach vacation.

The Weather Located below the hurricane belt in the southern Caribbean, Aruba has 82-degree days year-round, refreshing trade winds and low humidity, contributing to the best Caribbean vacation.

Direct Flights To enjoy your best Caribbean vacation, you can hop on a direct flight from almost any of the major U.S. scheduled carriers in 14 U.S. cities to Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA).

The Romance Many couples who honeymoon in Aruba continue to return for their anniversaries year after year.

It's Great for Families Aruba is the perfect beach vacation for family fun in the sun. US News & World Report ranked Aruba among its best Caribbean family vacations in 2015.

The Honeymoons Aruba was named one of the world's top honeymoon destinations by Brides Magazine.

The National Park Covering about 20% of the island, Arikok National Park is an incredible nature preserve and the largest national park in the Caribbean.

U.S. Dollars Accepted No need to exchange your currency — the U.S. dollar is widely accepted here

The Diving In addition to providing a wonderful beach vacation, Aruba was recognized as one of the top wreck diving destinations in the Caribbean by Scuba Diving Magazine.

Adventure Sports Thanks to Aruba’s constant trade winds, it is known as a world-class destination for windsurfing and kitesurfing.

The Food More than 90 nationalities influence Aruba's cuisine, with local dishes like gouda-glazed keshi yena joining South American, European and Caribbean favorites on menus around the island.

The island is only 19.6 miles long and 6 miles across, with a total area of 70 square miles. Aruba is located just below the hurricane belt, and unlike many islands in the Caribbean, the climate is dry, so there is rarely a rainy day. On the south and west coasts of Aruba, you’ll find Oranjestad, the capital city, and miles of beaches that have been named some of the best in the world. Here, you’ll find most of the hotels and all-inclusive resorts in Aruba, and Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA).

In the interior of the island, you'll find Arikok National Park, a desert-like preserve with a variety of wildlife, cacti and dramatic rock formations. You’ll also find some of Aruba's most striking views, as the ocean crashes against the rugged shoreline below.

On the northeast coast, along the windward shore, you'll see the island's unofficial mascots, the fofoti trees. The constant trade winds have permanently sculpted them into graceful, southwesterly bending forms.

Quick Facts:

U.S. travelers: Valid passport needed for entry
Official language: Dutch and Papiamento (English is widely spoken)
Official currency: Aruban florin (American dollars are widely accepted)
Climate: Average year-round temperature of 82° F

BEACHES, BEACHES, BEACHES... Fringing turquoise Caribbean waters, 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. The beaches along the windward coast are in more secluded and undeveloped areas. Because of the strong undertow and crashing waves, swimming on the windward coast is not recommended. Both coasts afford spectacular Caribbean views and all beaches are open to the public.