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Beachin'
It:
The wide strip of silky white sand and the gentle waves at Eagle Beach
make it a favored local spot for
swimming and hanging out. Walk to the rocks and look around to spot the
bright-green indigenous parakeets living in the nearby trees. ~ Palm Beach fronts a strip of luxury hotels,
all of which open to the sands with bars and al fresco dining for the two
of you to enjoy. The beautiful beach itself is great for snorkeling,
people-watching, sailing—just about anything. ~ The calm, see-through waters
of Arashi Beach are made for snorkeling—and early birds get to nab the cool
thatched huts. ~ For beginning and intermediate windsurfers, both
Hadacurari and Malmok Beaches are prime hangouts, with shallow waters
stretching out 200 feet and easy, steady winds.
~
A 5-minute ferry ride will take you to De Palm Island, which offers
excellent snorkeling and great coral formations.
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Oranjestad:
Aruba's colorful, compact capital
city was originally built around Fort Zoutman,
which was
completed in 1796. Oranjestad's oldest structure and a major attraction,
today the Fort houses the Museo Arubano, whose many artifacts
date from the island's earliest days. The
primary shopping street is Caya Betico Croes, otherwise known as Main
Street; you'll find duty-free goods. Other ideas:
Check out Aruba Numismatic Museum's 30,000+ historic coins from around the world, or visit
the small Aruba Aloe Museum,
devoted entire to aloe and its cultivation (yes, Aruba produces lots of
aloe).
The Natural Pool: This hidden,
"secret" pool of seawater, surrounded by rocks and located on the windward
coast, is a perfect daytime getaway for romantic honeymooners.
Getting here isn't easy, though—the
Natural Pool is
surrounded by rugged terrain, so rent a 4-wheel drive
vehicle or ride in on horseback. Bring plenty of water and a picnic,
because you won't find refreshments nearby. Why go to all that trouble?
(1) You'll probably be alone; (2) jumping from the
cliffs into the pool is a total rush; and (3) because it's there.
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Stay Up All Night:
Why not? It's your honeymoon! The island's casinos aren't only about gambling—just
as in Vegas and elsewhere, they
also offer big-time
shows, restaurants, discos, and bars. Most big hotels host
special entertainments such as barbecues on the beach, cocktail parties,
or extravagant Aruban folkloric events. And everywhere are smaller clubs, bars,
theaters, and all sorts of entertainment—steel bands, water ballet,
limbo/fire dancing, cabaret shows, dinner cruises, party boats and busses,
festivals, celebrations. Then, too, there's always the quiet dinner à deux,
followed by a starlit walk on the beach, followed by....well, like we
said, it's your honeymoon.
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Ride the Wind:
Thanks to its famous trade winds, Aruba is an excellent locale for windsurfing,
a sport that combines aspects of surfing and sailing. With winds ranging
from 15 to 25 knots and waves that vary from pleasant ripples to big-time
(depending on your location), beginners can learn safely and experts can
seek out the thrills. Or perhaps you'd prefer one of the other
wind-dependent activities such as sailing, kiteboarding, or parasailing.
Most major hotels and resorts, and dozens of independent shops, will be
happy to rent you equipment and get you going with these and other sports.
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Golfing in Aruba: Tierra del Sol, an 18-hole/par 71 championship
course, was designed by Robert Trent Jones II. Multiple tees, with the
highest located 98 feet above sea level, provide a variety of distances
and angles,allowing the course can be played differently each time (and
all the while you'll be feasting on views of the sea, the island's free-roaming
donkeys and goats, and many unique
bird species, including the endangered burrowing owl). ~ The Aruba Golf
Club's 9-hole course presents 20 challenging sand traps and 5 water traps,
trade winds, and, perhaps unique in all the world, a roaming goat herd!
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Arikok National Park:
Nearly 20 percent of the island is given over to this park, which shelters
several animal species that exist nowhere else on the planet. These
include the Aruban whiptail lizard, burrowing owl, parakeet, and cat-eyed snake.
As you hike the nature trails at
Arikok NP,
you'll observe native plants like divi-divi and the kwihi tree, rare
cacti, tropical flowers, iguanas, and other critters. Or get an overview
via horseback, with a riding tour of the Park's historic and cultural
sites. Jeep tours are also available.
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Sea Turtles: The
sea grass beds found in Aruba's waters serve as both permanent home and
mating area for loggerhead, green, and hawksbill turtles. Leatherback
turtles, which migrate here each year, nest on island beaches from
late March through early September. To protect the turtles and guarantee
their future, turtle nests are cordoned off and monitored during nesting
season. As
you dive, snorkel, or swim, you stand a good chance of seeing one of these
marvelous creatures in the water.
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Take the Plunge:
Aruba's snorkeling and diving are excellent, but why not give snuba a try?
It's a bit like scuba, except the air is delivered from the surface
through a long hose, and so easy that you don't need lessons
to try it. Or you could dispense with getting wet altogether and go for a
dry option, viewing Aruba's underwater wonderland 150 feet below the
surface through the windows of the $3.5 million Atlantis submarine. You'll find abundant coral species and fish in these waters,
visibility usually up to 100 feet, and five fascinating wreck dives.
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Farms & Sanctuaries:
Tour the Butterfly Farm to observe the life cycle of these
beautiful creatures from egg to caterpillar to chrysalis to the amazing
emergence of a butterfly. Hand-feed giant birds at the
Aruba Ostrich Farm
(the birds apparently like being fed this way). You'll get a loud bray of
welcoming at the
Donkey Sanctuary, where it's fun to hang around with and
feed these friendly animals (once the mainstay of transportation on the
island). The Bubali Plas Bird Sanctuary, within walking distance of Eagle Beach, contains a pond and
tall grasses—hunting grounds for Brown Pelicans; Olivaceous Cormorants; Black-crowned, Louisiana, and Great
Blue Herons; Common and Snowy Egrets; and lots of others. An observation tower
allows for a great overview and photos of avian action.
More Info:
Aruba Tourism Authority
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