
Aruba, Lesser Antilles
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Things to do in Aruba
One of the westernmost of the Caribbean islands, Aruba lies just 19 miles off the coast of Venezuela and 42 miles west of Curacao. The southern, leeward side of the island is famous for its long stretches of powdery white-sand beach, while the northern coast features a rugged and dramatic landscape and secluded coves ideal for swimming.
Aruba has one of the highest rates of repeat visitors anywhere in the Caribbean. Arubans are famous for their friendliness and hospitality. What continues to draw people back over and over again is the great pride and care natives take to ensure that tourists have everything they could possibly need to make their stay both enjoyable and exciting. The climate is perpetually sunny and welcoming, and great care has been taken to preserve and enhance the natural beauty of the environment.
The tourist industry in Aruba is extremely well organized, developed, and diversified, catering to a wide variety of different interests. Those who prefer privacy can find a secluded stretch of beach or go exploring through the countryside on their own. However, guests in search of adventure can take advantage of Aruba’s vibrant nightlife: the casinos, the discotheques, theme parties, music and folkloric festivals. Those interested in another kind of wildlife can go bird-watching in a protected sanctuary or take a tour of a coconut plantation or hike through the Arikok National Park tracking the island’s exotic flora and fauna. Sports enthusiasts can go scuba diving in any of the 42 different diving sites, engage the incredible island winds by windsurfing, rent water-skis, parasail, or charter a boat and go deep sea fishing. The island offers two golf courses, an ATP sanctioned tennis center, racquetball courts and horseback riding trails.
Queen Beatrix Airport
- Scattered clouds
- Temperature: 25 °C
- Wind: East, 22.2 km/h
- Pressure: 1013 hPa
- Rel. Humidity: 89 %
- Visibility: 10 km

- The official currency of Aruba is Aruban guilder/florin (AWG)
- Atlantic Standard Time, North America, UTC - 4 hours
- The official language of Aruba is Dutch. The native language is Papiamento. English and Spanish are also widely spoken
- 127V 60 Hz
Tip
- Great year-round destination!
- Safe bet when it comes to hurricanes - just outside the hurricane belt!
- There are eight national celebrations on Aruba each year, many started from its Dutch ancestry
- Public Holidays
- Getting around Aruba is fairly easy.
- Whether by rental car or tax, it's easy to find your way.
- To get a taxi, it's best to call ahead. Most drivers do not stop when hailed on the street.
- The departure tax for Aruba is US $36.75 to the USA. (It is usually included in the purchased airline ticket).
- For all other destinations, the departure tax is US $33.50.
- Aruba isn't an actual duty-free port, however the duty is low. Guests should find some excellent buys, especially on jewelry, perfume, apparel and electronic equipment.
- Frequently, restaurants will add a 10-15% gratuity to each bill. It is a good idea to clarify this prior to paying your final bill
- The Aruba government sets the rates for taxis
- You may want to consider tipping the taxi driver 10-15% of your total fare
- It is expected that you should tip a little more after midnight and on Sundays















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