Oranjestad, Aruba

The highpoint of the year on Aruba has to be its carnival season that starts off with a bang in the form of a little torch parade to get things going. Months are spent preparing for this exciting festivity of rum and tumba music that has been celebrated around late January/early February every year since 1921. But the preparations are well worth it: gorgeous costumes and floats, each trying to outdo the others in opulence and beauty.

This beach on the west coast has been ranked among the top ten most beautiful beaches on earth for ten years. When you see it, you’ll know right away where they took all those idyllic shots for picture postcards. Eagle Beach gives you hotels, resorts, restaurants, bars and a host of other places to sit back and relax. Other beaches where you’ll want to be seen include Palm Beach, Druif Beach and Bushuri Beach.

An enclosed wilderness preserve and an oasis of tranquility, this region is also perfect for exploring with a four-wheel drive vehicle. But if you want to get a close-up look at the diversity of plants and animals here - such as the divi-divi trees, kwihi trees, exotic cacti, aloes, tropical flowers, birds and iguanas - put on your hiking boots and be sure to stick to the footpaths! Also found in this protected reserve is Mt. Arikok, once home to the Arowak Indians who are still known to us because of their magical cave drawings. The highest point on Aruba, Mt. Jamanota, is 617 feet tall and provides habitat for wild goats, donkeys and hundreds of noisy parrots. 

Tierra del Sol: it’s not just any golf course. Where other courses often compete with the needs of the natural environment, this professional 18-hole course (3.7 miles, par 71) is simply a part of the habitat for the island’s flora and fauna and is always considering environmental needs. The little bird sanctuary at the fourth hole is a good example! The course also provides great views of the sea.

This 9-hole golf course has an extensive training facility with a driving range, chipping area and practice bunker. Want to improve your swing? Go directly to the Video Swing Analysis station. After a good round of golf, stop in at one of the two restaurants (including ‘Windows on Aruba’ with its panoramic view of the course and the sea!), the clubhouse or the lounge.

Wherever tourists visit (especially Americans!), you’ll find places to shop - lots of places to shop. Aruba is no exception. The largest and best-known shopping street is Caya G. F. Betico Croes named for the politician who died in 1986. Other shopping opportunities can be found in the Royal Plaza Shopping Center. The inviting city of Oranjestad also provides its share of luxury shops: Gucci, Prada and Chanel included.