Aruba Island - Caribbean Ports of Call

Travel Requirement: Beginning Jan 1, 2008, the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative requires all U.S. citizens, citizens of the British Territory of Bermuda, and citizens of Canada and Mexico visiting Aruba to have a passport or other secure document that establishes the bearer’s nationality to enter or re-enter the United States.

Attractions

You can explore the island on a jeep safari tour, visit the national park for hiking and mountain biking, take a quadracer tour, or rent a jeep or scooter and go cruising for a day.

If you like the ocean, you can swim, snorkel, dive, sail, go fishing, try snuba or seatrek, parasailing, banana boating or any of the many sea activities available.

Aruba's fame as a windsurfing destination has attracted some of the best instructors in the world. Novices can learn in the calmer winds along the island's southern shore, and advanced sailors can choose from a number of prime spots along the northern and southeastern coasts. For information call De Palm Tours at 1-800-766-6016.

If you are a golf lover, you can enjoy a game at the Tierra Del Sol or The Links course. You can also watch an Imax-style panorama movie to learn more about the island. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to explore the undersea world in a submarine? In Aruba, you can do just that too!

Another popular destination is the Spaans Lagoen (Spanish Lagoon). Located at the southernmost tip of Aruba. Back in the day, the Lagoon was a popular hiding place for pirates, who made their living robbing passing ships of their cargo.

Arikok National Park is located in the center of the island. Covering nearly 20 percent of Aruba, the National Park is a desert ecological preserve, featuring hiking trails, migratory birds observation, Indian art and artifacts, and wild goats and donkeys. A desert in the Caribbean, Arikok is a fun place to spend the day.

You can arrange for a guided tour of the island for around $30 an hour.

Getting around

Taxis are readily available in Oranjestad. They offer a fixed rate pricing system, so be sure to ask your driver for fare information before departing. Taxi drivers are courteous, knowledgeable guides to their homeland.

In addition, the island of Aruba has a efficient bus system, with daily service from 6am to midnight. You can get a round-trip bus fare from the most popular beaches to downtown Oranjestad for a mere $2.

Visitors can also take advantage of Aruba's flat terrain and rent a scooter, bicycle, or even a Harley Davidson motorcycle.

Remember, when you take to the road, British rules apply, so keep to the left. Pedestrians should remember to look right before crossing streets.

Check dates and prices for Miami Cruises to Aruba.

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