About the island
Aruba is a generally flat, riverless island
known for its white sand beaches. Most of these are located on the
western and southern coasts of the island, which are relatively sheltered
from strong ocean currents. The northern and eastern coasts are more
battered by the sea and have been left largely untouched by humans.
Capital: Oranjestad
Location: Aruba is a Caribbean island in the Caribbean
Sea, north of Venezuela
Size: 119 square miles (308 square km), slightly
larger than Washington, DC
Population: 12,300
Language: Dutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish,
Portuguese, Dutch, English dialect), English and Spanish (widely spoken)
Climate: Tropical Marine, little seasonal temperature
variation
Terrain: Flat with a few hills; scant vegetation.
The highest point on the island is Mount Jamanota at 616 feet (188
meters).
Currency: Aruban florin
Tourism info: Call Aruba Visitor Information at 1-800-TO-ARUBA.
Getting there from Miami: Aruba is located 1,134
miles (1,825 km) from Miami, FL. The easiest way to visit the Island
is to fly.
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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.
Aruba reviews
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Web links
Aruba
- Wikipedia
Visit Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
CIA Factbook --
Aruba, The
Aruba seceded from the Netherlands Antilles in 1986 and became a separate,
autonomous member of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Search
Google
for "Aruba Island" to find Miami cruises to Aruba.
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