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Sight Seeing
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Things to do and Places to visit
Aruba is famous for its windsurfing, snorkeling, scuba diving, sailing, deep-sea
fishing, water skiing or just a lazy swim.
Its beaches consist of white sand with calm and incredibly blue waters filled with
neon-yellow fish, flame-bright coral reefs and billowing rainbow-colored sails. They are
considered to be some of the best beaches in the world.
Aruba has an array of interesting spots to visit including: The Alto Vista Chapel,
The Arikok National Park, The Ayo & Casibari Rock Formations, The Bushiribana & Balashi,
The California Lighthouse, The Frenchman's Pass, The Hooiberg, The Lourdes Grotto, Caves and the
Aruba Aloe Factory.
Oranjestad
The capital, located on the south coast on the west side of the island, is
extremely picturesque with its Dutch colonial architecture in pastel colors. Along the quay,
merchants come every morning to sell fresh fish and produce from the boat. You can go here
to score nice souvenirs, but also to eat delicious food! Take a look at the Renaissance
Marketplace. In the evening, live music plays here while you are having a nice dinner or a
drink.
Arikok National Park
Is Aruba's ecological treasure. Among the desert vegetation in the park, are
divi-divi trees, rare exotic cacti, aloe plants, and colorful tropical flowers. The park is
open daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Follow the signs to "Parke Nacional Arikok" from the city
of Santa Cruz to the park entrance on the left a short distance past the paved road.
Want to visit this park under the siege of a tour? You can! Together with The Palm Tours this
is possible, for more information send us an email (rentals@arubahappyrentals.com) or call
us at +297 586 2662.
Natural bridge
Is one of Aruba's most popular attractions, still after collapse in 2005. The
bridge is a formation of coral limestone cut out by years of pounding surf, and is one of
the largest of these types of spans in the world. It stands some 23 feet (7 meters) above
sea level and spans more than 100 feet (30 meters).
Natural pool
This small rock-enclosed seawater pool is difficult to enter and exit, and not
worth the trouble, unless you just want to cool off. However, it is worthwhile to climb up
onto boulder to watch the ocean surf break over the rocks and cascade into the basin. Forget
about snorkeling, the water is too churned up. Visit the pool for the magnificent views.
San Nicolas
A unique Caribbean energy is present in Aruba's second largest city, San
Nicolas, with a majority of residents originally from the British Caribbean. The town's
development is undeniably linked to the oil refinery, whose presence is often in stark
contrast to the area's modest homes and picturesque beach spots.
For years, one of the main reasons visitors found their way to this part of the island was to
stop by Charlie's Bar. This bar has been famous since the 1940s, when divers began hanging
their underwater finds on the walls there. Since then, it has become a museum of sorts. Be
sure to go here for a drink!
San Nicolas is only now beginning to develop into an "alternative" tourist destination.
Hotels are being built or renovated that reflect the town's history when sailors from around
the world went on leave to enjoy local hospitality.
Enjoy all the beautiful murals present in the town. New murals are added every year by local
artists.
Baby Beach
Known for its peaceful swimming cave, it is located in Seroe Colorado on the
southeast side of the island, near the oil refinery. It really is a must visit here after
visiting San Nicolas. Here you can unwind and is perfect for children because the water here
is quite low.
Gold Mill
Gold was found in Aruba in 1824, presumably by a boy playing in a dry creek bed,
and for several years local residents were allowed to collect and sell the precious metal at
a price set by the government. Thirty years later, the Aruba Island Gold Mining Company
obtained all rights to the cache and built the large smelter at Bushiribana. Today you can
climb around the fallen pile of rocks where the mall was once located.
It's also a great photo spot and can be reached by car!
Caves
The Guadirikiri Cave is famous for its two chambers, illuminated by the sunlight
streaming through holes in the roof of the cave.The cave extends for about 100 feet. In the
darker portions of the cave nest hundreds of harmless bats.
The Fontein Cave is the most popular of the caves as it is the only one that has the drawings
of Arawak Indians on the ceilings, providing a real sense of island history to this cave.
The Tunnel of Love because of the heart shaped opening at its entrance.
Want to visit the caves and Arikok National Park under the siege of a tour? You can! Together
with The Palm Tours this is possible, for more information send us an email
(rentals@arubahappyrentals.com) or call us at +297 586 2662.
Aloe Musea & Factory
Take a tour through the state-of-the-art Aruba Aloe Factory and see the
production process firsthand from aloe vera leaf to finished Aruba Aloe lotions! The tour
guides will explain you all about the aloe plant and its uses and you will have the
opportunity to learn all about the 160-year old aloe history of Aruba in the museum which is
a national depository for ancient aloe tools and equipment with a complete library on the
history, manufacture and qualities of aloe vera.
Museo Historico Arubano (Aruba Historical Museum)
Is aptly located in the center of town in Fort Zoutman, Aruba’s oldest building
dating back to 1798. The museum hosts the Bonbini Festival, a folkloric event that takes
place every Tuesday evening at 6:30 pm.
Rock Formations
Casibari Boulders Clusters of huge tonalite boulders lie together in an area
just north of Haystack. This rock formation, unique from the more typical features of the
area, rises inexplicably from the desert soil to form an unusual environment. Some of the
rocks weigh several tons and have peculiar shapes. The government of Aruba has built hiking
trails and stairs through the boulders, so hikers can reach the top for breathtaking views
of the island.
Ayo Rock Formations Towering stone boulders, placed so close together and in unusual designs,
combined with the peaceful setting of Ayo, create a sense of awe and an understanding of why
the area was once considered a sacred place by the island's original inhabitants. Rock
drawings thousands of years old have been found at this site, where huge stones appear to
have been scattered like marbles by an errant giant. Modern trails have been constructed to
help visitors better explore this ancient site.
Tip: go here during sunrise or sunset to get the best photos! You overlook The Haystack; you
can also climb it first for an even more beautiful view of the entire island.
California lighthouse
Was named after a ship called the "California." It was a wooden ship sailing
from England to Venezuela when it ran aground off the northwest corner of Aruba on Sept. 23,
1891. The California lighthouse was completed in 1914. Located on a high seawall, the
lighthouse has become one of Aruba's picturesque trademarks and offers a perfect view of the
island's western coastline of sandy beaches. Around the lighthouse are acres of flat land
full of rocks, and an area called California White Sand Dunes is very popular with children
who go dune surfing.
For a small fee, you can climb the lighthouse and enjoy an impressive view of Aruba!
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