The capital of Aruba, Oranjestad, is a good place to begin any holiday as the city is well developed for tourists. Even in the capital, water activities such as swimming, snorkelling and boating are possible. Eagle Beach is a popular public beach which is close to Oranjestad and known for its low-rise resorts.

For a country of its size, Aruba is replete with historical and natural landmarks, many of which are considered must-sees for tourists spending their Caribbean holidays here.

The scenic California Lighthouse, located close to the island’s northwest tip, stands sentry on top of a hill overlooking the sea. Many tourists come here not only to see the lighthouse, but for the marvellous views of the coastline.

Visitors to Aruba can also head to the beautiful Chapel of Alto Vista near Noord. First built in 1750 and reconstructed in 1953, the chapel is the island’s first Catholic Church.

With Aruba being the top exporter of aloe and aloe products in the world, tourists are sure to discover more about this industry at the Aruba Aloe Museum, one of the most visited tourist attractions on the island. Tours of the museum take in the history of aloe processing on the island as well as the many health benefits of this wonder plant.

As for natural landmarks, tourists can climb and explore the Casibari Rock and Ayo Rock Formations. The presence of these oddly-shaped, huge stone boulders adds mystery to the otherwise largely flat and dry island.

Seeing Aruba’s trademark tree, the divi-divi, also known as the watapana, is another popular activity in the country. For this, visitors can head to the land of cacti in Cunucu, in the island’s northwest.

Combining both history and natural wonder, Guadirikiri Cave, Huliba Cave and Fontein Cave are worthy tourist stops. Here, visitors can explore huge rock chambers full of stalactites and stalagmites. In the case of Fontein Cave, visitors can marvel at the drawings of Aruba’s first settlers, the Arawak Indians.

The main areas to sample the island’s nightlife are the capital, Oranjestad and high-rise hotel area Most of the hotels and resorts in and around the city offer their residents drinks and night-time entertainment in the form of live music of all genres, from jazz to classical. For a more upbeat and dance-filled night out, tourists can head to LG Smith Boulevard near the harbour or South Beach.

Almost nothing is sourced locally. Beef is imported from Argentina, while other produce is commonly brought in from the US and Venezuela. This can mean prices are at the high end of the spectrum, but the quality of the food makes dining out here worth every penny.

Tourists staying in the resort areas have a wealth of choices when it comes to dining spots, as do those staying in the city centre of Oranjestad. Apart from the usual international fast food chains which are widely available, there are Caribbean, Argentinean, Mexican, Cuban, Asian, French and naturally, local Aruban restaurants. The roads backing the beaches are often the best places to look for eateries.

Local snacks and dishes are aplenty and worth a try for any visitor to the country. A famous snack is the pastechi, an Aruban version of the British pasty. The Aruban version is made with flour and filled with spicy meat or fish as well as cheese. A smaller version of this is the empanada, which is instead made with cornmeal and is of Spanish influence.

Keshi yena is another local speciality worth trying. Originating from the Dutch colonisers who made sure every scrap of food was consumed, the keshi yena is a dish made with cheese rinds stuffed with meat or seafood along with olives, capers, raisins, bread crumbs and basically anything that is available.
Stews and soups are popular on the island. Sopinan, which is also a favourite in neighbouring Curacao, has made inroads to the Aruban palate. The soup made with pork, beef or seafood combined with potatoes, tomatoes, garlic and many spices is a must-try. Other soups to try are stoba, a hearty meat soup, as well as giambo, the Aruban version of the Cajun speciality of gumbo.