Destination Spotlight: Aruba

I'm really excited about spotlighting one of my favorite Caribbean islands, Aruba.  Aruba is near & dear to my heart because that is where my husband & I went for our honeymoon.  This Dutch Caribbean island is a perfect spot for many types of vacations.  Whether it's for a honeymoon, wedding, family vacation, couples getaway or a group of friends, this island has so many things that appeal to all types of travelers.  

Aruba is located in the southern Caribbean, just 9 miles north of Venezuela.  It's a small island at just 19 miles long and 6 miles across, making it so easy to navigate around and see the whole island while you're there.  Aruba is very safe and has the highest return visitor rate in the Caribbean.  The residents there mostly speak English, Dutch & Spanish.  There are plenty of various types of accommodations in Aruba, from all-inclusive resorts and high-rise hotels to private bungalows.  There is even a resort where guests have access to a private island that is home to a flamboyance of flamingos.

Their tagline is "One Happy Island", which could be because Aruba has more sunny days than any other Caribbean island. It's located just outside of the fringes of the hurricane belt, which means it sees very little rainfall.  On average, it receives only 16" of rain per year with the greatest likelihood of rain in October and November.  The average temperature year round is in the low 80's, with cooling trade winds which keep you comfortable all day long.  Aruba has the most beautiful white sand beaches made from crushed coral, so the sand never feels hot on your feet.  

If you're looking to do something other than relaxing on the beach, there are so many options on the island of Aruba.  It is known as the wreck diving capital of the Caribbean, with sunken ships from two WWII shipwrecks as well as sunken airplanes, all easily accessible for scuba divers.  The largest national park in the Caribbean, Arikok National Park, covers around 20% of the island.  There are plenty of opportunities for activities such as scuba diving, snorkeling, horseback riding, windsurfing & ATV riding all around the island.  I highly recommend renting a jeep for a day and exploring or going on a glass-bottom boat tour.

If this sounds like where you would like to plan your next vacation to, contact me and we'll get started planning your trip to paradise.  I'm confident that you will love it there just as much as I did.

A few grainy images from our honeymoon in Aruba...