| Travel Guide To The Aruba Island Of The Caribbean |
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Aruba is a Dutch-flavored island located in the southern Caribbean Sea near the coast of Venezuela. It is nearly 70 square miles (185 square kilometers) in area and has desert-resembling landscape. The island has an arid, tropical marine climate and its main spoken languages include Dutch, Papiamento, English and Spanish.
Attractions Aruba comprises of a few attractive natural wonders, such as sunken reefs, caves and rugged seashores. Moreover the island also offers horseback riding, desert tours, scuba diving and snorkeling as popular activities. However, many of its finest tourist attractions are of the manmade kind, including the enthralling spots of the cities of Oranjestad and Fort Zoutman and lots of nightlife options, such as casinos, hip nightclubs and live shows. Beaches Aruba is famous for its flat, white-sand type of beaches. The wind-twisted divi-divi tree is the most familiar national symbol of the island and therefore it is not a surprising fact that its beaches are quite windy, a blessing for windsurfers. Eagle Beach and Palm Beach, which are home to many of Aruba's big resorts, are the most popular among the beaches. If you need more privacy, you can go to the Rodger's Beach or the Andicuri Beach. Hotels and Resorts Aruba is widely known for its big hotels and resorts, particularly its multistoried hotels along the Palm Beach. Here you can find well-known brands like Marriott and Hyatt as well as a few local resorts that offer a more regional flavor. All-inclusive resorts have cropped up only recently on the island. Other lodging options include private villas and apartment rentals. Restaurants Aruba offers one of the largest variety of dining options in the Caribbean, from recognizable fast-food outlets (like McDonalds, KFC and Wendy's) to fine restaurants which serve traditional Aruban cuisines like shrimp en caco in country homes. Closeness to Argentina also means plenty of steak houses, with many offering wood-grilled dishes. Culture and History First occupied by the Arawak Indians and then colonized by the Dutch, the island has enjoyed three phases of economic progress: gold, oil and tourism. This opulence, combined with the fact that an agricultural economy never came in to existence, explains the hospitable nature of its residents. Aruba became free from the Netherlands in 1986, and while the Dutch influence exists, the island is really a cultural hodgepodge, as can be seen in its mixed local language, Papiamento. Events and Festivals Aruba organizes an annual cultural Carnival, which runs from late January to early February. Its inhabitants' love of the sea is reflected in the Hi-Winds windsurfing contest organized in the middle of summer. Moreover, the island also offers the Aruba Music Festival for the audiophiles. Related Articles
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