Land Excursions
De Palm Island
For a family day out, ask about trips to De Palm Island for hours of fun at the
Blue Parrot Water Park, snorkeling and more.
Spanish Lagoon Wetlands
Legend has it that the Spanish Lagoon was once a hideaway for pirates, whether this
is true or not, the quiet waterway and the surrounding mangroves are a haven for
wildlife, including herons, osprey, owls and parrots. The lagoon is located between
Pos Chiquito Bay and the ruins of the Balashi Gold Mine. Follow the nature trail
from the lagoon through the wetlands to Balashi and the Cunucu di Aloe plantation.
Butterfly Farm
See some of the world’s most beautiful and colorful insects at the Butterfly Farm.
On the guided tour through the tropical gardens you’ll learn about their life cycle
and their importance as environmental indicators. They are extremely sensitive to
climate change, pollution and deforestation and a large butterfly population with
diverse species denotes a healthy ecosystem. Open daily: 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at Palm
Beach
Arikok National Park
Protecting one third of the island’s surface, Arikok National Park is a patchwork
of rolling hills covered in cacti and bent divi trees, strange rock formations (lava,
quartz diorite and limestone), caves and a stretch of coastline with beaches, dunes
and rock platforms.
The arid landscape is home to a surprising variety of birds including the endemic
shoko or Aruba burrowing owl and prikichi or parakeet, orioles and hummingbirds,
snakes, lizards, iguanas, wild donkeys and goats.
Despite its inhospitable appearance, Arikok has been inhabited for thousands of
years. Rock paintings in Fontein Cave and on huge boulders and the vestiges of ancient
villages are testimony to the earliest Amerindian inhabitants. The park is also
dotted with stone dwellings or cunucu which date from the Colonial period and housed
the poorest settlers and their estate workers.
A network of trails traverses the park and guided tours are available.
California Lighthouse
Located near the island’s northwestern tip, the 270-foot-high lighthouse is the
perfect spot for sunset watching and panoramic views of the shoreline.
Alto Vista Chapel
Overlooking the sea, this isolated chapel was built in the early 18th century by
a Spanish missionary.
Aloe Vera Plantation
Introduced to Aruba in 1840 from Africa, the aloe vera plant prospered in the arid
conditions and by 1890 it was being grown for the export market. At one point aloe
plantations covered two thirds of the island’s surface and Aruba became the world’s
biggest exporter of this miracle plant, prized for its healing properties. A plant
even appears on the national coat of arms.
Nowadays, Aruba aloe vera is used to make skincare, after-sun and hair products
and you can find out more about the production process by visiting the Aruba Aloe
Vera Factory and Museum and find out more about this miracle plant.
Explore Further
Other sites of interest on the island include San Nicolas, the second largest town
which grew up around the oil refinery and attracted workers from many of the British
Caribbean islands. They kept their own customs, including calypso, carnival, steel
bands and cuisine and the community has a unique ambiance.
Visitors can go into the bush to explore the ruins of the 19th century gold smelters
at Bushiribana and Balashi or the rock formations at Casibari and Ayo.
The Donkey Sanctuary in Santa Lucia was founded in 1997 to provide a home for stray
animals and for a glimpse of Africa you can also call in at the Ostrich Farm.
Explore on your Own
Rent a car and explore the island at your own pace. The Car Rental desk is located
in the lobby, ext. 645.
Water Sports
Curacao's Coral Reef
Crystal-clear waters, multicolored marine life and a chain of coral reefs hugging
the leeward coast make Aruba a popular scuba and snorkeling destination. If this
wasn’t enough, the island has the added attraction of more than a dozen wrecks –
including a 400-foot-long freighter to explore – leading some divers to call it
the “wreck diving capital of the Caribbean.”
Start your underwater exploration with a snorkeling adventure; there are plenty
of shallow reefs and sheltered bays along the leeward coast where you’ll see a variety
of colorful fish. Many visitors make a beeline for the calm waters of the Arashi
Underwater Park where the reef lies at a depth of between six and 45 feet and gaudy
parrot and angelfish flit between the brain, star and elkhorn corals.
Divers will see fish of all sizes ranging from the diminutive sergeant major, squirrelfish,
silversides, wrasses and grunts to blue tangs, snappers, yellow tail and groupers.
Lobster, shrimp and sea horses hide among the corals and sightings of spotted eagle
ray, mantas, barracudas and sea turtles are frequent.
If you enjoy snorkeling but are still not quite ready to take that all-important
resort course to become a fully-fledged diver, how about Snuba, which is a combination
of snorkeling and scuba? You can also try the Sea Trek, a walk along the seabed
wearing a special mask that enables you to breathe underwater. You do not need to
be an expert swimmer or diver to enjoy either of these activities.
See the reefs without getting wet and show your children the wonders of the underwater
world by booking a trip on a glass-bottomed boat, the Seaworld Explorer semi-submarine
and the Atlantis Submarine, which takes you down to a depth of 120 feet.
A Day on the Waves
Ready for a day out on the waves, how about a snorkeling trip along the coast, a
catamaran cruise to De Palm Island or a pirate adventure on board an authentic 85-foot
teak schooner? Your options include half and full-day trips, Happy Hour, sunset
and evening cruises.
Kayak Trips
Sign up for a guided kayak trip along the sheltered southern coast and explore the
mangrove forest, sea caves and a crystal-clear lagoon that was once a refuge for
pirates. You’ll stop along the way for a spot of beach and snorkeling time. No previous
kayaking experience is required.
Windsurf
The prevailing trade winds that blow across Aruba at a constant 15 knots cause choppy
conditions along the windward shore, making beaches like Boca Grandi unsuitable
for swimming and snorkeling but highly desirable for experienced windsurfers, kite
boarders and surfers. Indeed, the island has its own windsurfing community and over
the past few years, several local windsurfers have triumphed in international tournaments.
The island also hosts the annual Hi-Winds Amateur World Challenge Windsurfing competition.
If you would like to learn how to windsurf and feel the thrill of coursing through
the waves, ask at the Concierge Desk about classes available from local water sports
centers. You’ll start off on the leeward coast where the breeze is much gentler.
If you are a keen windsurfer, you might like to try kite boarding and see for yourself
why it has caught on around the world.
Gone Fishin’
If you are an old hand with a rod and net or you have always wanted to try fishing,
the waters around Aruba provide plenty of challenges. Game fish such as sailfish,
blue and white marlin, wahoo, tuna, bonito and dorado are plentiful year-round.
You can charter a boat for a day or a half-day and the experienced crew will take
you right to where the fish are running. Help preserve local fish stocks by adhering
to the catch and release policy.
Save Aruba’s Sea Life
Help local people protect the coral reefs:
- Don’t touch the coral; the slightest brush causes damage that takes hundreds of
years to recover.
- Avoid churning up sand near the reef; sand blocks out the light that coral needs
to survive.
- Do not remove shells, fish, coral fragments or sea fans from the reef.
- Use only eco-friendly sun products.
Restaurants & Bars
Where to Dine Tonight
One thing is certain you’ll always eat well on Aruba! The island boasts a tempting
array of restaurants in a choice of romantic settings for your dining pleasure.
Delicious fresh seafood, Asian fusion dishes, Continental classics and traditional
Caribbean recipes are all on the menu. Be sure to try the traditional Indonesian
rijsttafel, a banquet of rice and spicy garnishes that is a favorite wherever the
Dutch have settled in the world, Latin American dishes from the mainland or indulge
yourself with Indian, Japanese and Thai cuisine. There are French bistros, International
restaurants and pizza and pasta lovers can literally dine at a different Italian
restaurant every night. If you are a meat lover, you’ll find everything from US
steak houses, Brazilian churrasquerias, prime beef from the Argentinean pampas to
home-style hamburgers and BBQ ribs.
Local Recipes
Sample some Aruban cuisine or kuminda krioyo during your stay. Island favorites
are keshi yena, a baked Gouda cheese with a chicken stuffing, Pastechis (meat pastries),
Pisca del foil (fish cooked in foil with peppers, white wine and pernod), Giambo,
a local version of gumbo, and seafood cooked with yerba nole, an aromatic herb.
Dining at the Resort
Start your island taste tour right here at Costa Linda, you have a range of options
to choose from:
- Turtle’s Nest Bar & Grill
Seafood, steaks and International favorites. Theme Nights during the week.
Open daily for lunch and dinner, 12 noon – 11 p.m.
» Click here
to see the Dinner menu
» Click here to see the Lunch menu
- Pizza Bob's
A popular dining choice; open daily from 11 a.m. till…
Click here to see the menu
- Frangipani Coffee Shop
Open daily for breakfast, 8 -11 a.m.
- Island Breeze Coffee
Coffee, pastries and light snacks
Open daily from 8 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Click
here to see the menu
- Ellioti’s
All your Italian favorites. Next to Pizza Bob’s
- Mama’s Bar
Sunset cocktails, ice-cold beers and great island ambiance at this family-owned
bar. Open daily from 4 p.m. – midnight, later if Mama is in the mood!
After Dark
As the sun goes down, the island pace picks up. Candles flicker in the dusk, the
drums start rolling and the party is ready to begin. Aruba is famous for its nightlife
and a variety of choices awaits visitors. Start with cocktails at sunset, followed
by dinner at one of the island’s many fine restaurants and then select your entertainment
for the evening. Beach bars, live music venues, salsa clubs and discos are all on
the menu and for something different, take to the waves for a party cruise, watch
a Caribbean show or spend the night at the tables in one of the island’s casinos.
Bar Hopping
Feel the sand between your toes, listen to the waves and gaze up at the stars at
one of the island’s many beach bars. These tropical-style thatched hideaways are
the essence of the casual Caribbean. And there’s plenty more to choose from: chic
lounges serving a cocktail of champagne, martinis and mellow jazz, open-air cafes,
piano bars and friendly watering holes popular with visitors and locals, Aruba’s
bar scene is lively and varied. Visit a different one every night and find your
own favorite or hop on a party bus and try some of the island’s hottest spots.
Set Sail at Sunset
Savor the romance of the Caribbean at sunset on board a catamaran, party with the
pirates and for a truly magical evening, book a dinner cruise and enjoy your meal
under the stars. Check out the nighttime cruise options available at the tour desk.
Musical Choices
Let local artists entertain you with their own brand of Caribbean music; you’ll
hear everything from Calypso, Cuban ballads and steel bands to soca, salsa, tumba
and reggae on Aruba. Looking for something International? Some bars offer live jazz,
guitar, piano, rock and pop classics.
The fast-paced salsa and merengue will soon get your feet tapping and you’ll be
itching to get out on the dance floor. The island’s nightclubs play a blend of Latin
and International dance rhythms and you can party until sunrise.
Casinos
Lady Luck Smiles
Monte Carlo, Las Vegas…next stop Aruba. The island has some of the most prestigious
casinos in the Caribbean, its own brand of stud poker and hosts several international
tournaments during the year. Spend an evening at the roulette, baccarat, blackjack
and poker tables, join in the nightly Texas Hold’Em and bingo and try the latest
video games and slot machines. You may strike lucky and you’ll certainly enjoy yourself.
Beaches
Beach Hopping
Eagle Beach is so beautiful that it would be hard to tire of it, however if you
like beach hopping, the island has some of the finest pearly white strands in the
Caribbean, each one with its own charm.
Located on the northwestern tip of the island, Arashi Beach and Boca Catalina are
sheltered, making them popular snorkeling and swimming spots. Palm Beach is the
island’s most famous and busiest beach and the location for many of its most popular
waterfront restaurants and bars.
Traveling south from Eagle Beach, Manchebo, Punta Brabo and Druif are all picturesque
spots. Mangel Haito is a secluded cove that is ideal for swimming and snorkeling.
The coral reef is so close to the coast that shore diving is possible.
The shallow and sheltered bays of Rogers and Baby beach are popular with visitors
and locals alike and boast shade huts and food stands.
On the windward shore, the surf is stronger and the coastline opens up to offer
dramatic vistas of wide beaches such as Boca Grandi and Wariruri. There are also
extensive dunes, rock platforms and natural limestone arches, basins and sea caves
created over the centuries by wind and waves.
Shopping
Shopping in Aruba
Shopping Sensations
Search for your own island treasures in the stores, malls and markets of Aruba,
it’s a shopper’s paradise!
If you cannot resist the lure of glitter, then you’ll enjoy window shopping in Oranjestad
as storefront after storefront proudly exhibits a magnificent collection of gold,
gemstones and signature pieces of jewelry and watches from the world’s leading designers.
Fashion is not far behind, with collections of Italian, French and American designer
and casual wear, lingerie, Brazilian swimwear, and leather accessories. You can
also find bargains in perfumes, cosmetics, cameras, electronics, crystal, fine china,
linens and Dutch lace and chocolates and be sure to save space for some Caribbean
crafts and Cuban cigars.
If you are looking for a unique island souvenir, why not invest in a painting or
sculpture by Aruban artists. The Kunsthuis Cultural Center and Gallery is a good
place to start scouting for local talent.
Shopping at the Resort
Tropical Temptations Market
The resort convenience store has a wide selection of imported snacks, cookies, candies,
soft drinks and liquors. Free delivery service to your suite.
Before you start your island shopping spree, call in at the Gift Shop area of Tropical
Temptations. It’s convenient, well-stocked and prices are competitive. Whether you
are looking for a new swimsuit or cover up and a straw hat or beach bag in tropical
colors to match or a colorful wooden gift for a friend back home, you’ll find it
here. Open daily from 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Aruba Shopping Malls
Paseo Herencia
J.E. Irausquin Blvd 382-A, opposite the Holiday Inn
Seaport Mall and Marketplace
On the waterfront
Renaissance Mall
Renaissance Resort, Oranjestad
Current & Cool Events
Bon Bini Festival
For a glimpse of island culture and a sampling of local music, dance, cuisine and
crafts, don’t miss the popular Bon Bini Festival staged every week in the courtyard
of the History Museum in Fort Zoutman, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.