Aruba

Island
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GUIDES

The Reverse Itinerary, Starting Your Aruba Trip in San Nicolas

San Nicolas, Aruba’s second-largest town, has reinvented its old oil-town streets as an open-air gallery through the Aruba Art Fair, with murals from international artists covering entire buildings. Start your Aruba trip here and you get a completely different island: an evolving Caribbean art town, the legendary Charlie’s Bar, and Baby Beach just beyond downtown. San Nicolas is the island’s most convincing counterpoint to Palm Beach and Eagle Beach — rooted in refinery history, migration, calypso, steel pan, and a distinctly Caribbean identity that now sits alongside one of the most interesting public-art scenes anywhere in the region. Emily’s

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What a Week of Eating Only From Aruba’s Bakeries Taught Me

Bright Bakery has been turning out pastechi in Piedra Plat since 1949 — before Aruba’s tourism boom, before the high-rise hotels on Palm Beach, before most of the island’s current food scene existed. I showed up at 7:55 a.m. on a Tuesday, and there was already a line. Not a long one, but enough to tell me the locals knew something I didn’t. That week, I ate nothing from restaurants, food trucks, or hotel buffets. Only bakeries. The rule was simple: if it didn’t come from a bakery window, a roadside stall selling cocada, or a café that baked

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Aruba’s Quietest Cove Doesn’t Appear on Most Maps

Dos Playa, which translates to “two beaches” in Papiamento, is exactly that—two adjacent white-sand coves hidden behind towering limestone walls on Aruba’s wild east coast. It’s a spot that doesn’t appear on most tourist maps, and that’s precisely why it remains the island’s quietest cove. Wild beaches like Andicuri and Dos Playa average 0-5 visitors daily. Emily’s Take Aruba’s quietest cove is Dos Playa inside Arikok National Park, but reaching it requires a 4×4 and a willingness to trade comfort for solitude. If you want a quiet cove you can actually swim in without the rough drive, aim for

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Explore Aruba’s Rugged Arikok National Park

The entrance road into Arikok National Park is a gravel strip through parched divi-divi trees and cacti, and the first thing you notice is the quiet. Wind, mostly, and the crunch of tires. The park covers roughly 18 percent of Aruba’s eastern half, a landscape of limestone caves, volcanic hills, and coastline that the resorts don’t show you. This article walks through the park’s top highlights, how to reach them, and what to watch out for — especially if you’re traveling with kids. Emily’s Take Arikok is worth a full day if you have a 4×4 and start early,

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Aruba: Sun-Kissed Beaches and Aloe Vera Delights

Aruba, a small island nation in the southern Caribbean, offers a compelling mix of relaxation and adventure, making it a popular destination, especially for cruise ship visitors. Just off the coast of Venezuela, it’s known for its consistently sunny weather and friendly “One Happy Island” vibe. The island’s economy heavily relies on tourism, and you’ll find a well-developed infrastructure geared towards welcoming visitors with efficiency and warmth. From its powdery white-sand beaches to its unique desert interior, Aruba presents a diverse landscape that can be explored with ease. Discovering Oranjestad’s Charm Cruise Port Proximity The cruise port’s location is

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Palm Beach Hotel Adds New Boutique Experience

Palm Beach just got a new landmark. The Westerly, a 161-room boutique-style oceanfront tower, has opened within Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino, adding a fresh architectural presence closer to the shoreline. The tower is part of a multi-year enhancement program at the resort and represents a shift toward more intimate, experience-driven hospitality on Aruba’s busiest resort strip. The Westerly brings 161 boutique-style rooms and suites to Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort on Palm Beach, marking Aruba’s first resort tower developed entirely with local financing. Designed by Jeffrey Beers International in collaboration with 10 Design, The Westerly blends mid-century design

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Explore Aruba’s Many Shipwrecks

Aruba offers a unique dive experience, especially for those drawn to underwater exploration. While neighboring islands might get more attention, Aruba holds a surprising number of shipwrecks, from historical vessels to more recent artificial reefs. It’s a destination that rewards a closer look for any diving enthusiast. The island’s most famous wreck is the SS Antilla, a World War II casualty. Originally a supply ship for German U-boats, its captain scuttled it in 1940 to prevent its capture by Dutch marines. The wreck lies relatively shallow, making it accessible for many divers. I remember my first approach to the

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Aruba’s Top Activities and Attractions for 2026

Aruba sits just outside the hurricane belt, a geographic quirk that gives it reliably sunny weather year-round when other Caribbean islands are bracing for storms. But the real draw is the variety: you can spend the morning snorkeling a 400-foot German freighter scuttled during World War II, spend the afternoon hiking through a national park that covers a fifth of the island, and end the day watching the sun drop into the sea from a lighthouse built in 1916 — all without driving more than 45 minutes between stops. This guide rounds up Aruba’s top activities and attractions for

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Aruba’s Vegan Oasis: Discover Delicious Dining

Planning an exotic tropical getaway and worried about not having vegan eats? There are plenty of vegan options in Aruba. If you’re craving a rejuvenating beach vacation without having to worry about what you’re going to eat, Aruba is your paradise destination! Come on over to the sunny Dutch Caribbean island that has recently turned itself into a vegan oasis in the Caribbean. Within the past few years, Aruba has seen a wave of restaurants create full vegan menus to cater to the growing vegan local and tourist population. The thriving vegan community hosts events, cooking classes, and vegan

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Discover Aruba’s Marriott Resort on Palm Beach

Aruba is a destination that caters to various travel styles, from those seeking relaxation on pristine beaches to adventurers eager to explore its unique interior landscape. When planning a trip, understanding what a typical stay might entail, especially concerning accommodation and activities, can be very helpful. Aruba Marriott Resort Experience The Aruba Marriott Resort and Stellaris Casino sits along a white sand beach, offering direct access to the Caribbean Sea. The resort’s architecture is designed to be impressive, with a spacious lobby featuring high ceilings and modern details. Its exterior is particularly striking, highlighting its prime beachfront location. Guest

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