You may know about Aruba’s white sand beaches and gorgeous crystal clear water, but after a visit, I learned “23 Fun Facts About Aruba that You Probably Don’t Know“.
Aruba is a small Dutch Caribbean island locateda few milesnorth of Venezuela in the southern Caribbean. Aruba is famous for its white-sand beaches and temperate climate. Because it’slocated just below the hurricane belt, the climate is dry, and there is very little rain. A few ingredients for a nearly perfect Caribbean vacation!
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On one side of Aruba, you’ll find gorgeous white sand beaches and crystal clear water. On the other side of the island, you find rugged and rocky terrain, black sand beaches, caves, natural bridges, and pools as well as rough surf.
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23 Amazing Facts about Aruba
Did you know that Dutch and Papiamento are both official languages on the island of Aruba? Here are 23 more fun facts about Aruba you may not know.
Planning a trip to Aruba? Here are 23 Fun Facts about the tiny island of Aruba that will surprise you! A perfect list for anyone planning a trip to the Caribbean Island of Aruba.
1. Aruba’s first inhabitants are thought to have been Caquetío Amerindians from the Arawak tribe, who migrated from Venezuela.
2. The official currency is the florin, but the U.S. dollar is used and accepted everywhere. In fact, ATMs offer both dollars and florin.
3. Aruba has a tropical Savannah climate.
4. Aruba is Windy. It’s very windy. In fact, winds average 14- 21 miles year-round.
5. Aruba, along with Curaçao and Bonaire were formerly known as the Netherlands Antilles.
6. Together with Bonaire and Curaçao, Aruba is part of what iscommonlyreferred to as the ABC islands.
7. Aruba is 20 miles long and five miles wide.
8. Taxies have no meters in Aruba.
9. Taxi’s charge a $3 surcharge on Sundays.
10. Most food products are imported to Aruba.
11. Aruba was conquered or settled by Spain, England, and the Netherlands.
12. Even though Aruba gained independence in 1986, they continue to teach using the Dutch school method. This includes teaching all students the Dutch language.
13. Most Arubans speak at least four languages; their native language of Papiamento as well as English, Dutch, and Spanish.
14. Papiamento is a Creole language containing elements of Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, English, and French, as well as Arawakan and African languages.
15. Aruba’s official language of Papiamento is also spoken on the islands of Curaçao and Bonaire.
16. Aruba is locatedon the South American continental shelf and geographically listed as part of South America, but considered to bepart of Central/North America.
17. The tiny island of Aruba is located 18 miles north of the coast of Venezuela.
18. Aruba has the same average temperature year-round of 82 degrees.
19. The only poisonous creature on the island is the rattlesnake.
20. Aruba’s official slogan is “One Happy Island”.
21. Aruba is a volcanic island that was formed during the Upper-Cretaceous period sometime in the past 145 million years. A volcano erupted on the floor of the ocean and created the island of Aruba and at the same time, the nearby islands of Curacao and Bonaire were also formed.
22. Keshi Yena is one of Aruba’s best-known traditional foods; a mix of meat, vegetables, and dried fruits baked in a cheese rind.
23. Aruba first competed at the Olympic Games in 1988, and has participated in each Summer Olympic Games since.
Where To Stay InAruba
During my trip to Aruba,I stayed at four hotels ranging from budget to luxury so I could write the Aruba Hotel Guide: Budget To Luxury.If you’re wondering where to stay in Arubahere’s my advice:
Budget Accommodation
Dorado Eagle Beach Hotel –Run by a local family, the Dorado Eagle feels more like a motel than a hotel. It has 10 rooms that are similar to a studio apartment. The room has a kitchenette with a refrigerator, sink, microwave, and coffee maker, as well as dishes, cooking utensils, and silverware.
Major pluses were wifi in the room and it was only a two-block walk to Eagle Beach.
Cost:Rates will vary by season, but when I visited Aruba we paid $40 per night for our room. To check current rates, I suggest visiting Hotels.com or TripAdvisor
Mid-Range Accommodation
Eagle Aruba Resort & Casino –Tropicana is more than a hotel but, not quite a resort. This a perfect if you are on a budget, but want a bit more than a basic hotel.
The rooms are huge, in fact, they are more like suites. A one-bedroom also includes a kitchen and separate living area. Besides the size of the rooms, the huge feature they offer is their waterslide. It is the best on the island.
Check TripAdvisor for reviews of the Eagle Aruba current hotel rates for the Eagle Aruba Resort, I suggest visiting Hotels.com.
Luxury Accommodation
Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort & Casino –The 357-room property is located in Palm Beach and directly on the sand. The grounds are stunning with rivers, tiny waterfalls, geese swimming in a freshwater lagoon, and parrots in ornate cages around the property. Not to mention several pools including a three-tier pool with a waterfall, whirlpools tucked away in little alcoves, and a great waterslide.
To check current hotel rates for the Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort, I suggest visiting Hotels.com
WHEN TO VISIT ARUBA
Aruba sits outside of the hurricane belt, so the Aruba tourism authority says that anytime is a great time to visit this Caribbean island. The major factors are then looking at the most economical time to visit. January to March, July to August and holidays you will find the room rates at their highest. April, May, June, September and October are the cheaper months.
If you enjoyed this article about 23 Things You Probably Don’t Know About Aruba, you’ll also loveThe 11 Best Aruba All-Inclusive Resorts.
Traveling To Aruba Soon? Here are a few tips:
How to get there:At the Queen Beatrix International Airport, you’ll find frequent nonstop, or convenient single-connection flights from most major U.S. cities, as well as daily flights from all major hubs aroundthe world.
American, Canadian, Caribbean, Europeanand most South American citizens don’t require visas to enter Aruba.
Don’t forget travel insurance! I’m a fan of World Nomads for short-term trips. Protect yourself from flight cancelations, theft and so much more. Read more about why you should always carry travel insurance here.
Find the Best Prices on the Top Tours in Aruba
What to pack:Aruba vacations are casual and comfortable, and your apparel should be the same.Make sure to bring bathing suits/swim trunks, flip-flops, and sandals. Water shoes will come in handy at rocky, pebbly beach areas. For sun protection, bring some sort of cover-up (pareo, rashguard, etc.), wide-brimmed hat or cap, and sunglasses. Be sure to reapply sunscreen often, especially between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. (The Aruba tourism authority shares that Aruba Aloe is an excellent locally-made brand sold everywhere.)
6 Indispensable Items to Pack for Aruba Vacation
- Get theFodor’s In Focus Aruba (Full-color Travel Guide).
- Bring a good quality mirrorless camera for getting those beautiful Aruba beach landscape shots. I use the Sony Alpha a6000
- Summers are normally hot, humid and very windy in Aruba, so make sure to bring Neutrogena Sunscreen, Broad Spectrum Spf 45
- A great cross body travel bagCross body bags prevent theft and are much easier to access.
- Don’t forget sunglasses for the beautiful sunny days. A.J. Morgan Unisex Sunglasses are a great choice and very affordable!
- Water shoesare a great item to pack for any beach vacation. They take up little room when packing and great if you end up at a beach that is rocky or with very hot sand.
are a great choice and very affordable!
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That is my list of “23 Things You Probably Don’t Know About Aruba”. Know more fun facts about the tiny island of Aruba? Please share them below in the comments!
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