With more than 300 days of sunshine and an average temperature of 25 degrees, Aruba is one of the most coveted destinations for those seeking beach, sun, and tranquillity. Not for nothing is it known for being the “Happy Island”, since despite being in the Caribbean – located in front of the Venezuelan seashore -, it is outside the influence of hurricanes. This country is autonomous from the kingdom of the Netherlands; therefore, the Dutch influence is present in the food, the language, and its colonial architecture. It is an island thought and designed for tourism, which offers many possibilities for entertainment, paradisiacal beaches, exciting tours, diving, snorkelling, and much more. So if you are looking for reasons to travel to Aruba, don’t miss this post!
1. European influence
The identity of a destination is a sum of events and characteristics that, with time, are consolidated until giving it its own profile. Aruba is a particular case that can only be understood through its exciting history since it is a little piece of Holland in the Caribbean. An autonomous country of the Netherlands Kingdom, whose European influence is reflected in the architecture, the preservation of its beaches, nature reserves, and safety on the streets, so in case you were wonder if is it safe to travel to Aruba, then relax that you will visit one of the most secure places of the Caribbean. But do not forget about its African influence. Thanks to its European influence and the great African culture that arrived on its shores some time ago, it has a wide calendar of national holidays and colourful carnivals that are tradition; this syncretism is an unforgettable experience for travellers arriving from abroad. To learn a little more about the history of Aruba, you can visit the island and enjoy its amazing museums that tell more about each of the events that have given it that special character.
2. Find the best beaches in the world
It has 11 kilometres of white sand beaches. You will always see a crystalline turquoise sea with little waves. Palm Beach, Baby Beach, and Eagle Beach stand out. The last one is considered one of the 10 best beaches on the planet, according to TripAdvisor. But you will also find other beaches: Malmok Beach, Mangel Halto, Boca Catalina, Boca Prins, Druif Beach are some of its innumerable options for water sports lovers, for those looking to relax by the sea or those looking for a perfect tan. And if you are looking to enjoy the beaches of this beautiful country and want to know when is the best time to travel to Aruba to avoid the rainy season, then you should go in January, February, March, April, or May. Do not forget that this beautiful island is in the Caribbean, so the heat is felt for almost the whole year, but on average, the hottest months are April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December, and the rainiest months are October, November, and December.
3. You will not suffer for the language
If you travel to Aruba, then you will hear different languages such as Papiamento (native language and spoken by 69.4% of the inhabitants), Dutch (which is spoken by 6.1% of the population), Spanish (13,7%), English (7,1%) and even Chinese (1,5%). As the island is located in South America, it makes the Spanish have strong relevance in the country. As it is considered an extremely important language, it is taught in schools from 5th grade. On the other hand, Dutch is the language that the time of the Dutch Empire has left as a legacy. It is currently only used in public administration, and its use is declining over time. And Papiamento is the national language spoken by two-thirds of the country. It is the Creole language, with a Portuguese base and, to a lesser degree, Dutch, Spanish and English.
4. It’s the happy island
The warm welcome with local music and a colourful airport means that the journey has already begun. "Bon bini!" - which means sweet welcome in Papiamento, the local language. It is also due to the undeniable warmth of its people and safety on public beaches that never ceases to amaze. This good living has made the country recognized as “Happy Island”, and to feel this, the best time to travel to Aruba is at any time of the year. The island is synonymous with happiness beyond its slogan. Following a five-year investigation of happiness; Conducted by the Aruba Tourism Authority and the Rosen College of Hospitality Management at the University of Central Florida (UCF), the results showed that 78% of the Aruba population is happy, while 76% also express satisfaction with their long-term life. This is a good reason why you should travel to Aruba at least once in your life.
5. Sunny all year
Nature gave Aruba a divine gift. When is the best time to travel to Aruba? Important question. Well, this beautiful island is characterized by its special geographical position, very close to the equator. Unlike many other islands in the Caribbean, the northeast winds have comparatively little influence on Aruba’s climate. Therefore, it remains very dry throughout the year, with regular rains only between October and December. But even in this travel season, the rain is still very low. It’s no wonder Aruba is famous for having various species of cacti. Also, Aruba is not in the zone of influence of hurricanes, so the risk of tropical cyclones is extremely low. Its climate is constant and sunny (7 to 10 hours of sunshine) and is, therefore, suitable for a holiday all year round.
6. Arikok National Park
The recognition of the Arikok National Park as one of the "Best Attraction in the Caribbean 2020" was granted by USA Today, a tourism medium that provides users with content about restaurants, destinations, and hotels. Noted for not including sponsored destinations and for relying on the opinion of its team of travel experts, added to the popular vote to recognize the best destinations and activities, the brand chose Arikok National Park as deserving of the distinction in this 2020. It is considered the national treasure of Aruba. According to a legend about the origin of the park, around the year 1750, there was once a man named Arie Kok, who came from Holland to Aruba. There he dedicated himself to building a small farm in the wildest part of the Aruban island. Over time, that area became what is now known as the National Park. It should be noted that Aruba has approximately 20% of its territory destined for this natural reserve, which in turn comprises the home of a long list of animal and plant specimens, with the presence of exotic and indigenous gems from the island. This park features a variety of attractions and unique cultural heritage sites, including spectacular caves, original Aboriginal rock art, unusual geographic formations of lava, quartz, diorite, and limestone, guided nature walks through a dry river to hidden bays like Moro, Boca Prins, and Dos Playa. So the best time to travel to Aruba to see this great place is right now!
7. Accommodation for everyone
The main activity of the island is tourism; therefore, the offer of services is very wide. And while it has a reputation for being an expensive destination, there are cheaper accommodation alternatives that may fit your budget. Most of the hotels are concentrated in Eagle Beach and Palm Beach, which you can find rooms starting at $ 200 per night. Then, the Spanish hotel chain Riu has two hotels located in Palm Beach with an all-inclusive regime. Also, hotels such as the Hyatt Regency or Occidental Grand Aruba are options for those looking for 4 * and 5 * hotels for $330 per night. The Divi Aruba Phoenix Beach Resort in Eagle Beach offers an alternative for intermediate budgets - $275 per night. The value of the accommodation does not include meals, but the rooms have a kitchenette. For those looking for a cheaper option, there are hotels like Brickell or The Mill that are not on the beach and do not include meals, and the price is around $70 - $75 per night. Still, we all know that depending on the time of year, we will find cheaper hotels and flights than others. In other words, if you want to know when is the cheapest time to travel to Aruba to get good prices, you must travel in the low season, and that is in September. In this month, everything begins to drop in price: cruises, restaurants, rental cars, taxis, buses, among others.
8. Find a great gastronomy
The mix of cultures has created an exotic menu that the island is proud of. Spicy and sweet flavours are characteristic. Fruit sauces such as papaya pica are used to marinate meat or fish. Some of the more traditional dishes: Pastechi, are delicious sweet bread filled with various meats: beef, fish, shrimp, chicken, which is then fried. It is one of the most popular foods in the country when it comes to celebrating important occasions or when having a fun picnic. Also, the Keshi Yena means stuffed cheese, and it is exactly that, it is the crust of Edam or Gouda cheese stuffed with meat with spices, olives, raisins, capers, and baked. On the other hand, just in case you travel to Aruba in October, you can witness a very special event to enjoy and explore the island from its gastronomy at Eat Local Restaurant Week with a gourmet menu to delight yourself. Experience its full range of unique flavours in more than 60 local food and fusion cuisine restaurants as part of Aruba’s Restaurant Week that promises to be an unparalleled experience of gastronomy and culture. The restaurants that participate in this event always clarify that, although entry is free and their kitchens are open to the public, it is best to reserve so that diners can secure their place in the restaurant of their choice. Even in this Gastronomic Month, chef competitions are usually held with a mysterious basket of ingredients. Another emblematic plate from the island that you can try is the famous stew. You cannot leave the island without first trying one of the characteristic stews made with beef, chicken, or fish. This exquisite dish is traditionally served with Moro rice and beans or corn smashed, also called Funchi - a speciality to delight your palate. Another dish that you should try is seafood soup. This is one of the traditional dishes, thanks to the access that the island has to the most delicious seafood. Also, it is a preparation that can easily be found in the vast majority of luxury restaurants. But this does not end here, as it is an island that is in direct contact with the sea; you will find many dishes with fish and seafood such as the Kerikeri, which is made from shredded fish mixed with onion, parsley, and tomato.
9. Enjoy different activities
Even when it is the cheapest time to travel to Aruba, you can not stop enjoying the island’s activities. People who like the beach look for special places like Aruba because they know they will have a vacation with great weather. But, some seek a little more of that and choose to divide their time between the beach and other activities. For example, learn more about the history of the place, appreciate its architecture, try meals in different restaurants, and visit different bars. For this reason, far from what is already known, many want to explore the island since it is very different from any other place in the Caribbean. Here you will find a natural pool in the middle of a rocky landscape, and due to this, it is often difficult to enter with cars. This fabulous place can be entered with jeeps since they are the ideal vehicles for this kind of terrain. In case you want to go on your own, you can rent it. It is an experience that will entertain you a lot. To continue learning more about the history of this beautiful island, you can also take a tour of the Donkey Sanctuary. Here they house many donkeys, and it is an animal that is part of Aruba’s history; since many years ago, they were used instead of vehicles. It is a very quiet place, and if you like animals, this will become your favourite. You can feed them, and they will give you some love. Surely you heard about Divi Divi trees, right? Don’t you know what they are and why they are so famous? Well, these trees are very special due to their shape, and the northeast wind has made them grow in a twisted shape. Although there are no hurricanes here, the force of the wind is very strong, so strong that these trees face southwest, so they grow with a somewhat peculiar design.
10. Enjoy more activities
Always is the best time to travel to Aruba! On this beautiful island, there is a lot to do; for example, some of the best diving in the Caribbean is found in Aruba. Even if you have no idea how to do it, the instructors are certified divers who will help you to fulfil this dream of seeing the wonders of the sea. Don’t worry because the instructors will teach you everything. On the other hand, when you visit Arikok National Park, you can also visit the dunes of Boca Prin. It is a very quiet, beautiful, and ideal place to spend a nice time because it is an isolated beach with dunes and rocky shores. But it is not a place for swimming due to the dangerous currents. Although this is a bit isolated place, don’t worry that if you are hungry, there is a restaurant that is not far from the rocky terrain where you can enjoy some local food and admire the sunset. Another place that attracts attention is the Bushiribana Ruins, located south of Oranjestad. Although this is a somewhat desolate place, it is also part of Aruba’s history as it is the only thing left from the gold rush of the 19th century, with big buildings that were used to protect the gold miners from pirates. It is a popular place to take photos because it is seen as an opposite contrast to what the beaches are. You will surely find it to be an interesting place. When is the best time to travel to Aruba? Right now! Aruba is a place everyone wants to visit at least once in their life. Now that I’ve shown you some of Aruba’s tourist attractions, it’s time for you to start planning your Aruba itinerary. No matter what things in Aruba you decide to do or see, you will always have an incredible time!
