Exploring Aruba
The ideal Caribbean vacation used to mean hours of tanning on the beach, margarita in hand, with Jimmy Buffett crooning in the background. Today's traveler, however, seeks engaging and enriching activities as an alternative to simply lounging around the hotel. The trend towards active vacations can be seen in the growing awareness in ecotourism and interest in outdoor activities such as hiking, biking and climbing.
The island of Aruba is responding to this increasing demand for active vacations by proving that it has much more to offer than Caribbean sun and sand.
Aruba, about 20 miles long by 6 miles wide, is the right size for convenient exploration off the beaten path while the semi-arid topography and geological formations offer a wealth of activities distinct from other Caribbean isles. With an incredible marine life as well, Aruba's diversity provides adventure for water babies and landlubbers alike.
Spelunking in Aruba's caves once used as pirate hideouts
Most visitors don't expect to find underground caves on a tropical island. At the Guadirikiri cave, sunlight filters through two inner chambers, providing the perfect photo opportunity for cave explorers. The cave's 100-foot long tunnel is home to hundreds of harmless bats. Nearby, the Fontein cave is testimony to Aruba's native population. Still-visible drawings by the Arawak Indians decorate the cave's ceilings and are a powerful reminder of the island's indigenous history. Couples aren't the only ones who will want to visit the Tunnel of Love, so-called because of its heart-shaped entrance. A 300-foot long tunnel winds through eerie rock formations and narrow passages. Helmets and flashlights can be rented for $6 at the entrances to both the Guadirikiri and Tunnel of Love caves.
Off-road safaris explore Aruba's wild side
Renting a 4-wheel drive is the best means for an unforgettable around -the-island tour. Well-known sites along the way include the picturesque California Lighthouse, the charming Alto Vista chapel and the Bushiribana gold mill ruins. The Natural Bridge, measuring over 100 feet long and 25 feet above sea level, is the Caribbean's highest and most dramatic coral structure and the island's most photographed site. The backroads of Aruba run along the rugged north coast, passing eerie rock formations, cacti and the famous divi-divi trees. On the way back to town, Charly's Bar in San Nicolas is a popular, quaint hangout full of local flavor. Car rentals and guided tours can be made through any of the several companies on the island. An international driver's license or any valid license held for at least two years is required for car rentals.
Shipwrecks give divers a glimpse of the past
Some of the world's most fascinating wrecks lie just off of Aruba's shores, offering the best wreck diving in the Caribbean. The Pedernales Wreck (35') combines large pieces of a wreck spread out between coral formations. Divers can see complete wash basins and pipe line systems remaining from this oil tanker, torpedoed during World War II by a German submarine. The California Wreck (15' - 30') is almost 100 years old and great site for advanced divers. It is not the California of Titanic fame.
Measuring 400-feet in length, the Antilla Wreck is one of the largest wrecks in the Caribbean. This German freighter sunk in 1945 when the Germans invaded Holland during World War II. Home to the nocturnal lobster and giant tube sponges, the Antilla is great for night dives. For scuba and snorkeling equipment, contact your hotel activity desk.
A desert in the Caribbean
Arikok National Park is a desert-like ecological preserve on Aruba's northeastern coast. The island's rich crust makes it one of the rare places in the world where you can trace its geological origins with the naked eye. Hiking trails make it easy for visitors to explore the unusual terrain and diverse flora and fauna of the preserve. Iguanas and many species of migratory birds nest in the park while goats and donkeys graze on nearby brush trees. Visitors feeling particularly active can try dune sliding with the locals at the nearby Boca Prins dunes. At dusk, parakeets and other birds bid a cacophonous farewell to the day in Jaburibari.
Island tours by horseback
Horseback riding is another way to tour Aruba's environs. Half-day organized ranch tours lead riders through the cunucu, or countryside, and along the coastline. Sand dunes and desert-like plains complete with cacti provide a setting unique to a Caribbean island. Some tours combine land and sea, taking vacationers along a rocky trail to the Natural Pool, protected from the rough northeastern coast by an outcropping of rocks. The pool, large enough for swimming in, is one of the island's most romantic spots. For more information, contact Rancho Notorious.
