First things first. Aruba is home to some out-of-this-friggin’-world beaches. They can’t be beat. The water is perfectly warm, and when you pitch your flip flops you’ll find that the white-sand beaches are as powdery as can be. And since you intend on making every day a beach day, we’re happy to report Aruba’s weather is reliably sunny. The island is located outside of the hurricane belt, so you can bet your bottom sand dollar that you came to right place. Ready to acquaint yourself with year-round, 80-degree bliss? Here are a few of our Aruba favorites.
Shopaholics, rejoice.
No. You’re not dreaming. Aruba is just the Caribbean hotspot to slip from the beach straight into a shopping spree. Explore luxe malls or pick your way through local flee markets. If you need a little sparkle and shine in your life, you’ll find all the jewelry you need on downtown Oranjestad’s boulevard. Just be sure you can fit everything in your suitcase. Or get another one.
Spectator-friendly.
Sometimes, the most relaxing thing you can do is kick your feet up with a frosty bevvie in hand and watch some athletes do the exact opposite. Check out the Aruba Beach Tennis International Championships and the Aruba Hi-Winds Windsurfing event. For all the cowboys and cowgirls out there, saunter over to the Interpaso horse competition. Sailors-at-heart can cheer on catamaran races on famed Palm Beach, or for something a little more high-octane, pay a visit to Palo Marga Raceway Park. Itching to get in on the action yourself? Sign up, stretch out and hit the line for the popular Challenge Aruba Triathlon. Or, ya know, just stick to the beach.
The pulse of paradise.
When the Caribbean sun sets, the evening heats up. So, what might an evening in Aruba look like? We’d recommend priming the tanks with some of the most delicious fusion cuisine you could imagine. Over 90 different nationalities call Aruba home, so your dinner might resemble a Caribbean-meets-African-meets-European potluck—but every bite will be better than the last. After you’ve sampled the local fare, try your luck at one of the island’s twelve casinos. Yep, sometimes Aruba is called the Las Vegas of the Caribbean. Finally, shake things up with a little help from the steel bands, discos and nightclubs—and whatever you do, don’t miss the grand parade for Carnival in February. It’s more than a party. It’s a nation-wide get-down.
