Aruba: Island of stunning sand and seas

Travel

Aruba doesn't disappoint. The temperature hovers year-round at about 80 degrees. The water is gorgeous on the southern beaches with their sugary white sand. And Aruba's main source of income is tourism, so visitors are always made to feel welcome.

The Island of Aruba doesn't disappoint. The temperature hovers year-round at about 80 degrees. The water is gorgeous on the southern beaches with their sugary white sand. And Aruba's main source of income is tourism, so visitors are always made to feel welcome. In fact, the Aruba Tourism Authority is promoting the island with a new campaign: "Aruba ⿿ 90,000 Friends You Haven't Met Yet."

About 20 miles long and 6 miles wide, Aruba is carpeted in some areas with green, scraggly vegetation and a few steep hills, while the north side is rugged, desert-like terrain, peppered with cacti and wild rock formations. White sand rings the south and west shores, and the azure water demands a visit.

The California Lighthouse rises near the northernmost part of Aruba. A short drive northwest of Eagle Beach, high-rise hotels and restaurants line crowded Palm Beach. Businesses on the beach rent out sailboats and windsurfers, lead sunset cruises or provide fishing expeditions.

The California Lighthouse is within sight of the Tierra del Sol golf course and is perched on a high seaside elevation. It has become one of Aruba's scenic trademarks.

A tree is seen on an Aruba beach. Despite the serenity of the scene, across the highway lies a busy tourist strip mall. More than a half-million Americans visit Aruba each year. Huge cruise ships dock daily at Oranjestad and disgorge crowds of passengers to shop or grab a meal in the crowded downtown.

Water by the Conshi or Natural Pool. The location of the Pool is surrounded by some of Aruba's most rugged terrain. You'll see unusual rock and cave formations, including natural rock bridges eroded by millennia of waves crashing into and undercutting the rocky coast.

A view of Eagle beach in Aruba. Aruba offers much more than the sea for outdoor adventurers.

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The Island of Aruba doesn't disappoint. The temperature hovers year-round at about 80 degrees. The water is gorgeous on the southern beaches with their sugary white sand. And Aruba's main source of income is tourism, so visitors are always made to feel welcome. In fact, the Aruba Tourism Authority is promoting the island with a new campaign: "Aruba ⿿ 90,000 Friends You Haven't Met Yet."

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