Aruba attractions and other activities.

Please, be a compassionate traveler! Do NOT use the service of Dolphin and Shark Swims Programs that hold these wild animals in captivity. The capture and transportation process causes the death of thousands of these animals before they reach the destination. Also the average life span of a dolphin in the wild is 45 years; yet half of all captured dolphins die within their first two years of captivity. The survivors last an average of only 5 years in captivity more

Arikok is arguably the best of Aruba attractions. The best way to explore this amazing nature park, which covers about 20% of the island, is to rent a four-wheel-drive vehicle and go for a drive. Birds and animals are most active in the morning, so go as early in the day as you can. There are some really great sights throughout the park: beaches with beautiful rocky shores, grottos, lots of caves (you will need a flashlight), sand dunes and limestone cliffs. An Interesting fact is that the rock outcrops and crevices create microclimates that support animal species found only in Aruba. Routes are clearly marked, and signs are frequent and informative.

The most famous attractions of the park are Dos Playa, Natural Pool and a number of Caves. Dos Playa beach features two coves carved out of the limestone bluffs. Northwest of Dos Playa, is the Natural Pool which is great for a swim on a quiet day.

As for the caves, Fontein Cave has brownish-red drawings left by Amerindians on the walls and ceilings. The water dripping through the limestone has caused stalagmites and stalactites to form, some in the shape of bison or human heads. The Quadirikiri Cave features two large chambers with roof openings that allow sunlight in, making flashlights unnecessary. Hundreds of small bats use the 30m-long (98-ft.) tunnel as a passageway to their nests deeper in the cave. The cave has a love story about a daughter of a local Indian chief and her secret lover who were left here to die as a punishment for their love.

The Tunnel of Love or Baranca Sunu named because of its heart-shaped entrance requires a flashlight to explore.

Stories of pirates using the cave to hide treasure have circulated for generations. If you don’t have a flashlight you will have to buy one at the entrance of the Tunnel of Love. Local pirates will sell them to you for as little as $10 each.

The entrance to the park is free. You can also get a free map of the area at the Visitor Center. The recently built Visitor Center has a nice cafeteria, a souvenir shop and a beautiful wooden patio. It is located at 42 Piedra Plat in Paradera, on the main road between the Low-Rise area and Santa Cruz.

This small but beautiful facility was opened recently by a canadian couple who did a very good job converting the desert land into the lush green rainforest. A little tropical garden with exotic flowers and pools hosts this facility. The 40 species of butterflies bred at the facility come from every corner of the tropical world. If you come early in the morning you will get a chance to see a butterfly emerging from its pupa and watch newborn butterflies take their first flight. The tour is included in the admission fee.

The guides at the farm provide amusing explanations of the short life of these sweet creatures. You will find out many interesting facts. For example, caterpillars double in size every 24 hours; butterfly sex lasts for up to 48 hours and so on.

The farm is located on J. E. Irausquin Boulevard, across the street from the Divi Phoenix Beach Resort. Admission is $12 for adults. All visitors are given a complimentary return ticket for the duration of their vacation. Also the shop at the farm sells some unique items. Particularly interesting is the jewellery

which incorporated butterflies' wings. Open daily from 9am to 4:30pm.

Around the corner from the Butterfly Farm is Aruba's most distinctive landmark – the Old Dutch Windmill. Built in Holland, in 1804 it is an authentic Dutch attribute. It originally drained water from low-lying land. A Dutch merchant took it apart and shipped it to Aruba in 1974 to serve as a landmark restaurant. You can stop by for lunch (open mostly at a high season) after a visit to the Butterfly Farm or simply take a little tour.

The sanctuary serves as a resting and breeding area for more than 80 species of local and migratory birds.

It has a big man made lake and lush vegetation in contrast to the rest of the desert-like island. Make sure you climb to the top of the observation tower (take caution with small children). It gives a bird's-eye view of the oasis and a spectacular view of the entire area. You might see black-crowned night herons, Louisiana herons, great blue herons, yellow warblers and egrets. Gulls, skimmers, coots, and numerous species of ducks also make appearances. The birds are most active early in the morning or late in the afternoon. You can spend an hour here or even less. The area is large but only a small part is accessible to visit. Come here just before the sunset and climb the observation tower; the colors and the atmosphere are very nice.

The Sanctuary is located on J. E. Irausquin Boulevard just across the street from the Old Dutch Windmill. It is always open; admission is free.

Rent a car (four-wheel-drive vehicle is more preferable) and go for a lovely drive along the northwest coast. The coastline area features some of the island's most spectacular scenery, stunning vistas, gentle sand dunes and unusual rock formations. You will see the active California Lighthouse on top of the northern most tip, the picturesque Alto Vista Chapel overlooking the sea, the ruins of an old gold mining facility called Bushiribana Ruins which you can climb to get an impressive sea view and the Baby Natural Bridge.

Take a walk on this small natural wonder and view the rugged sea below you. The former religious site, Ayo Rock Formations, has an eerie look with its ancient petroglyphs on the boulders. Another unusual site is Casibari Rock Formations.

The boulders weigh several tons each and look like they scattered just yesterday by some aliens. If you climb the top of the highest rock you will be rewarded with a panorama of whole coast. There is also a Donkey Sanctuary and an Ostrich Farm on the route. This self tour might take you from an hour to half a day depending how much time you want to spend at each site.

Ask for a map at your rental car company, to explore the island. The road signs are often small, handmade, and unnoticeable; so even a bad map will be better than nothing at all.

Oranjestad has Dutch colonial-style buildings with elaborate details painted in vivid colors which make a postcard like site. The architectural style is called Gingerbread. Take a stroll on the streets to get a feel of the Dutch colonial era on the island. It is worth going to Oranjestad just for that.

We recommend taking a walk along the waterfront first where you will see charming marinas, shopping malls, restaurants, and bars. Then take Main Street which runs parallel to the waterfront; it's the major shopping venue

To defend the island from the pirates the Dutch erected Fort Zoutman in 1796 and later constructed a tower, named after the then-reigning Dutch monarch. There is only one tower left from the former military fortification which hosts a very small museum inside, Museo Arubano. Come here for the best part which is the Bon Bini Festival. The event is held here every Tuesday from 6:30 to 8:30pm. The courtyard behind the tower has a stage where local aruban dance groups and music bands perform for the guests. There is also a few food stands (really tasty and unusually cheap for Aruba), a few crafts and souvenier stands. Do not expect anything extraordinary. It is going to be simple but sweet and cozy. Admission to the event is only $6.

Arikok National Park has the best trails. Drive there and go for a hike. The network of trails is clearly marked. Again leave as early in the morning as you can. You can see lots of wildlife on your way, climb the hills and the sand dunes, explore the caves (bring a flash light) and take a refreshing dip in the Natural Pool.

Another good hiking spot is Mt. Hooiberg - Aruba's famous mountain located at the center of the island. It's pretty high and there are great views from the top. On a clear day you can see as far as the Venezuelian main land. You can literally see the entire island of Aruba from the top! There are about 600 steps to the top of the mountain that you walk up. It definitely gets the blood flowing. This is best done in the early morning as it can get very hot.

The south coast of Aruba is calm and therefore ideal for kayaking. You can rent a kayak at the fishing village of Savaneta or sign-up for a guided tour that starts there. Paddle to the coastal mangrove forests in that area. There is also a small island just across from Savaneta where you can rest and do some snorkelling before heading back. If you are a strong paddler then go all the way from Savaneta to legendary Spanish Lagoon, once the hiding place for pirates. There are many small islands you can explore.

Aruba offers coral reefs with abundant marine life as well as ship and airplane wreck diving. The scuba shops are all over the leeward side of the island where the majority of the dives take place. Freshwater runoff is minimal and the visibility ranges from 18 to 36m (59-118 ft). Here you can see brain coral as well as sheet, finger, and mountainous star coral. As for the marine life, you can be amazed by the colorful angelfish, damselfish, grunts and parrotfish. If you are lucky you can spot less-common species such as frogfish, seahorses, nudibranchs, black crinoids, basket stars, scorpionfish, and eels. Shipwrecks dives are also available.

You don't need to book a snorkeling tour. Many beaches offer a lovely snorkeling experience just a few meteres off the beach. Good snorkeling spots include Arashi Beach, Boca Catalina, Malmok Beach, Baby Beach and many more. Take your snorkels and drive to the area. You will see all those snorkeling tours and catamarans right next to the shoreline. Gear can also be rented at watersports centers along the hotel area. If you don't want to rent a car take a public bus. It is very cheap, clean and safe. Good visibility, several shallow reefs, and a couple of wrecks give snorkelers an array of options. All sites are on the southern, or leeward, coast. Slightly north of Palm Beach, Catalina Bay and Arashi Reef feature brain and star coral, sea fans, parrotfish, angelfish, and an occasional octopus; the 400-foot Antilla shipwreck is impossible to miss. De Palm Slope, off De Palm Island, features magnificent coral as well.

Let's Go Latin show at the Renaissance's Crystal Theatre in Oranjestad is the Caribbean's largest stage production. The show boasts impressive choreography and vocals as well as spectacular costumes. Most of the dancers come from one of Cuba's elite ballet companies. Showtime is at 9 pm, Monday through Saturday, and tickets are $45.

The Westin hotel's showroom offers three shows; Havana Tropical Revue, Flamenco show and Middle East Show on the different days. Havana Tropical Revue is a Cuban salsa show with all the performers from Cuba. All performances start at 9 p.m. and last about 1 1/2-hours.

The largest stage in Aruba is at the Occidental Grand Hotel at Palm Beach. The theater stages different spectacles each day of the week. The shows include Moulin Rouge, Latin Explosion, Broadway and Las Vegas . The shows start at 8:30pm and last about 45-minutes. The admission is US $20.

Aruba attractions and other activities: