In the heart of the Caribbean Sea lies the small island of Aruba, an area of 184 square kilometers. length of about 30 km. and a width of about 10 km.
The coast of the island is sand dunes and rocky cliffs, and the bright colored houses of Dutch architecture are typical of the capital Oranjestad. Aruba is considered one of the most prestigious resorts in the world, nature is perfect and beautiful.
The weather is perfect in Aruba all year round. Especially amazing is the dry air of the island, which is rare in the tropics. There are excellent conditions for golf, tennis and water sports. In the evening, fashionable casinos, discos and nightclubs with original entertainment programs light up their lights.
The island of Aruba is part of the Lesser Antilles group in the Caribbean Sea.
Currency:
Aruba florin (AFL) consists of 100 cents. 1.8 AFL = 1 U$D. U.S. dollars and all types of credit cards, travel cheques are also accepted for payment.
Visa:
A visa is required to visit Aruba. A transit visa for the Netherlands is issued at the Embassy of the Netherlands - 7 days and 2 days (if you fly through Amsterdam).
Time:
Time is 7 hours behind Moscow in winter and 8 hours in summer.
Geography:
The island of Aruba is located in the Caribbean Sea 40 km away. From the coast of Venezuela, in the group of Leeward Islands (Small Antilles). The total area is 193 square kilometers.
Attractions:
You can visit historical forts, botanical gardens. Pirates, smugglers, soldiers - all left a mark on the history of the island. And rumors about the treasure, which was buried by pirates on the island to this day do not give rest to treasure seekers.
You will see the pristine nature and will be in awe of the white and sandy sands, clear water with magnificent sea relief. This makes the island particularly attractive.
There are museums of archaeology, ethnography, numismatics.
History:
In 1493, Christopher Columbus discovered the island. For 140 years many flags have changed on the island. The Spaniards, the Dutch, the French, the English all fought for it.
In 1648, a treaty divided the island into Dutch and French half. Today, the people of Aruba are proud that 350 years of friendship between the two halves of the island have never led to war.
Climate
Moderate tropical. The change of seasons is almost invisible. A large number of sunny days and the coolness of the sea breeze create an optimal temperature for rest - about +29 C. From November to December, Aruba has a short rainy season.
Credit cards:
U.S. dollars and all types of credit cards, tourist checks are accepted for payment.
Medications:
The level of medical services and the quality of services on the island are quite high and based on European standards. More than a dozen modern hospitals and clinics, located in such a small area as the island, provide almost all possible types of health care. In emergency cases, when local forces cannot cope, the patient can even be quickly airlifted to modern medical centers on Curacao. Many hotels have their own medical service (including dentists) and are equipped to receive and serve guests with disabilities.
They provide the possibility of renting a large range of medical devices such as wheelchairs, crutches, etc., and all stairs and descents are equipped with ramps and elevators for the disabled. A mutual agreement on the provision of medical care exists between Aruba and most countries of the world.
International health insurance is recommended (should provide medical care and repatriation if necessary).
Museums:
You can visit 3 museums: in the archaeological museum there is an exposition telling about the prehistoric period of the island; in the historical museum you can get acquainted with the facts of the history of the island when it was in the power of Spain, and then Holland; well, if you are a fan of ringing money, the most curious for you will be the museum of numismatics, which presents about 30 thousand coins not only of Aruba, but also of the whole world.
Voltage:
The voltage is 110 volts, 60 hertz (American standard).
Population:
The population is 82,000 people. It consisted of a motley combination of Spanish refugees, a local Indian base and visiting Dutch.
Authorities:
Aruba is a separate administrative unit of the Kingdom of the Netherlands with internal self-government. Defence and foreign policy are the responsibility of the Dutch government. The Queen of the Netherlands is represented by a governor appointed for a term of 6 years. Internal self-government is regulated by the unicameral parliament of Aruba.
Parliament is elected by general election on the basis of proportional representation for a period of 4 years. All laws passed by Parliament must be approved by the Governor. Executive power is exercised by the Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister.
Kitchen:
There are over 400 great restaurants on the island. Here a variety of cuisine - French, Italian, Chinese, Indonesian, Brazilian, etc. Indeed, the gastronomic possibilities of this island are endless. Tap water is usually chlorinated and considered safe to drink, but bottled water is recommended.
Area:
The length of the island stretches for 30 km, and its maximum width reaches 9 km, the area is about 193 square km.
Holidays:
New Year, January 25, Good Friday,
Easter Monday, March 18,
April 30 is the Queen's birthday.
May 1, Ascension Day, December 25, 26.
Nature and animals:
In Aruba you can see a wide variety of cacti, which combine well with the hilly landscape of the island and give it its uniqueness.
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Religion:
80% of the population belongs to the Roman Catholic Church.
Health risks:
Vaccinations against hepatitis A are recommended. In some cases, immunization against typhoid and polio is recommended. Natural diseases found on the island also include hepatitis B, diphtheria, bilharsia (schistomatosis), although the overall epidemiological situation is calm.
Communication:
On the streets of the island there are payphones with which you can call anywhere in the world. They work on telephone cards, which are sold in post offices, offices of telephone companies, supermarkets, newspaper and tobacco kiosks, gas stations and mini-markets.
You can call another country from the post office or from the hotel, the call will be more expensive. To call Aruba, you need to dial 8 - 10 - 297 - subscriber number, there are no long-distance codes on the island.
Capital:
oranjestad
Souvenirs:
Pay attention to the huge number of quality and cheap Colombian emeralds, topazes and diamonds.
Customs regulations:
In addition to things for personal use, you can carry 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco and a limited amount of alcoholic beverages duty-free. When leaving the country, a fee of 20 USD is charged.
Phone code:
8-10-297-
Transport:
Right-hand traffic. Car rental is developed, you need to have a valid driving license, driving experience of at least 2 years, age restrictions: from 21-25 to 65-70 years, depending on the company.
Taxis are not cheap, there are no meters in cars, but the payment is fixed, depending on the distance, this must be checked before the trip.
Tourism:
BEACH LAST
Aruba is located near the equator, so favorable conditions for rest here all year round. The island is washed by the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea, and sandy beaches stretch along the shores. Aruba is considered one of the most luxurious resorts in the world.
Popular holiday destinations on the island are located on the west coast, because the northeast trade winds are not so noticeable here. These are Arashy Beach and Hadikurari Beach in northwest Aruba; Druith Beach; Bukuti Beach; Palm Beach, Eagle Beach, Roger Beach; a small Renaissance island opposite Oranjestad Harbour.
Popular beaches of the eastern part of Aruba - Dos Playa, Baby Beach and Roger Beach, they are made of white sand, which reflects the sun's rays and does not burn the legs. All of them are municipal, so tourists can relax on any of them.
Swimming is best in designated places, because in the open sea strong underwater currents, in some areas underwater rocks come close to the surface of the water, and the inhabitants of the sea sometimes aggressive.
diving
The underwater world of the Caribbean is diverse, you can see rays, sharks, reef fish, octopuses, squid, sea eels, seahorses, black corals and sponges, and if you are lucky, lobsters and sea turtles that lay eggs from May to August.
Coral reefs encircle the southern and western parts of the island, they can be explored by diving to depths from 10 to 40 m. The sunken ships are very interesting, one of them is the German cargo ship Antilla, lying at a depth of 18 m since the Second World War.
It is believed that this is the largest ship that sank in the waters of the southern part of the Caribbean Sea 300 meters from the coast.
In coastal waters there is a fallen plane, diving to it will be interesting because it is surrounded by coral gardens. In the south-east of the island in the town of "shark cave" you can see sharks. Visibility under water in the vicinity of Aruba from 30 to 60 m.
snorkling
Masked swimming is best practiced in western Aruba because the waters are calmer. The most suitable places are the beaches near Palm Beach, a colorful underwater world without special equipment can be seen near the beaches of Boca Grande and Baby Beach.
WINDSURFING
The most favorable conditions for surfing are from June to August, at this time the annual World Championship in this sport is held in Aruba. The main windsurfing center between Malmok and Palm Beach on Hadikurari Beach.
Ecoturism
About 20% of the territory of Aruba is reserved for the conservation zone - Arikok National Park. It is located on the northern coast around the highlands of Arikok and Hamanota (the highest point of the country).
In the park there are reminders of the Indians who lived here - Arawak petroglyphs in the Fontaine cave, Dutch colonial settlements in Masiduri and the ruins of gold mines in Miralamar. On the hiking trails in the National Park, excursions are arranged, during which tourists will be able to see the trees "quihi" and "divi-divi", aloe, all kinds of cacti, iguanas, various landscapes.
In Arikok Park is located the cave complex of Guadirikiri. Underground passages stretch for more than 30 meters, in some places light breaks through the arc of the hole in the ground. Several thousand bats live here. The “Tunnel of Love” (Khuliba Cave) is very interesting, the shape of the entrance tunnel resembles the silhouette of the heart.
Excursions
Acquaintance with the culture of Indian tribes living on the island, inspection of museums, underwater excursions on specially equipped submarines.
Festivals:
The main carnival takes place in February, a few weeks before Lent. At this time, parades, masquerades, musical performances, dance events and parties are organized on the streets of the city.
After the New Year holidays on January 7, a parade of torches, a parade of old masks and a solemn burning of a stuffed folk character - King Momito - are held.
At the end of April, the Summer Jam Festival is held, accompanied by a carnival and performances of jazz orchestras, at the end of June - the Dera Guy Harvest Festival, December 5 - St. Nicholas Day, which is known as Santa Claus.
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