“Bon Bini”:     Welcome to Aruba, is a phrase you will hear upon arriving at this tropical paradise.  Located just 20 miles north of Venezuela lay this little island sometimes called the “Theme Park” of the Caribbean.  Aruba has no rainy season and the temperatures stay a steadfast low 70’s to high 80’s making it a pleasant place to spend some time.   Aruba is located well below the Atlantic hurricane belt, making it an ideal island to cruise to anytime.

Upon your arrival you will anchor in the capital city of Oranjestad, where the terminal is quipped with an information desk, ATM and several small souvenir shops.  There are malls directly across from the terminal but a short walk (roughly 5 minutes) and you are downtown.  Full of duty free designer shops of clothing, jewelry and local fares of art works of hand made crafts and candles.

If the beach is more of what you had in mind, there are several:  Baby Beach is an ideal beach for an inexperienced swimmer or toddlers; it only has a few food stands and be ready for a 40 minute taxi ride.  Negotiate your fare before you leave the curb, the taxis don’t have meters and the best beaches are usually only 15 minutes away depending on which one beach you choose.  Rodgers Beach is perfect for seclusion, it has plenty of beach huts, bars, snack stands and showers.  Palm Beach is a tourist delight, there is snorkeling, para-sailing, scuba diving and the nearby resort hotels have casinos for the gambler in you.  If you had doing absolutely nothing in mid, go to Eagles Beach and simply bask in the warm sun.

If you are lucky enough to be sailing on a ship with a late debarkation, you must take advantage of dining at a local restaurant and sampling the local food.  Stop  in at Iguana Joe’s next to the port and have a legendary Pink Iguana it’ll blow your socks off.  Whenever you go to Aruba or wherever you go while in Aruba tourists will always be welcomed on the “One Happy Island”

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