Divi Tree – Photo Courtesy of Geographika.com
Get a grasp on an entirely new perspective of your ABC’s; we assure you, this isn’t your ordinary, everyday alphabet. Take a moment to really escape: take a stroll through the soft puddles of snow-white sands and relinquish yourself to the sparkling, clear waters of the southern Caribbean Sea just outside the coast of Venezuela. Aruba is one of the three western-most islands dotting the Leeward Antilles as part of the Dutch Empire, boasting sibling islands Bonaire and Curaçao (the famed ABC islands).
Shifting the frame purely to focus on Aruba, you’ll find a diverse land immersed in heritage hinting Amerindian, Spanish and Dutch influences. The island actually embraces four different languages: Dutch, Papiamento, English and Spanish. Offering some of the most pristine beaches of all of the Caribbean on its southern and western coasts, Aruba is crowned with alabaster sands and wind-kissed watapana trees; enough to make a postcard quiver with envy. To the windward shore along the northeast coast, the island hides an arid topography cradling cacti and rock formations unique to its Caribbean neighbors. Summer is year-round in Aruba, with vagrant trade winds keeping the temperatures deliciously mild. Tucked away from hurricane paths and without any rainy seasons, Aruba is a continually devoted paradise.
Aruba’s roots stretch all the way to the humble hunter-gathering means of the Caquetio, Arawak tribe members from the South American mainland, who predominantly relied on the sea for their survival. Many years later it was staked for the Spanish throne in 1499 when Alonso De Ojeda stumbled upon the island. Dubbing the discovery as “la isla de los gigantes,” Ojeda was referring to the statuesque stature of the native Indians: The Island of Giants. In 1513, the entire native population was repurposed to Hispaniola to work as slaves in the Spanish estates. Fast forward about a century later, swapping Aruba to Dutch hands bent on protecting their salt supply and securing a naval base to withstand their drawn out war with Spain. Except for a very brief hiccup during the Napoleonic Wars from 1805-1816, the island has remained under Dutch control ever since.
The island keeps an updated calendar of organized events teeming with energy and excitement. During the Memorial Day weekend in May, the Aruba Soul Beach Music Festival 2013 will burst to life as a two-night, star-studded affair featuring many prominent artists like Sean Paul, Alicia Keys, Lauryn Hill, Estelle, Jamie Foxx, Wyclef Jean, MJ Blige, Jennifer Hudson and more. Just around the corner in early June is the annual Aruba Food & Wine Festival 2013, a three-day culinary extravaganza showcasing famous chefs and tantalizing recipes. A few weeks beyond that, the island will capitalize on its trade winds for the largest windsurfing event in the Caribbean, 27th Aruba Hi-Winds, with five days of ongoing entertainment, beach parties and activities gracing the competition as over 100 international windsurfers take on Palm Beach. This is only a small taste of their offerings throughout the year.
Aruba presents an overwhelming selection of things to see and do. Encounter an Atlantic haven of fish spanning from sailfish to shark as you go deep sea fishing or sample history first hand with a dive expedition to visit a relic from World War II, the Pedernales Wreck. Get up-close and personal views of enchanting creatures at the Aruba Ostrich Farm, Butterfly Farm, Donkey Sanctuary or the Arikok National Park. Take a horseback tour, weaving through the captivating coastline and charming countryside, speckled with journeys through sand dunes and plains. Woo Lady Luck at the 24-hour Stellaris Casino or sample the vibrant Aruban culture and island folk traditions at the Bon Bini Festival. Of course, there is also an incredible selection of malls and plazas to appease any shopper’s thirst for “retail therapy.”
It’s easy to say that Aruba has it all: a beautiful climate, rich culture, exquisite vistas and plenty of entertainment…but these are just meager words until you take the time to experience it yourself.
The post City Voyager: Aruba, Lesser Antilles appeared first on Go Travel.