Aruba Holidays

The Happy Island

Aruba will have you beaming – it’s known as ‘One Happy Island’ by the locals. Beaches for days is probably the main reason why. The island’s circled by 70 kilometres of sandy shoreline. A whole 11 of that is one big sweep between Palm and Eagle beaches – the latter is a regular in TripAdvisor's' Travellers' Choice top 10 best beaches in the world.

Oranjestad

Head to the capital, Oranjestad, and the Caribbean influences take a step back. It’s giving… the Netherlands. The island’s got undeniable Dutch ties, with gabled roofs everywhere and buildings painted in merry-go-round colours. There's an undeniable American influence, too – it’s all over the town's dining scene.

Arikok National Park

Aruba is all about the au naturel. Walking trails in Arikok National Park take you shoulder-to-shoulder with cacti and toe-to-toe with iguanas. It’s even got two species of bird that can’t be found anywhere else in the world. You won't have to trek far to get there, either – the park's only a 15-minute cab ride from the capital.

Balmy beaches

Aruba is all about the coastline – as it should be. Its attention-seeking sands have earned themselves praise as some of the best-looking stretches on the planet. Eagle Beach has a gleaming white belt and chilled-out vibe, but Palm Beach adds on after-dark drinks options along its bars, casinos and high-rise hotels.