Things To Do in Aruba

Sunset at the California Lighthouse is must. As the sky runs through its red and orange display, the 100-year-old lighthouse makes for a pretty silhouette. And dusk isn’t the only time to stop by this landmark, which was named after an American ship that sunk nearby. During the day it serves up impressive views of the island’s rugged western coastline, too.

The waters framing this private island are great snorkelling territory. In fact, this is the only place in Aruba where you’ll find the electric-blue parrotfish. The island itself has 3 white-sand beaches, plus it’s home to the Blue Parrotfish Waterpark, whose 6 slide line-up appeals to families in particular. It’s all just a 5-minute ferry ride from the mainland.

Johnny Depp might have made pirates look cool, but back in the 18th century they were a real problem in Aruba. So, to stop the pirates pinching their horses, the Dutch built Fort Zoutman. These days it’s a tourist attraction and its Museo Arubano gives a rundown of the island’s history. Outside, its tri-coloured clocktower, added in 1867, is worth a picture, too.

Once upon a time, conquistadores scoured the Caribbean in search of treasure. They struck gold in Aruba – literally. The discovery of ore in 1824 prompted mines to spring up along the north coast. In total, more than 3 million pounds of gold was excavated. And, although it’s now in ruins, the Medieval mine at Bushiribana, a 15-minute drive from Palm Beach, stands as a reminder of Aruba’s mini gold rush.

With its tropical canopies, trickling waterfalls and exotic orchids, this place is like a snapshot of the Garden of Eden. Its main talking point is a Technicolor army of butterflies. Hundreds of winged beauties flutter freely in this huge, meshed enclosure. There are iridescent Blue Morphos, bright orange Flames and aptly-named Giant Swallowtails. The park is just round the corner from the Mill Resort and Suites in Palm Beach.

If you’re not shopping, you can explore Oranjestad in an afternoon. For a capital city, it’s bite-sized. Stroll by the harbour, tick off Aruba’s oldest structure, Fort Zoutman, and walk by the parliament building. Save time for a Heineken in the city’s most iconic bar, the Dutch-inspired Paddock, which is painted in cow print and has a car on the roof.

Aruba’s photogenic capital is best explored on foot. Start at the harbour to watch fisherman flog their day’s catch, then stop by the island’s oldest Protestant Church. Shoppers can pick between the dockside bazaar and the Royal Plaza’s boutiques. And, for a quirky attraction, try the Numismatic Museum of Aruba – it tells the world’s history using 35,000 coins from 400 countries.

Long before the Dutch came along, it was the Arawak Indians who called Aruba home. Keen to decorate their modest caves, they daubed the rock walls with reddish-brown drawings. And you can see some of their efforts at Fontein Cave – one of a series of caverns housed in the Arikok National Park. Nature’s artwork is showcased here, too, through bizarre-looking stalagmites and stalactites.

Fontein Cave has a special claim to fame – it’s the only cave on Aruba where you’ll find artwork by the island’s original inhabitants. Check out the ancient geometric patterns and hand imprints as you creep through the chambers. Just watch out for the cave’s other residents. The long-tongued bats live deep inside and come out to feed on flowers in the surrounding Arikok National Park.

Condé Nast Traveller says Palm Beach is one of the world’s best. And, thanks to all the tourists that come here, it’s certainly one of the island’s liveliest. Soft sand and bright blue waters aren’t the only attraction, though. Watersports fans come here to windsurf and jet-ski in the area known as Fisherman’s Huts.

Gold fever hit Aruba back in 1824. That’s when a 12-year-old sheep herder stumbled across a nugget of the precious metal while out with his flock. Skip forward 50 years and the Bushiribana Gold Mine went into business. These days, it’s more a tumble-down ruin than a first-class mine and smelter. But for a taste of Aruba’s history, it’s definitely worth a look.

With a coral reef running along Aruba’s west coast, close encounters with giant manta rays and neon parrotfish are par for the course in these parts. You’ll find some of the best sites around De Palm Island, Kantil, Skalahein and Barcadera. There are lots of wrecks to dive around, too. The best is said to be Antilla, the wreck of German freighter scuttled during World War II. But there’s also a wrecked rumrunner, a galleon and a tugboat.

This elegant stone lighthouse could have been plucked from the pages of a Famous Five novel. It stands guard over the northwest tip of Aruba and dates all the way back to 1910. It’s perched high above the sea, so the views are out of this world. Close by are the California Dunes. These Sahara-like sweeps are dotted with spiky cacti, aloe plants and Aruba’s trademark divi-divi trees.

With its one-armed bandit cacti and giant boulders, Aruba’s sprawling nature reserve looks like a film set for a western movie. In terms of birds, you’ve got burrowing owls and Aruban parakeets, while reptilian residents include iguanas and whiptail lizards. This is also where you’ll find Mount Yamanota. At 620 feet, it’s Aruba’s highest point.

This huge nature reserve is an explorer’s dream. The craggy landscape is criss-crossed with 32 kilometres’ worth of trails, and the rollcall of residents here includes burrowing owls, iguanas and whiptail lizards. Keep an eye out for the curious divi-divi trees, with their wind-bent branches – they often appear on postcards of Aruba. For the best views, climb Mount Jamanota, the island’s highest point.

Marooned off Aruba’s south-west coast, about a five-minute ferry ride from the mainland, is De Palm Island. Come here for the day, and you can relax on the isle’s beaches, or check out the underwater coral formations and brightly coloured marine life. Families should save some time for the waterpark, which has a handful of slides to its name.

Rodger’s Beach in the south is a real favourite with the locals. They gather here for a game of football or just a quiet picnic on the cashmere-soft sands. It’s not far from Seroe Colarado’s Baby Beach, another popular stretch, so you can tick off both in a day.

This sandy swathe on the north of the island is as peaceful as they come. There aren’t any shops or restaurants nearby, so there’s little to disturb you except the lapping of the waves and the newspaper rustle of palms. It’s worth noting there aren’t any parasols, so it’s a good idea to bring your own.

The Aruba Carnival is one of the liveliest festivals in this part of the world. This month-long celebration features floats, costumes and dancing. If you’re here when it’s in full swing, don’t miss the watersports races or the crowning of the Carnival Queen.

This two-day jam sees some of the biggest names in jazz sharing the stage with Aruba’s home-grown talent. The headline acts take to the stage at the Cas de Cultura Theatre in Oranjestad. Afterwards, the party continues in the bars surrounding the theatre.

A Dutch windmill in the Caribbean, you say? Well, this is an island that celebrates its heritage in a big way. This red-and-white number was built in Holland in 1804 and was used as a water pump, and later a mill. It broke down in 1929 and was shipped to Aruba in 1960. Half a century later, it’s a tourist must-see and even has its own restaurant.

Jail, court room – even a junk room. Over the years, the 17^th-century Fort Zoutman has had quite a few roles. It’s Aruba’s oldest example of Dutch architecture, and was originally built to defend Oranjestad from invasion. The tower faced its toughest test in 1799, when it played a pivotal role in fending off an English attack. It’s got everything a colonial fort should have, from stout walls to heavy cannons.

You probably wouldn’t expect to see an old Dutch windmill in the Caribbean, but that’s exactly what you’ll find near Palm Beach. It was built in Holland in the 1800s, before being shipped across the Atlantic, piece by piece. Now that it’s been put back together, it looks like the real deal. You can't go inside, but it's free to admire it from the outside.

This annual music event has been going strong since the year 2000, and past performances have come courtesy of acts like Lauryn Hill, Alicia Keys and Mary J Blige. The rest of the line-up includes comedy acts and parties that go on until the early hours. To be in the heart of the action, stay in Palm Beach or Eagle Beach.