Aruba is a Caribbean island belonging to the Kingdom of the Netherlands (it is a constituent nation, along the lines of the United Kingdom for example, which together with the Netherlands and the Caribbean states of Curaçao and Sint Maarten, forms precisely the Kingdom of the Netherlands), located off the coast of Venezuela.
With an area of approximately 190 square kilometers, the island, which is officially called the Country of Aruba, is characterized by an arid climate and a predominantly desert landscape, characterized by sparse vegetation and unique rock formations.
The territory has an interesting geological history, with volcanic origins dating back to around 95 million years ago: the most significant rock formations are found in the Arikok National Park, which covers around a fifth of the entire island.
Indigenous populations have lived in Aruba since around 4,500 years ago, initially as nomadic hunter-gatherers and later as settled communities, before mixing with the Europeans (the first to arrive were the Spanish in 1499, then the Dutch in 1636).
Aruba’s economy has gone through several phases: from the initial mining activity focused on gold extraction – which produced just over 1300 kilos of pure gold – up to the current tourist development. The island is home to some endemic species of particular interest, such as the Cascabel rattlesnake and the Cododo lizard, which live mainly in the protected area of the National Park.
Do you want to know more? Continue reading to learn about 5 unmissable stops for anyone who wants to visit the happiest island in the Caribbean.
Eagle Beach
Let’s start with the jewel in the crown of Aruba, Eagle Beach, awarded by Tripadvisor as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world (in the context of Tripadvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Beaches Awards it was ranked second in 2023 and eighth in 2024, based on to the preferences expressed by users of the platform).
Eagle Beach is the largest beach in Aruba, an excellent starting point for travellers: you will find soft white sand, the characteristic Fofoti trees (whose scientific name is Conocarpus erectus) and sea turtles, you can practice water sports, or beach tennis , and find refreshment at the numerous hotels in the area.
Arikok National Park
Second stop of our tour, the Aruba National Park which covers almost 20% of the island’s surface, and is considered the national treasure of the island (the entire area is a protected area).
There are many attractions that you will find in the 32 km² of surface area of the park: native animal and plant species, sites of historical and cultural importance containing, for example, ancient rock carvings created by the indigenous people, spectacular bays (such as those of Moro, Boca Prins and Dos Playas ), landscapes formed by the passage of lava and magmatic rocks (such as diorite, both quartz and limestone).
Perfect for families, Aruba National Park has a negligible entry fee, which goes towards the conservation of the park.
Quadirikiri Cave
The Quadirikiri Caves, located along the eastern coast of the island of Aruba, offer a one-of-a-kind natural spectacle. Part of Arikok National Park, the caves are accessible during park opening hours (8am – 4pm) and are a major attraction for visitors.
Characterized by impressive stalactites, stalagmites and rock carvings, the caves extend for approximately 30 meters and are naturally lit thanks to the holes in the ceiling, creating an evocative atmosphere. For a complete experience, it is advisable to request guidance from park rangers, who can tell you interesting facts about the formation of the caves and the history of the island.
Colonies of harmless bats live in the darkest parts of Quadirikiri Cave, making the visit a fascinating exploration of the local wildlife. Next door, the nearby Fontein Cave houses the drawings of the Arawak Indians, a unique testimony to the culture and history of Aruba, making it an unmissable stop for those who want to discover the roots of the island.
California Lighthouse
For the more romantic, the California Lighthouse is a stop that cannot be missed. Built between 1914 and 1916, the Lighthouse, as it is called by the locals, is located at the northernmost point of the island, near the Hudishibana hill. It has a height of 100 meters (we are talking about the tallest structure in Aruba) and is completely made with local stone. It owes its name, and the same construction, to the British steamship SS California, which left Liverpool to reach Central America and sank in the waters in front of it in 1891, well before the lighthouse was built precisely to avoid similar tragedies.
The history of the lighthouse is fascinating: the first keeper was Jacob Jacobs, from Curaçao, while the last keeper was Federico Fingal, originally from Aruba. Today, the adjacent restaurant once housed the guardians’ home.
Alto Vista Chapel
We continue our journey with the Alto Vista Chapel, an ancient Catholic church built in 1952 in the same place where the original chapel stood, dating back to 1750 (we owe the construction to the Venezuelan missionary Domingo Silvestre). We can find it in the northern part of Aruba, northeast of the city of Noord, about 27 km from the coast of Venezuela, not far from the California Lighthouse.
The church is widely visited, both nationally and internationally, and every Good Friday, the local population makes a pilgrimage on foot that starts from Oranjestad, the capital, and ends at the Alto Vista chapel.
San Nicolas and his street art
San Nicolas, located in the eastern part of Aruba, is an authentic open-air museum and one of the street art capitals of the world. Thanks to the Aruba Art Fair, over 80 international artists have transformed its streets into a living art gallery, with murals that tell local and universal stories. Every corner of the city explodes with colour, creativity and culture, making it an unmissable destination for street art lovers.
Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins
We conclude our tour with the ruins of one of the many gold refineries on the island, the Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins. As mentioned at the beginning, in the period between 1400 and 1500 Aruba became the protagonist of the gold hunt, therefore traces of this activity are still very present in the area. Located on the northern coast, the Bushiribana mine is now abandoned, after a long service in which raw gold from the surrounding mines was processed.
