Thread: Aruba Overview

Aruba has one of the highest rates of repeat visitors anywhere in the Caribbean. What continues to draw people back over and over again is the great pride and care that Arubans take to ensure that tourists have everything they could possibly need to make their stay both enjoyable and exciting. Arubans are famous for their friendliness and hospitality. The climate is perpetually sunny and welcoming, and great care has been taken to preserve and enhance the natural beauty of the environment. The tourist industry here is extremely well-organized, developed, and diversified, catering to a wide variety of different interests. Those who prefer privacy can find a secluded stretch of beach or go exploring through the countryside on their own, while those who are more outgoing can take advantage of Aruba's vibrant nightlife, the casinos, the discotheques, the different theme parties, the music and folkloric festivals. Those interested in another kind of wildlife can go bird-watching in a protected sanctuaryArikok National Park tracking the island's exotic flora and fauna. or take a tour of a coconut plantation or hike through the

Sports enthusiasts can go scuba-diving in any of the 42 different diving sites, engage the incredible island winds by windsurfing, rent water-skis or parasails, or charter a boat and go deep-sea fishing. The island offers two golf courses, one of which is professional caliber, an ATP sanctioned tennis center, racquetball courts, trails to go horseback riding, even several bowling alleys. The different hotels provide a whole range of activities for singles, honeymoon couples, and families with children. Whatever kind of vacation you are looking for, the odds are you will be able to find it in Aruba.

The first people to inhabit the island were a nation of Arawak Indians called the Caiquetios who migrated north from the Orinoco Basin in South America and settled here approximately 2,000 years ago. Remnants of their culture can still be found at a number of different sites around the island: pottery, earthenware, and other artefacts at the Archeological Museum in Oranjestad and at the Historical Museum of Aruba at Fort Zoutman and William III Tower; and cave drawings and petroglyphs in the Fontein and Guadiriki Caves and at Arikok National Park. In 1499, the Spanish explorer Alonso de Ojeda made his way to this remote corner of the Caribbean Basin and laid claim to the territory for Queen Isabella. According to one tradition, he christened the place Oro Hubo meaning there was gold there, but the name Aruba seems to have derived instead from the Arawak Indian word oibubai which means guide. In any event, the Spanish made little use of the island, finding the climate too arid for cultivation and discovering little evidence of the gold they were eagerly searching for. For the most part, they abandoned Aruba to the Caiquetios for the next 150 years and devoted themselves to other more lucrative conquests. Before long, however, the island became a clandestine hide-away for pirates and buccaneers who preyed on ships transporting Indian treasures back to the Old World. At Bushiribana on the northeast coast, the ruins of an old pirate castle still remain standing.

In 1636, Aruba once again came to the attention of Europeans. The Dutch, who had recently been expelled by the Spanish from their base in St.Maarten, set out looking for another place to establish a colonial presence. They soon captured the islands of Aruba, Curacao, and Bonaire from the Spanish who, in truth, put up very little resistance. Curacao became the administrative capital for the Dutch West India Company in the Netherlands Antilles, with Aruba operating as one of its chief satellites. From this early period dates the construction of the historic fortress Fort Zoutman and William III Tower, which is the oldest building in the country. Except for a short period from 1805 to 1815 when the island fell to the British during the Napoleonic Wars, Aruba has remained under Dutch control ever since.

The year 1824 saw the discovery of gold near Bushiribana. The ruins of a nineteenth-century smelting plant still survive in Balashi northwest of the Spanish Lagoon near the center of the island. The gold rush continued until 1916 when the mines finally became so unprofitable that they had to be shut down. Not long afterwards, however, in 1924, another valuable commodity replaced it, black gold --oil. Aruba became home to one of the world's largest refineries. The strength of the economic boom that followed made San Nicholas into a major commercial center and the island's second largest city. To this day, Aruba's two main industries have been oil and tourism, and when the refineries were closed down in 1985 due to the worldwide glut in petroleum, the emphasis on tourism became especially important. Even after oil refining was resumed in 1991, the island continued to invest heavily in tourist development, and new projects are still going on all the time.

The population of Aruba is of mixed descent and can trace its ancestry back to 40 different ethnic backgrounds from around the world. The native language is a creole dialect called Papiamento which is made up of elements of Dutch, Spanish, English, French, Portuguese, a number of different African languages, and Arawak Indian. Nearly everyone on the island is able to speak English and Spanish, in addition to Dutch, which is the official language of Aruba. Aruba's Language
Papiamento is a unique language which is only spoken on the Dutch Caribbean islands. It was considered a local dialect and of no significant interest until the year 1995. Three years later the Government decided to teach Papiamento officially in the schools as a new language subject. Papiamento books can be found in bookstores and the language is quite easy to learn.

Below we have included a few words and sentences that are guaranteed to win hearts.

Welcome: Bon Bini
Good Morning: Bon dia
Thank you: Danki
How are you?: Con ta bai
Very Good!: Hopi bon
I am fine: Mi ta bon
I or I am: mi
Have a good day: Pasa un bon dia
See you later: Te aworo
Food: cuminda:
Bread: Pan
Soda: Refresco
I love Aruba: Mi stima Aruba

Oranjestad
The capital city, located on the southern coast near the western end of the island, is extremely picturesque with its Dutch colonial architecture in pastel colors. Over the past six years a lot of effort has been spent refurbishing the town and making it attractive for tourists. Along the wharf merchants come to sell fresh fish and produce right off the boats every morning. The downtown area and the Seaport Village are the primary shopping areas on the island.

Museums in Oranjestad:

Archaeological Museum
Zoutmanstraat 1, Oranjestad
Ancient artifacts, pottery tools, and giant earthen jars of the original Aruban habitants.
Open Mon - Fri, 8 am to 12 and 1pm to 4pm

Numismatic Museum
Zuidstraat 27, Oranjestad.
30,000 historic coins from Aruba and around the world.
Open Mon - Fri, 7.30am to 12 and 1pm to 4pm

De Olde Molen
This old windmill was first built in 1804 in Holland and then
shipped to Aruba piece by piece and reconstructed in 1960. It now features a moderately-priced restaurant that specializes in continental dining.

Fort Zoutman And William III Tower
The oldest building in the country, this Dutch fortress now houses the Historical Museum of Aruba, where Caiquetio artifacts from the prehistoric past are now on display alongside of remnants from the Dutch colonial period and other items of local interest.
Open Mon - Fri, 9am to 12 and 1.30 pm to 4.30pm


Bushiribana
On the northern coast midway down the island lie the abandoned gold mines that were the center of Aruba's gold rush during the nineteenth century. Nearby sit the ruins of an old pirate castle that some say goes all the way back to 1499, the year that Alonso de Ojeda landed here.




Hooiberg
Shaped like a haystack (Hooiberg means Mt.Haystack in Dutch), this mountain looms prominently from the middle of the island. At 541 feet, it is not the tallest mountain (Mt.Yamanota and Mt.Arikok at 617 feet and 577 feet respectively are both taller), but it is the most accessible. From its peak it is possible to see across to the coast of Venezuela on a clear day.

CurrencyThe Aruban florin is the standard currency of the country, but U.S. Dollars are accepted everywhere, including taxis, and can be expected to be returned in change. Most of the larger hotels provide currency exchange, if needed.
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BanksBanks are open from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, and cash may be obtained at branches of the Caribbean Mercantile Bank and the ABN-AMRO Bank with any major credit card or with Cirrus network ATM cards. Please note however that the ATM's dispense only local currency.
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Chamber of CommerceChamber of Commerce and Industry Aruba
Zoutmanstraat 21. P.O. Box 140
Oranjestad, Aruba
Tel: (2978) 21566 or 23423
Fax: (2978) 33962
Telegram address: ARUCHAMBER
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Passports & Travel TaxesPassports are not required of U.S. and Canadian citizens: just a birth certificate along with a picture ID, or an Alien Registration Card or re-entry permit for immigrants living in those countries. All other travellers must bring a valid passport and a visa. A departure tax of $34,25 per person is imposed upon departure.
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Customs RegulationsVisitors 18 years of age and older may bring into the country up to 2 litres of liquor, 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars, and 250 grams of tobacco, in addition to those items which they plan on keeping for personal use.
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AnimalsHotels do not have facilities for pets.
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TransportationThe Queen Beatrix Airport is located on the southern coast not far from the capital city of Oranjestad. Jeeps, scooters, and bicycles may be rented for getting around or for going off on one's own. Cars and motorcycles may also be rented at the airport, and limousine service is available. Taxis should have a fixed price schedule for most destinations on the island. Here everyone drives on the right-hand side of the road. Taxis are common rated, and established by the govenment. Tipping is usually 10 percent.
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HotelsAruba offers a wide variety of accommodations from luxury hotels with their own private beach facilities to guest houses, and rental apartments. Seasonal rates vary from hotel to hotel, but the winter season from January through March tends to be the most crowded and the most expensive. Hotels routinely add between 10% and 15% as a surcharge for service and 11% for room tax. It is customary to tip the porters an average of 50 cents US$ per bag, and all other gratuities are left to the guest's discretion.
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ShoppingAruba offers duty-free shopping at the airport or at specified duty-free establishments, but the tariffs at other stores are still low at 3.3%, and there are many bargains to be had in European porcelain, jewelry, perfumes, and clothing. The main shopping strip is to be found at the Seaport Village in Oranjestad. Stores are generally open from 8 am to 6 pm with a two-hour break for lunch between noon and 2 pm.
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Medical/Health FacilitiesDr. Horacio Oduber Hospital in Aruba is a 280 bed hospital equipped with reputable medical staff and modern equipment. The hospital, which opened in 1976, is located across from Eagle Beach. Services such as oxygen tanks and hemodialysis are available. For more information contact:

• Dr. Horacio Oduber Hospital
  Sasakiweg, Aruba
  Tel: 74300 Fax: 73348

Hotels have medical doctors and dentists on call. Appointments, if necessary, can be made through your hotel. Also, each hotel has a doctor on call.

ElectricityElectricity operates on 110 volts alternating current, 60 cycles, and American appliances should work without the need for converters or adapters.
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CommunicationsAruba has modern international communication facilities. For international telephone calls (direct dial, person to person, or collect calls), telex and telegrams, electronic mailgram and mariphone calls, contact the hotel operator or SETAR.

SETAR located next to the Aruba post office at the Irausquinplein or at SETAR Teleshop at Palm Beach across from Hyatt Regency Aruba Beach Resort & Casino or at SETAR Teleshop, Schelpstraat (around the corner of Le Petite Cafe‚ - Downtown, Oranjestad).
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TelephoneTo direct dial to Aruba from the United States, you must dial 011-2978 + the five digit number. To direct dial from anywhere else you must dial 2978 + the five digit number. From Aruba to the US, dial 001+area code and number.
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TippingGratuity of 10 - 15% is usually included on your bill. At your own discretion, you may add an extra amount for good service.
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Drinking WaterThe water on the island has been desalinated and purified, so it is safe for drinking.
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What to WearDress is casual informal summer wear. Ladies may bring along a shawl to throw over the shoulders at night. Dress-up clothes are recommended for a night out in one of the island's elegant restaurants, nightclubs or casino's. Most casino's require jackets for gentlemen. Bathing suits are not permitted in the shopping and business districts.