ARUBA!!! This island is known as the happiest island for a reason. This Caribbean island that has captured my heart. From the moment I stepped off the plane and felt the warm breeze on my skin, I knew I was in for a special experience. My venture to Aruba was a very spontaneous one. My friends Jazlynn, Daeja, and I decided to go a week before we took off, for our Fall Break. From the stunning beaches to the welcoming locals, Aruba has so much to offer. I can’t wait to tell you all about it. So sit back, relax, and let me take you on a journey to discover why Aruba is one of my favorite places!
History of Aruba
First off, a bit of history on Aruba. The beautiful Caribbean island is known for its turquoise waters, white sandy beaches, and friendly locals. Aruba has a rich history that dates back thousands of years where the earliest known inhabitants were the Caquetio Indians. They lived off the land, fishing, hunting, and farming. In 1499, Spanish explorers arrived on the island, and Aruba became a colony of Spain. Over the next few centuries, the island was occupied by the Dutch, the British, and the French, until finally becoming a Dutch colony in the 19th century.
In 1986, Aruba became an autonomous member of the Netherlands. This allowed the island to govern its own affairs while remaining part of the Dutch kingdom! Today, Aruba is a popular vacation destination, with tourists from around the world flocking to the island for its beautiful beaches, warm climate, and vibrant culture. The island has a diverse population, with influences from the Netherlands, South America, and other Caribbean islands.
Aruba drive it’s economy primarily by tourism, as well as by its oil refinery and other industries. The official languages of Aruba are Dutch and Papiamento, which is a creole language that combines elements of Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, and African languages. English and Spanish are also widely spoken on the island, particularly in the tourism industry where many visitors come from English and Spanish-speaking countries. In fact, many Arubans are multilingual, able to speak several languages fluently, so language definitely wasn’t a barrier while traveling!
Culture of the Island
Aruba’s culture is a fascinating mix of history, diversity, and modernity, with a deep appreciation for community, music, food, and nature. As mentioned before, Aruba is such a beautiful island! We met so many friendly and helpful people. There weren’t many moments without smiles during our entire trip.
We stayed in a hotel a bit further from the strip of the chain hotels which was such a great decision. The hotel was beautifully decorated with local bars, restaurants, and beach access right across the street. We definitely felt a less commercialized version of the island staying there. The staff welcomed us immediately and were very accommodating with everything. Including changing our room when we were having a problem with our key. They were so helpful in giving us recommendations and telling us a bit more about the island and culture so that we would get the most out of our trip. The concierge really became our homie lol and that made the trip 10x better. He even referred us to a cheaper place for COVID tests! (Since we traveled towards the end of 2021, we had to provide a negative test before returning to the states.)
Memories
One of my favorite memories was when my friend Jazlynn and I went to visit the iconic Lighthouse. It unfortunately closed for the day, so we couldn’t climb to the top, but we had such a great time just enjoying the views and taking pictures.
On our Taxi ride back to the hotel, we realized that we were racking up on bills and had only been there for 24 hours! Our driver was originally from the States, but had been living in Aruba for over 10 years. We were vibing and chatting it up for the entire car ride! He helped us realize that we’d save so much if we got a rental car for the rest of our trip. Unfortunately, most of the rental car places and connections that he had either didn’t have cars, or they’d closed for the night. But there was one that was open for like 10 more minutes, so he called the shop, begged them to stay open for us, and sped down the streets to get us there in time. We were flying down that tiny road to get there in time, but we made it! He even stayed to make sure that we were able to get it! (And that we weren’t taken advantage of since we were young tourists.)
That is just one of the many fond memories of the island, but it just went to show even more of the genuine hospitality shown by people on the island. From the restaurants that gave Aruba such a high ranking on my list of countries by food, to the music playing and dancing vibes at the various bars. This island is full of laughter and fun and as a visitor, you are bound to experience the freeness.
Things to do
While the island is small, it is full of exciting activities to keep you going throughout the day and night! There are a lot of restaurants and beachside bars to bask in the sun while sippin and eating. The beaches are extremely beautiful with pristine blue waters. So, of course there are water sports such as snorkeling, scuba diving, and windsurfing. You can also do activities such as hiking and horseback riding to see the natural beauty of the island.
We took an excursion on a boat across the ocean to go snorkeling. We saw colorful sea life and a shipwreck off from the coast of the island! The boat had free drinks and snacks on board, along with all of the gear provided. We found this tour through Viator.com and it was a great way to meet people and spend the day. There are so many other options to choose from to get that adventure experience!
Nightlife
The nightlife also took me and my friends away by storm. We definitely have some interesting stories from being there lol, but all things that we could laugh about after the fact. There are a variety of clubs, especially by the strip of hotels if you want to meet a mix of tourists and locals. Further away from the main hotels, the local bars are pretty fun as well and you’ll be able to meet a lot of cool people there. The island has a variety of bars, clubs, and casinos where you can dance, drink, and gamble the night away. You’ll find a mix of music, from Latin and Caribbean beats to pop and hip hop and even Afrobeats!
One night, we were just walking along the strip and heard some Afrobeats playing. If you know me, you know that will pull me anywhere! So, of course we went and had the absolute best time. We met so many people from all around the world, vibed out to the music, and partied all night long. It was so much fun, every night that we went out was a great time. 10/10 all across the board.
Soooo…
So in conclusion. If you’re planning a trip to some island, choose Aruba. You’re bound to have a great time. I cannot wait to go back with more people and enjoy the island even more. There is so much culture and life that I’m excited to explore even more. Regardless if it is Aruba or elsewhere, be sure to soak in as much as you can.
If you have any other questions about my time in Aruba or how we planned this trip, especially on the fly, be sure to leave a comment or send an email. And check out my instagram and TikTok for even more content on Aruba and more!