Aruba, a paradise in the Caribbean
location and size
Aruba is located in the heart of the South Caribbean, about 20 kilometers from the coast of Venezuela. The island is 30 kilometers long and at the widest point 9 kilometers wide. The total area is about 180 square kilometers.
Climate
Aruba is a Caribbean island (almost) always sunny and the average temperature is 28°C. The constant trade winds (NE) make it feel a bit cooler. Hurricanes are very rare here, because Aruba is not a hurricane zone. During your vacation you will probably not experience rain because the average is only 408 mm of rain per year and generally the showers are very short.
Population
Aruba has a population of approximately 100,000 people. Most Arubans have a mix of Caiquetio Indian, African and European influences. Aruba has a high standard of living and a strong economy. Combined with the wonderful natural surroundings, it attracts people from all over the world! The population is also an international mix.
All nationalities have in common their hospitality and sense of the good life.
language
The local language is Papiamento, a significant mixture of Dutch, Portuguese, Spanish, English and Indian.
However, the official language is Dutch (Aruba is a former Dutch colony).
People are often (most of the time) also fluent in English and Spanish, so communication won’t be a problem.
Money
In Aruba, you pay with the Aruban florin. There are coins of 5, 10, 25 and 50 cents, 1 and 5 guilders. The yotin, the square 50-cent coin, presents an eye-catching appearance among all the round coins! The guilder exchange rate is tilted against the US dollar. You can pay with dollars in Aruba, in some places also in euros. All banks can change money.
Banking hours: Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. The CBM bank at the airport is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., except official holidays.
Nature
The nature in Aruba is special and certainly not typical of all the Caribbean islands. In the west and south it has beautiful pearly white sand beaches, which are regularly voted the most beautiful in the world. The northeast coast, the windy side of the island, is rugged and rocky.
Aruba’s interior is dotted with meter-high cacti, low bushes and rocks. The famous tree is the Watapana, better known as the dividivi tree. This particular tree forms everywhere on the island against.
In ancient times, Aruba was a very green island. It even had a river. It was called Little Brazil then. The Dutch cut down all the trees and transported them to the largest island of Curaçao for their shipbuilding industry.
time difference
Compared to the Netherlands:
During summer time 6 hours
During the winter 5 hours
Find out more about aruba-caribbean-beaches.