Aruba sightseeing

Oranjestad is Aruba's capital, the palm-lined main boulevard runs
along the ocean, between pastel-painted buildings of Dutch and Spanish colonial design. Named after the Dutch royal house of Oranje, it has been the capital since 1797. Oranjestad attracts more shoppers than sightseers. There are many malls with boutiques and shops in Oranjestad and Seaport Village. Every morning the wharf teems with activity as merchants sell produce and fresh fish - often from their boats. Oranjestad has a few museums for example the Archaeological Museum, which houses ancient artefacts of the original inhabitants, Arawak Indians called the Caiquetios. There is a lot to see on Aruba. We work with De Palm Tours who have a very wide choice of guided tours, activities and excursions, to suit all interests. De Palm Tours is Aruba's biggest and most experienced tour company. Discover Aruba Tour: several different tours with this theme. Snorkel Adventure: half day on a catamaran, Aruba Safari: Discover Aruba in a jeep, De Palm Island - the private island of De Palm Tours. Sunset Sailing Cruises, Kayak Adventure, Latin Night Fever and many more. We can send details of the De Palm excursions and tours, on request. We can book De Palm Tour excursions into your holiday plan.

Other places of interest:

Fontein cave - visible drawings by the Arawak Indians;
California Lighthouse;
Alto Vista chapel
Bushiribana abandoned gold mines – nearby the ruins of an old pirate castle - possibly dates to 1499;
Hooiberg - 541 feet, not the tallest mountain but it is the most accessible. From its peak it is possible to see across to the coast of Venezuela. Casibari Rock Formations Black Stone beach;
Arikok National Park - 870 hectares - almost a fifth of Aruba's total area, with many caves, some are shelter for bats, and hiking trails to explore the unusual terrain and see the island's geological origins. The landscape, dominated by cactuses of all shapes and sizes, is home to an unexpected variety of animals, from iguanas to the bril liantly-coloured ruby-topaz hummingbird. Many species of migratory birds nest in the park while goats and donkeys graze on nearby brush trees;
Fort Zoutman and Willem II Tower is the oldest building on Aruba, with its historic cannons, used only twice. First in 1799 when the Dutch fired on a British warship, and the second time, the other way around, when the British tried to prevent Dutch attacks between 1805 and 1816. Fort Zoutman houses the Museum of History, with Caiquetio Indian artefacts on display alongside of remnants from the Dutch colonial period. Look out for the Bon Bini Festival which takes place every Tuesday night at Fort Zoutman.

Sadly the famous natural bridge, formed by thousands of years of erosion, finally succumbed to the pounding of the ocean, and collapsed in 2005. There are smaller examples of natural bridges along the Eastern coast.

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