| |
 |
|
Aruba is located in the heart of the southern Caribbean,
15 miles from the South American coastline. The island
is 19.6 miles long, and six miles across at its widest
point, with a total area of 70 square miles.
Aruba’s topography and vegetation are unusual
for a Caribbean island. On the south and west coasts
are miles of pristine white beaches that rank among
the most beautiful in the world, rimmed by calm blue
seas with visibility in some areas to a depth of a hundred
feet. The northeast coast, along the windward shore,
is rugged and wild. The interior is desertlike, with
a variety of cacti and dramatic rock formations. The
island’s most famous trees are the watapana, or
divi-divi trees, all permanently sculpted into graceful,
southwest-bending shapes by the constant trade winds.
It’s always summer in Aruba, and almost always
dry. The average daytime temperature is 82° F. The
difference between median day and night temperatures,
and between summer and winter temperatures, is just
3.6° F. The average rainfall is less than 20 inches
a year, occurring mainly in short showers during November
and December. Aruba is located safely away from the
traditional path of hurricanes. Just one word of caution:
The sun is at its strongest between 11am and 2:30pm,
and the use of protective sun lotions, including locally
made products such as Aruba Aloe, is highly recommended.
Aruba as a vacation destination
Aruba welcomes visitors from all over the world. Of
the over 600,000 stay-over guests that choose to come
to our island annually, the majority are traveling from
the United States, with numerous guests also visiting
from Latin America and Europe.
When to visit
There is no wrong time to visit Aruba. Cooling trade
winds help to keep temperatures consistently mild. There
is no rainy season, the island lies away from the hurricane
path, and the sea temperature hovers around 82°
F all year long. January, February and March are the
most popular times to visit. During Carnival, just before
Lent, the island is hopping with parades, festivities
and parties. If you prefer smaller crowds and a more
relaxed atmosphere, plan your trip for mid-April through
September. Or, if you can’t stand another morning
of scraping ice from your windshield, hop the next plane
and come in the middle of December. In other words,
choose your own time. Come just because you feel like
it. Whenever you feel like it. |
|
|
|
|
