First impressions about Aruba: Woah, it’s HOT in August. At least being this far south we’re out of the hurricane zone! This post covers our August 17 – 24, 2009 trip to Aruba and review of the Riu Palace property.
Instead of taking the bus transfer which is included with our package, we pre-arranged a taxi to take us to our hotel. Our cabbie, Bully, is congenial, knowledgeable and proud of his island, something which becomes a theme for the week. Even the Aruban license plates read “One Happy Island” and so far it seems that way. We arrive at the Riu Palace and fall in love with the view from our room.
The property is beautiful, the staff friendly and prompt, and the food is to die for. The sunsets on the beach are romantic and mesmerizing. Are we dreaming?
A few interesting things to note about Palm Beach which fronts the “high rise” hotels as this area is known. There is a cement boardwalk which is several kilometers long, running parallel and connecting to the hotels. This strip is ideal for a stroll and also affords those with mobility issues easy access.
New to even us, we saw wheelchair accessible palapas complete with handicapped signs! For those of you who do not know, palapas offer the heat-weary shade. They are the open-sided dwellings with a thatched roof made of palm leaves you see on the beach in many tropical countries. Aruba offers something truly unique for visitors and it’s worth noting for those travelling with folks where this is a consideration.
The Beaches
We recommend renting a car, at least for a few days, to check out the island. The roads are good, the drivers are sane and it’s a pretty small island. There are beaches all the way down the west side of the island. At the south end is Baby Beach. It is aptly named as it is a shallow spot good for families, not to mention all the babies we saw there! Arashi Beach was just what we needed to cool off and it’s within walking distance to the California Lighthouse at the north end of the island.
The snorkeling from shore at many beaches in Aruba is a must for those interested in the spectacular wonders of marine life. At Boca Catalina we saw beautiful schools of tropical fish and a turtle. TIP: This is a regular spot for the snorkeling excursion so avoid mid afternoon as this seems to be when most of the excursions arrive.
There are some more remote areas at the southern end of the island and are easily accessible by car. We heard that there are undertow issues, though.
Things To Do, Places To Visit
The capitol of Oranjestad is quaint and safe. You’ll find the usual jewelry shops, clothing stores and restaurants. While you’re in town, make sure to check out the newly relocated archaeological museum that had just reopened during our trip! It traces the history of the island and has some excellent exhibits. This was definitely one of the highlights of the trip.
Another highlight was the donkey sanctuary. There’s an issue with the native donkeys due to overpopulation and urban expansion so they started a sanctuary for them. Currently there are 45 donkeys. The oldest is 47 years old! If you decide to visit, be sure to give them a coconut (available there) because they love to play with them! Amusing for couples and even more entertaining if you’re travelling with kids.
The Ayo rock formations were amazing as was the landscape of unlimited cacti. We also saw wild parakeets and parrots and a very interesting fence.
Aruba Trip Summary and Observations
Aruba is a great destination with friendly people, great roads, sane drivers and a variety of appealing sights, sounds and experiences to choose from. There are several attractive remote areas and how thoughtful is it of the Arubans to provide handicap accessible palapas?
A destination wedding in Aruba is an idea that brides and grooms should consider, especially those wishing to get married during the hurricane season in the Caribbean.
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