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Welcome to Aruba on the Paradise
Islands website.
Located in the
Leeward Antilles
region of the West
Indies which is situated
in the southern part of
the Caribbean Sea just
20 miles north of Venezuela.
There is no rainy season
and temperatures
typically range between
70 degrees and high 80's
Fahrenheit. Positioned
far south of the
Atlantic hurricane belt,
the isle has few
tropical storms and dry
climate with a sandy
desert landscape full of
cacti and other drought
tolerant plants and
trees. |
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The official motto is "One happy
island" which is on all
the car licence plates
and the Divi Divi Tree
(see image below) is
almost a national
symbol. The island relies more
on tourism than it's
neighbours and is geared
up for cruise ship
passengers with a large
mix of American stores,
casinos and duty free
shops in the main town
of Oranjestad. The
island's economy is made
up of phosphate and gold
mining, petroleum and
tourism (75% of GDP).
English is widely spoken
by the locals (called
"Arubans") and US
dollars accepted
everywhere, despite the
Aruban Florin
being the official
currency. |
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The Caribbean
Leewards Antilles are divided
into two groups
of isles; the
Dutch "ABC"
islands of Aruba,
Bonaire
and
Curacao;
plus
the Venezuelan
isles of Los Roques,
Las Aves, Isla
la Orchila, Tortuga
and Magarita. It
is the smallest
of the "ABC"
isles at just 69
square miles.
The ABC islands are
commonly known as the
Dutch Antilles or the
Netherlands Antilles
(dissolution in 2010).
Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao,
St Maarten and
Saba are all
separate
countries or
municipalities and form
part of the
Kingdom of the
Netherlands. |
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Over one million cruise
ship passengers arrive
to down town Oranjestad
in the Port of Playa
every year. The cruise
terminal has a tourism
information centre and
duty free shops and is a
five minute walk from
the main shopping area
and restaurants. The
nearest beach (Palm
Beach) is a ten /
fifteen minute taxi ride
from the terminal (taxis
do not have meters,
fares are set by the
Government and displayed
on signs in the taxi
ranks).
Air
passengers arrive at the
Queen Beatrix
International Airport (Aeropuerto
Internacional Reina
Beatrix) near Oranjestad.
Regular flights arrive
and depart from
Amsterdam with KLM as
well as routes operated
by other airlines from
Toronto,
Princess Juliana Airport
on St Maarten and many US
cities including New
York, Atlanta, Boston
and Miami, etc. Over 60%
of the 1.7 million
annual visitors are US
citizens, making Aruba
one of the most popular
Caribbean destinations
for American travellers. |
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Travel, holiday, vacation and cruise
guide to Aruba in the Caribbean Leeward Antilles. All text and images are
Copyright
Paradise Islands
org. All photographs on this website are obtained with
the permission of the owners and come from various sources
including the island's tourist boards. |
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Quick Facts
Capital
Oranjestad
Main Airport
Aeropuerto Internacional Reina Beatrix
Main Port
Playa Terminal
Oranjested
(Cruise Ships)
Language
Dutch
Currency
Aruban Florin
&
US Dollar
Government
Constitutional
Monarchy
Island Size
69 Square Miles
Population
102,000
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Willemstad Curacao |
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Cruise Port Guide |
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