Aruba
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The first people to inhabit the island were a nation of
Arawak Indians called the Caiquetios who migrated north from the Orinoco
Basin in South America and settled here approximately 2,000 years ago.
Remnants of their culture can still be found at a number of different sites
around the island: pottery, earthenware, and other artifacts at the
Archeological Museum in Oranjestad and at the Historical Museum of Aruba at
Fort Zoutman and William III Tower; and cave drawings and petroglyphs in the
Fontein and Guadiriki Caves and at Arikok National Park.
Aruba has one of the highest rates of repeat visitors anywhere in the
Caribbean. What continues to draw people back over and over again is the
great pride and care that Arubans take to ensure that tourists have
everything they could possibly need to make their stay both enjoyable and
exciting. Arubans are famous for their friendliness and hospitality. The
climate is perpetually sunny and welcoming, and great care has been taken to
preserve and enhance the natural beauty of the environment.
Aruba is located in the heart of the
southern Caribbean, 15 miles (20
kilometers) off the coast of Venezuela.
It is 19.6 miles (30 kilometers) long and 6 miles (9 kilometers) across, at
its widest point, with an area of approximately 70 square miles (184 square
kilometers).
Aruba's population of about 100,000
inhabitants is made up of a broad international mixture of
well educated people with a
pleasant nature and a zest for
hospitality. The modern Aruban is generally of mixed ancestry, claiming
Caquetio Indian, African and European roots. However, the face of Aruba is
in continuous flux with the island, drawing individuals from all over the
world. Today, the island claims over 40 different nationalities, which live
and work peacefully on the island.
If you like the sea, you can swim, snorkel, dive,
sail, go fishing, try scuba or seatrek, parasailing, banana boating or any
of the many sea activities available. If you are a land lover, you can do a
jeep safari tour, visit the national park for a unique hiking experience or
mountain biking, horseback riding, take a quadracer tour, rent a jeep or
scooter and go cruising for a day. If you are a golf lover, you can always
improve your game at the Tierra Del Sol or The Links course. You can visit
the panorama movie to learn more about the island, rent a bicycle or even a
Harley Davidson motorcycle. There are countless other great daytime
activities for both adults and children to enjoy.
In the evening there is something for everyone. If you like salsa and
meringue, you should visit Mambo Jambo, Choose-A-Name and Café Bahia. If you
like the more modern type of music like techno, there is Muzika and La
Fiesta. For a mix of everything under one roof, Carlos and Charlie’s is the
place for you. However if you just like to relax and enjoy live music, visit
Chaos, Scandals, Garuffa, the newly opened Soprano’s or one of the many bars
at the resorts.
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