7 reasons why Aruba is One Happy Island

1. Sunny credentials

Sitting below the hurricane belt, Aruba’s weather is a major selling point. First up, it boasts of being the sunniest southern Caribbean island, with temperatures hitting the 28°C mark all year round. Then there are the gentle trade winds, which keep things cool and prime for sunbathing. Plus, it hardly ever rains. Aruba gets a tiny 18 inches of rain per year – to put it in context, Yorkshire gets around 60 inches.

2. Beautiful beaches

When it comes to beaches, Aruba’s are the cream of the crop. And they’re regularly rated among the best in the world. The two big-hitters are Eagle Beach and Palm Beach – both super-long strips of talcum-soft sand with calm, azure waters. Take a stroll along Eagle Beach and you’ll stumble upon one of Aruba’s most photographed sights – the famous divi divi tree. Another bonus? It doesn’t matter what hotel you stay at, because all beaches are public. We’ll raise a smile to that.

3. A flamingo island

No, really – there’s a whole isle full of the pretty-in-pink birds here. It’s called Renaissance Island, and it’s made up of two dove-white coves – an adults-only side with the tropical birds and a family-friendly lagoon where iguanas roam freely. This place is reserved for guests of the Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino, but you can buy day passes to get that all-important flamingo selfie. And you’ll arrive on a speedboat, feeling a lot like James Bond.

4. Jaw-dropping landscapes

For an island known for its beaches, Aruba still lines up plenty of alternative show-stopping scenes. A whopping 20% of it is covered by desert-like Arikok National Park. This means it’s a great place to hop in a jeep and explore the untamed scenery. You’ll pass huge cacti, lava formations and caves with 1000-year-old drawings inside. Book onto one of our 4x4 tours and you can choose between stops at a textbook Caribbean bay or a natural pool, where the waters are protected by a wall of volcanic rock.

5. Wild side

If the beaches, activities and sunshine aren’t enough to put a smile on your face, it’ll be Aruba’s wild side that wins you over. Head to the north of the island and you’re likely to come across some four-legged friends. Donkeys and goats go about their business, foraging for food in the rugged terrain. Our Baby Beach 4x4 Tour even swings by a donkey sanctuary, where you can feed and stroke them.

6. Wreck diving hotspot

Some of the biggest wrecks in the Caribbean are dotted off Aruba’s coast. One of the main attractions is Pedernalis – an oil tanker which was torpedoed in World War Two. A lot of it’s still intact, so you can peer into cabins and bathrooms in between clusters of coral. Of course, that’s not all that calls this place home. Rays, barracudas and even turtles are all regularly spotted here. And if getting your hair wet is out of the question, you can also take glass-bottom boat tours, submarines and Sea Treks to catch a glimpse of Aruba’s amazing underwater world.

7. Pure drinking water

If there’s one thing Arubans are proud of – aside from their beaches, weather and wildlife – it’s their top-quality drinking water. You can forget stocking up on bottles of the stuff, because the fresh tap water is completely safe to drink. In fact, it’s among the best in the world – something the friendly locals will be keen to tell you about.

Want to visit the #OneHappyIsland for yourself?

Take a look at our Aruba holidays here.

Author: Annabel Langley