Aruba - Overview

Vacationers longing to avoid the glitz of more mainstream Caribbean destinations will love Aruba, a Dutch protectorate off the coast of Venezuela. 

Aruba offers a generous dash of peace and quiet, and the people, a rich mix of Spanish, Dutch, Portuguese and Caribbean ancestry, and are famed for their hospitality.

Palm Beach, where many of Aruba's major resort hotels are located, is one of the prize beaches of the Caribbean. The scuba diving, snorkeling, and deep-sea fishing are spectacular. For a real treat, strap on your mask and fins and explore the Antilla, a ship scuttled during World War II and rumored to harbor the ghost of a drowned sailor.

When you're not enjoying the spas, casinos, golf courses and tennis facilities of the resort hotels, you can tour the world-famous Butterfly Farm Aruba, a tropical garden that teems with rare species of butterflies from around the world. Additional attractions include colorful festivals and street fairs staged weekly.