If you like to loll on magnificent beaches, visit Aruba. When seeking immersion in a fascinating multiracial culture, think Aruba. Want to combine a long list of activities with an otherworldly moonscape setting? Yes, Aruba. This tiny Caribbean island more than makes up in appeal what it lacks in size.
Many people go there for the beaches—long stretches of white sand shaded by towering palm trees—that are rated high among those throughout the world. The water that laps them ranges from turquoise to deep blue and serves as the playground for a long list of activities. Jet skis and motorboats zip back and forth offshore. Sailboats catch the breeze and excursion vessels offer ersatz pirate cruises and other seaborne experiences.
Inland, the scenery changes dramatically. There Aruba presents an arid extraterrestrial landscape of rock-strewn desert pocked by towering cacti. Some goats graze in fenced fields while not far away their cousins roam free. Many visitors spend their time at seaside resorts, but the island’s interior—what I call the real Aruba—offers much to enjoy.
My introduction to the long list of places to visit began at the Aloe Museum and Factory. After watching men use machetes to cut aloe plants growing in fields around the museum building, I was surprised to learn about the many ways they’re used in medicines and cosmetics.
