Short and Sweet AdventuresPerfect Pastimes for Cruise Ship Visitors

by Susan Campbell

No worries if you’re only here for a short time, Aruba is a compact treasure trove of pleasurable pastimes and

awesome adventures all within easy reach of the cruise pier.

Do-it-yourself downtown tour Hop the free eco-trolley right off the

cruise pier to get a sense of what there is to enjoy in colorful and cosmopolitan down town Oranjestad. Modern high-end shopping emporiums like the multi-level indoor/outdoor Renaissance Mall beckon with upscale jewelry, designer clothing, electronics, and more, all with no tax and low-duty. There are also color-ful arcades like the Royal Plaza Mall in beautifully restored Dutch colonial buildings for unique gifts and souvenirs. Downtown is also dotted with interna-tional eateries surrounding the port and a bit farther up at the Renaissance Market-place, as well as exciting casinos, and some interesting museums. You can hop on and hop off the trolley at leisure, and don’t forget to take home some of Aruba’s famous aloe products; this island exports some of absolute best quality aloe in the world!

Want to make it double duty day? Shop and sunbathe? No problem. Head past the Renaissance Marketplace along the water to find The West Deck grill and beach bar part of the new linear park – a perfect spot to stop and sip a signature cocktail on its own beach so close to your ship that you can wave to the passengers still onboard! If you only have a few hours, downtown Oranjestad has lots to offer by way of a perfect Aruba day.

Easy beach-hoppingFor those who take their beach bum-

ming seriously, Aruba is absolutely awash with spectacular stretches of sand that are easy to get to from the pier and they are all open to the public! You can grab a cab or take Aruba’s public transit from the main terminal right downtown. The air-conditioned buses are modern and affor d-able and stop at every major resort along both of the most popular beaches. Eagle Beach is the first, it’s laid back and relaxed, lining the lowrise resort stretch, while Palm Beach is the more active surfside playground cresting the highrise stretch

chock full of watersports, activities, beach bars, and dining spots. You can try your hand at beach tennis there, or get some windsurfing and kitesurfing instruction at Fisherman’s Huts beach nearby. Every-thing is within an easy walk back to a bus stop or a taxi stand.

Surreal surf and turf trips Aruba’s tour operators and activity

directors are first rate, and some adven- tu res combine the best of both worlds with snorkeling or swimming at spots like the unique natural pool or beautiful Baby Beach. There are all kinds of terrestrial oddities to discover on this island such as bizarre rock formations and ancient bat-filled caves. And Aruba’s interior is very arid, cacti-studded, desert-like, and dotted with gnarled trees, lounging liz-ards, feral goats, and even wild donkeys. Easy-going tours include air-conditioned motor coaches and even party buses turned day-tour-tripping vehicles to fa mous land-marks like the lovely Alto Vista Chapel, the California lighthouse, the Gold Mill ruins, and the wildly, romantic North E

Tunnel of Love cave

Fisherman’s Huts

Eagle Beach

California Lighthouse

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Coast. But if you really want to tour the rugged outback and get the authentic “shake and bake” experience as locals call it, then a tougher form of transport is re quired like an ATV, a jeep, or even a monster truck. But no worries, there are tour operators that offer those options.

If you’d rather take it slower, there are horseback tours, cycle and swim tours, or guided walks and hikes. Or stop in to the visitor center at Arikok National Park for maps and information about the island’s in he rently elusive nature. It all depends on your in terests, but it’s easy to mix and match adventures all in one day.

Sensational sea escapadesThough you might have arrived by

ship, to really enjoy Aruba’s seas you have to get closer to the waves, or even under them! This island has some of the best di -ving in the Caribbean and there are many dive operators eager to take you out, but even if you’re not certified to dive, you can still witness an underwater shipwreck just by snorkeling as the sunken Antilla is very close to the shore and in very shal-low waters. Most of the snorkeling trips include this site and also stop at two other fish-filled spots. Or if you don’t snorkel, there are party boats and dinner/sunset sails available, too. You can also get close to Aruba’s resplendent reefs without even getting wet via a semi-submarine or a real submarine tour under the sea. And you can also enjoy the island sights riding the waves with serene sea kayak tours. E

Arikok National Park

Aruba’s Northern coast

Creature and critter encountersThe Butterfly Farm is a must for na -

ture lovers with hundreds of winged won-ders to admire, or you can get up close and personal with some funny, flightless birds at the Aruba Ostrich Farm. A visit to the Donkey Sanctuary is also enlight-ening, and Philip’s Animal Garden offers interactive and educational tours with over 50 species of exotic animals. Visit on your own, or take Kukoo Kunuku’s special tour tailored to visiting many of these animal attractions the same day.

Escape to a private island!Just off the coast, De Palm Tours has

its very own delightful island with all kinds of cool and unique adventures like Sea Trek – walking underwater with an air helmet, snorkeling, and snuba (air supplied snorkeling) with giant electric blue parrotfish and Aruba’s only water park. There are also banana-boat rides, a spa, an all-you-can-eat buffet, an open bar, and fun stuff like salsa classes and beach volleyball. Complimentary trans-por tation to and from the island for cruise visitors is also included.

As you can see, there are lots of great things to do in just one day on Aruba. But chances are good, once you get a pre-view of this island’s appeal, you’ll want to return for a much longer visit. We’ll be waiting. Bon voyage! K

De Palm Island

Donkey Sanctuary

Butterfly Farm

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