Exploring Aruba

Aruba’s wildly sculpted landscape is replete with rocky deserts, cactus clusters, secluded coves, blue vistas, and the trademark divi-divi tree. To see the island’s wild, untamed beauty, you can rent a car, take a sightseeing tour, or hire a cab for $ 45 an hour (for up to four people). The main highways are well paved, but on the windward side (the north- and east-facing side) some roads are still a mixture of compacted dirt and stones. Although a car is fine, a four-wheel-drive vehicle will allow you to explore the unpaved interior. Traffic is sparse, but signs leading to sights are often small and hand-lettered (this is slowly changing as the government puts up official road signs), so watch closely. Route 1A travels southbound along the western coast, and 1B is simply northbound along the same road. If you lose your way, just look to the divi-divi trees, which always lean southwest.

Oranjestad and Environs

Aruba’s charming capital is best explored on foot. L.G. Smith Boulevard, the palm-lined thoroughfare in the center of town, runs between pastel-painted buildings, old and new, of typical Dutch design. You’ll find many malls with boutiques and shops here.

Archaeological Museum of Aruba

This small museum has two rooms chock-full of fascinating artifacts from the indigenous Arawak people, including farm and domestic utensils dating back hundreds of years. | J.E. Irausquin Blvd. 2A | Oranjestad | 297/ 582– 8979 | Free | Tues.– Fri. 10– 5, weekends 10– 2 |

Aruba Aloe

Learn all about aloe— its cultivation, processing, and production— at this farm and factory. Guided tours lasting about a half hour will show you how the gel— revered for its skin-soothing properties— is extracted from the aloe vera plant and used in a variety of products, including after-sun creams, soaps, and shampoos. Though not the most exciting tour on the island— and unlikely to keeps kids entertained— it is free and might be a good option on a rainy day. You can purchase the finished goods in the gift shop where the tour ends. | Pitastraat 115 |

Balashi Brewery

The factory that manufactures the excellent local beer, Balashi, offers daily tours to the public that will take you through every stage of the brewing process. It makes for a fascinating hour, and the price of the tour includes a free drink at the end. Note that closed shoes are required for the tour. Those more interested in beer drinking than beer making might want to visit the factory beer garden Friday evening from 6 to 9 for happy hour, where there’s live music. | Balashi 75 | Balashi | 297/ 592– 2544 | $ 6 |

Fort Zoutman

One of the island’s oldest edifices, Aruba’s historic fort was built in 1796 and played an important role in skirmishes between British and Curaçao troops in 1803. The Willem III Tower, named for the Dutch monarch of that time, was added in 1868 to serve as a lighthouse. Over time the fort has been a government office building, a police station, and a prison; now its historical museum displays Aruban artifacts in an 18th-century house. | Zoutmanstraat | Oranjestad | 297/ 582– 6099 | $ 5 | Weekdays 8– noon and 1– 4 |

Manchebo and Druif Beaches

One beach seamlessly merges with another resulting in a miles-long stretch of powdery sand peppered with a few low-rise resorts. This part of the island is much less crowded than Palm Beach and great for a morning or evening stroll

Eagle Beach

This area is often referred to as Aruba’s low-rise hotel area. It’s lined with smaller boutique resorts and time-share resorts. Eagle Beach is considered one of the best beaches in the Caribbean, the white sand here seems to stretch on forever. The water is great for swimming and there are numerous refreshment spots along the beach. Although the beach can get busy during the day there’s never a problem finding a spot, but if you’re looking for shade, it’s best to stick near one of the hotel bar huts along the beach

Palm Beach and Noord

The district of Noord is home to the strip of high-rise hotels and casinos that line Palm Beach. The hotels and restaurants, ranging from haute cuisine to fast food, are densely packed into a few miles running along the beachfront. When other areas of Aruba are shutting down for the night, this area is guaranteed to still be buzzing with activity. Here you can also find the beautiful St. Ann’s Church known for its ornate 19th-century altar. In this area Aruban-style homes are scattered amid clusters of cacti

Butterfly Farm

Hundreds of butterflies from around the world flutter about this spectacular garden. Guided 30- to 45-minute tours (included in the price of admission) provide an entertaining look into the life cycle of these insects, from egg to caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly. After your initial visit, you can return as often as you like for free during your vacation. | J.E. Irausquin Blvd. | Palm Beach | 297/ 586– 3656 | www.thebutterflyfarm.com | $ 15 | Daily 9– 4: 30; last tour at 4 |

Western Tip (California Dunes)

No trip to Aruba is complete without a visit to the California Lighthouse and it’s also worth exploring the rugged area of the Island’s Western tip. This is the transition point between Aruba’s calmer and rougher coasts. Malmok Beach and Arashi Beach are popular for windsurfing and are excellent for grabbing dramatic sunset photos

Alto Vista Chapel

Alone near the island’s northwest corner sits this scenic little chapel. The wind whistles through the simple mustard-color walls, eerie boulders, and looming cacti. Along the side of the road back to civilization are miniature crosses with depictions of the stations of the cross and hand-lettered signs with “Pray for us Sinners” and other heartfelt evocations of faith. | Alto Vista Rd. | Oranjestad |

Follow the rough, winding dirt road that loops around the island’s northern tip, or from the hotel strip, take Palm Beach Road through three intersections and watch for the asphalt road to the left just past the Alto Vista Rum Shop

California Lighthouse

The lighthouse, built by a French architect in 1910, stands at the island’s far northern end. Although you can’t go inside, you can climb the hill to the lighthouse base for some great views. It’s surrounded by huge boulders and sand dunes; in this stark landscape you might feel as though you’ve just landed on the moon. | Arashi | Oranjestad |

Santa Cruz

Though not a tourist hot spot (by Aruba standards) this town in the center of the island offers a good taste of how the locals live. It’s not architecturally interesting, but there are many restaurants and local shops offering something a bit different from the usual tourist fare (and at reasonable prices)

Mount Hooiberg

Named for its shape (hooiberg means “haystack” in Dutch), this 541-foot peak lies inland just past the airport. If you have the energy, you can climb the 562 steps to the top for an impressive view of Oranjestad (and Venezuela on clear days). | Oranjestad |

Savaneta

The Dutch settled here after retaking the island in 1816, and it served as Aruba’s first capital. Today it’s a bustling fishing village with a 150-year-old cas di torto (mud hut), the oldest dwelling still standing on the island

San Nicolas

During the oil refinery heyday, Aruba’s oldest village was a bustling port; now its primary purpose is tourism. The major institution in town is Charlie’s Restaurant & Bar. Stop in for a drink and advice on what to see and do in this little town. Aruba’s main red-light district is here and will be fairly apparent to even casual observers

Seroe Colorado

What was originally built as a community for oil workers is known for its intriguing 1939 chapel. The site is surreal, as organ-pipe cacti form the backdrop for sedate whitewashed cottages. The real reason to come here is a natural bridge. Keep bearing east past the community, continuing uphill until you run out of road. You can then hike down to the cathedral-like formation. It’s not too strenuous, but watch your footing as you descend. Be sure to follow the white arrows painted on the rocks, as there are no other directional signs. Although this bridge isn’t as spectacular as its more celebrated sibling (which collapsed in 2005), the raw elemental power of the sea that created it, replete with hissing blowholes, certainly is

Arikok National Park and Environs

Nearly 20% of Aruba has been designated part of Arikok National Park, which sprawls across the eastern interior and the northeast coast. The park is the keystone of the government’s long-term ecotourism plan to preserve Aruba’s resources and showcases the island’s flora and fauna as well as ancient Arawak petroglyphs, the ruins of a gold-mining operation at Miralmar, and the remnants of Dutch peasant settlements at Masiduri. Within the confines of the park are Mt. Arikok and the 620-foot Mt. Yamanota, Aruba’s highest peak

Anyone looking for geological exotica should head for the park’s caves, found on the northeastern coast. Baranca Sunu, the so-called Tunnel of Love, has a heart-shape entrance and naturally sculpted rocks farther inside that look like the Madonna, Abraham Lincoln, and even a jaguar. Fontein Cave, which was used by indigenous peoples centuries ago, is marked with ancient drawings (rangers are on hand to offer explanations). Bats are known to make appearances— don’t worry, they won’t bother you. Although you don’t need a flashlight because the paths are well lighted, it’s best to wear sneakers

Arikok Visitor Center

At the park’s main entrance, Arikok Visitor Center houses offices, restrooms, and food facilities. All visitors must stop here upon entering so that officials can manage the traffic flow and hand out information on park rules and features. | 297/ 585– 1234 | www.arubanationalpark.org | $ 10 | 8– 5 |

Aruba Ostrich Farm

Everything you ever wanted to know about the world’s largest living birds can be found at this farm. A large palapa (palm-thatched roof) houses a gift shop and restaurant that draws large bus tours, and tours of the farm are available every half hour. This operation is virtually identical to the facility in Curaçao; it’s owned by the same company. | Makividiri Rd. | Paradera | 297/ 585– 9630 | www.arubaostrichfarm.com | Adults $ 12, children under 12 $ 6 | Daily 9– 4 |

Rock Formations

The massive boulders at Ayo and Casibari are a mystery, as they don’t match the island’s geological makeup. You can climb to the top for fine views of the arid countryside. On the way you’ll doubtless pass Aruba whiptail lizards— the males are cobalt blue, and the females are blue-gray with light-blue dots. The main path to Casibari has steps and handrails, and you must move through tunnels and along narrow steps and ledges to reach the top. At Ayo you can find ancient pictographs in a small cave (the entrance has iron bars to protect the drawings from vandalism). You may also encounter boulder climbers, who are increasingly drawn to Ayo’s smooth surfaces. There’s a café at the base for those who prefer to look at others do the climbing. | Paradera | Access to the rock formations at Casibari is via Tanki Hwy. 4A; you can reach Ayo via Rte. 6A. Watch carefully for the turnoff signs near the center of the island on the way to the windward side