Destination Spotlight: Oranjestad, Aruba

Official Languages: Dutch and Papiamento (a local Creole language)

Currency accepted: AUG (Aruban Florin) and USD (One US Dollar equals 1.75 Aruban Floria)

Overview

Aruba is a small island that is only 20 miles in length and 6 miles wide. Currently part of the Netherland Antilles, Aruba has been influenced significantly by Dutch traditions. All of the schooling on the island uses the same curriculum as the Netherlands. The architecture resembles gingerbread houses painted in bright colors. All of the beaches have white sand and crystal clear waters. Along the beach, you may see divi-divi trees, which grow on sand and have trunks that look tangled up.

Things to Do

Aruba is a beautiful place to explore the ocean by snorkeling or taking a submarine ride. The crystal clear waters make it easy to see sea turtles and the wide variety of fish that live off the coast. Because the island is so small, a large portion of the area is walkable from the port; however, if you want to see Arikok National Park, which has several caves to explore, you should take a taxi or excursion. At the national park, there are also areas where the sea turtles lay their eggs, so you may be able to watch them hatch if you go at the right time. Aruba is one of the safest islands in the Caribbean, and they hold the Dutch traditions of being a close-knit community where everyone respects each other, including tourists. As with everywhere, it is recommended that you don’t leave items unattended, but it is safe to walk around and explore on your own. Most people on the island will speak multiple languages, including Dutch, English, and Spanish. Around the island, there are several blue horse statues; these represent the historical horse trade, particularly of horse and cattle, with Europe and South America.

Food

Being a Dutch territory, a lot of the food on the island is Dutch. This includes delicious dutch pancakes, which are thinner than American pancakes and can be served with sweet or savory toppings. Dutch chocolate is also abundant on the island. If you enjoy spicy food, try to grab some pica di papaya, a hot sauce made of papayas and only found in Aruba. On our tour, we were able to try pastechi, an empanada-type handheld snack filled with gouda cheese. It was flakey and delicious!

Our plans

We did a walking tour that took us through the downtown area and past several historical sights, like the Old Protestant Church that was built in 1846. Our tour guide, Wendle, went into great detail about the history and politics of the island and how it is influenced by the Netherlands, the United States of America, and Canada. It was really interesting to learn about, and he answered any questions we had. The total tour took around two hours, and we walked 3 miles in total. It was incredibly hot and humid, so be sure to wear sunscreen and a hat! On the tour, we also got to try pastechi and some locally made beer. Be sure to bring cash, as many of the shops around the port do not take cards. Also, be aware that the change you are given in return can be Aruban florin. The exchange rate of Aruban florin is $1.75 Aruban florin to $1 USD. It is a fixed rate that never changes, which makes calculating the costs of souvenirs easy.

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