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Touring Aruba: Cacti and Beaches

Aruba is one of the ABC Islands in the Southern Caribbean along with Bonaire and Curacao.  It is one of four countries under the Kingdom of the Netherlands.  We were there a couple of years ago on a cruise port stop.  Our plan was to spend time at one of their beaches and do an island tour not having much beach time during this intensive five port cruise itinerary.  Its distinct rugged, arid landscape of cacti and beaches made us curious and look forward to our day in port.

Aruba cactus and beach image

We found a tour bus outside the port that was going to take us to the western part of the island and then drop us off at one of the beaches.  Our great deal meant having to ride on a remodeled school bus covered in interesting graffiti.  It was definitely the most colorful tour bus we’ve been on.  The upside was we’d easily spot ours among the bland looking tourist buses at each attraction.

Aruba colorful tour bus

Not to be outdone, the bus interior was just as colorful and decorated with the island’s attractions throughout the ceiling.  You can’t help but smile and shake your head upon seeing all of this.

Aruba banana bus tour

Passing by its capital city of Oranjestad, this Seaport mall building is similar to the ornate and colorful Dutch architecture found throughout the city.

Oranjestad seaport mall image

Our kids were entertained with these quirky roadside “attractions” along the way.  It looked like Aruba had a fascination with large animals on rooftops.

Aruba rooftop reptiles

Most of their houses were pretty colorful too.

Aruba colorful houses

Located at the center of the island, the Casibari Rock Formation was our first stop.  It was a cluster of large, wind-carved boulders rising amidst the landscape.   We followed the lone narrow staircase with steep steps and tunnels to the top often waiting for others to get down.

Aruba casibara rock formation

We were greeted at the top with panoramic views of the island and a wonderful view of Mount Hooiberg known as the Haystack.   The one thing that caught my eye quickly was the amount of varied cacti surrounding us.

Aruba Mount Hooiberg the Haystack image

Our next stop was the quaint Alto Vista Chapel which was located on the site of Aruba’s first Catholic church founded by a Spanish missionary in 1750.   Built in 1952, this yellow chapel was a popular tourist attraction for its location and serenity where services are still offered once a week.

Aruba Alto Vista chapel image

The chapel’s interior is very small and intimate with a simple altar and some wooden pews enclosed in yellow walls.

Aruba Alto vista chapel interior image

No matter what faith you may believe in, there is no denying the tranquility felt against the crashing waves and the scenic ocean in the background.

Aruba alto vista chapel view
View from the Alto Vista Chapel

The California Lighthouse is one of the island’s famous landmarks and was our last attraction stop.  The stone lighthouse was named for a US ship – the SS California – that sunk off Aruba’s coast in the early 1900s.  Unfortunately, it was closed during our visit.

Aruba California Lighthouse

But, one of the best things about being in this area was the view of what Aruba is famous for – its beaches and resorts – with the ever present cacti on the foreground.  It was certainly a unique and different scenery to get used to – cacti, palm trees, shrubs and beaches together.

Aruba resorts

We were dropped off at Palm Beach where we spent a few hours enjoying the white sand and warm turquoise water and returned to the port via their efficient city bus.

Aruba Palm Beach image

Their beaches surely did not disappoint and it was so apparent why this was such a popular island for vacationers.  Another advantage is its location under the Caribbean hurricane belt resulting to great year round weather.

Aruba palm beach
Enjoying the white sandy beach

Needless to say, our family enjoyed our time here and would love to return to this beautiful island for an extended period.  Aruba’s tourism slogan is “one happy island” and it definitely lives up to it.

Aruba Palm beach
Fun in the sun

*Have you been to the happy island of Aruba?  What are your favorite island destinations?

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Aruba with kids

61 thoughts on “Touring Aruba: Cacti and Beaches”

    1. The cacti with the beach and palm trees took some getting used to. There was something not right about it but made for an interesting landscape.

    1. Yes, it did! It was a little too colorful at first and we thought it attracted too much attention but we saw other decorated buses too. We learned to love and appreciate by the end of the tour.

  1. Yes, I’ve been to the happy island. However, it was 20 years ago, so it must have changed considerably, I imagine. Don’t remember the rooftop decorations, but do remember the cacti and the dry landscape and the beaches :)

    1. My kids’ favorite was the giant iguana on top of the bus. They wished they were on that cooler bus instead. Aruba is certainly as exotic as it sounds.

  2. That beach is so dreamy! I can’t believe how white the sand is and how blue the water is. The bus is the coolest though :) Something so completetly different :)

    1. The beaches were definitely the highlight for us. They were clean, wide open areas of white sand beach. It was great. We loved the King Banana bus. The seats weren’t the most comfortable but it was great to tour the island that way.

  3. Love that tour bus! My husband and I visited Aruba twice before we had kids – in 1993 and 1995 I think. We loved Aruba and can’t wait to get back with Katie and Emma. The beach is so beautiful, the people are so friendly, we had amazing dinners and I loved the Divi Divi trees.

    1. I hope you return to Aruba soon with the girls. Loved the beaches and we could spend an entire week there. we only saw the divi divi trees in passing. We really wanted those Aruba shots with the trees and the beach. Next time!

  4. I haven’t been to Aruba though I just had a guest post by a reader of my blog who had a fabulous week there birding. His best find was some burrowing owls. Looks to me like it was the perfect sort of holiday to have with young kids. I love the scenes of cacti all over the island.

    1. Thanks Leigh! I had to google burrowing owls. I know they have a national park so it would be great to visit that too. Aruba is a great place for families. The kids can spend the whole day at their beach of choice.

  5. Debbie Beardsley @ European Travelista

    Oh that water has my name all over it! Great pictures of Aruba. I would like to visit and enjoy the diversity.

  6. Oh. My. Gorgeous, Mary! I haven’t been to Aruba but now really want to go, thanks to your pictures. that tour bus rocks, and the photos of your kids on the beach are super cute :-)

    I didn’t know Aruba was under the hurricane belt…thanks for the great information!

    1. Thanks Andi! Yes, we loved the tour bus. Aruba along with Bonaire and Curacao (ABC Islands) are under the belt so it’s a great place to visit year round.

  7. Aruba was our choice for a honeymoon destination, but alas there were no reward flights available and we ended up in Jamaica instead. Not a terrible consolation prize, but I still long to get to Aruba one day. Your pictures make it look absolutely beautiful.

  8. Those beach shots are beautiful. The entire islands looks like a lot
    of fun. I’ve been to a lot of beautiful beaches in Thailand, and
    impossible to pick a favorite.

  9. I have not been to Aruba – but it looks GORGEOUS – I am so amazed at all the cacti – not at all what I expected for an island!!

    Thanks for linking up! Have a super weekend!!

    ~Becca

    1. Thanks Becca! It was an amazing island and one we’d love to return to soon. I know the cacti was a bit weird to see near a beach or even on what is considered tropical.

  10. I dislike cruises for the simple reason that I can’t stay when I have found a little paradise. Aruba is a case in point. What wonderful island. I have seen a colorful tourist bus like that in St. Thomas. The world of the Caribbean is endlessly fascinating.

    1. I agree on not looking forward to going back to the ship once you’ve found a great place. But, we’ve looked at cruising as sampling destinations. Now we know that we’d love to go back to Aruba. While there are some islands which will remain nameless that we were glad we were there for only a day. We rode those colorful buses in St. Thomas too =) Definitely love the Caribbean!

  11. I have been to Aruba! But we didn’t tour the island – we were there for windsurfing. I recognize the pink building in Oranjestad, but nothing else. Thanks for the tour!

  12. I have not been to Aruba, and as others have said, I avoid cruises because I want
    to be able to sink into a place and experience it rather than zip in and out. I
    have not been to Baja California either, but pictures I’ve seen are similar to
    the cactus/beach interface shown here. It is hard to wrap your mind around the
    idea of a desert by the ocean.

    1. I’ve seen pictures of Baja that also make it look like Arizona by the sea. One of the things that actually attracts us to cruising is seeing a place and getting a taste of it and decide whether we’d like to go back and spend more time there. Aruba was one of those places we would love to go back to and spend more time exploring. Thanks for stopping by.

  13. I love the photos of the bus! The colours are so vibrant, it just makes you feel happy. The beach The beach photos look amazing as well, the water is a beautiful colour!

  14. Oh that bus is wild:). And this island is beautiful. It’s so rainy in Seattle I am definitely dreaming of beaches right now. It looks like these ones have lovely soft sand.

    1. Thanks Natasha! I love how everyone is enjoying the bus! The next time we’re in Aruba we’ll be sure to look for more colorful ones and explore more of Oranjestad’s other buildings.

  15. I love the bright colors against the desert like background! Interesting place Aruba seems to be. I knew it was one of the ABC islands but not much more than that.

  16. Beautiful photos! I’m still smiling about the bus, especially imagining all the older ladies on it (I mean some of your cruisemates!). The cacti and colors are wonderful. I haven’t been to the Caribbean but am starting to think a cruise there with my kids is a great idea.

    1. Thanks Jenna! The bus certainly added to our adventure! All the passengers learned to love it and the driver was cool. The Caribbean is one of the best places to cruise with kids. Hope you join the cruisers soon.

  17. Loved the first picture with the surrounding ocean and the large cacti scattered around. Mount Hooiberg is somewhere I’d love to visit to see the variety of them!

  18. Nicole @ Green Global Travel

    We did this exact same tour and had a ball. Still can’t get over the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean.

  19. My husband and I have been twice to Aruba and loved it so much that the 3rd time we took my stepson, daughter and grandson and THEY fell in love with it! Now we’re planning a 2015 whole family vacation with son in law and our son too. There are so many wonderful things about this island but top ones are: It’s very safe there – there is no part of the island that I could go where I did not feel safe; they take american dollars and know the exchange rate with their Florin; and the people are just so friendly and wonderful that it feels like we are family when we go. Off the hurricane pattern REALLY was a great first time deciding factor. Anyone who goes will love this island!

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