Aruba Attractions

Butterfly Farm
Located at Palm Beach across from the Aruba Phoenix and Wyndham Hotels. Open all year from 9:00 -4:30
Step into a tropical garden filled with colorful butterflies from around the world. Observe the life cycle from egg to caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly. Tour guides offer commentary on butterfly habits. Arrive early and watch new butterflies emerging from their chrysalis and taking their first flight. The butterfly farm is a rare opportunity for photography and a delight to visitors of all ages.

Oranjestad
Aruba's sunny, pastel-colored capital is on the island's southern leeward coast, just southeast of the main resort area. The bustling city has a very Caribbean flavor, with part-Spanish, part-Dutch architecture The main thoroughfare, Lloyd G. Smith Boulevard, cuts in from the airport along the waterfront and on to Palm Beach, changing its name along the way to J. E. Irausquin Boulevard. Most tourists visit to shop in its boutiques and duty-free shops, but it has three small museums that explore the island's history.

Historical Museum
Fort Zoutman/Willem III Tower
Oranjestad.
Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. to noon and 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
There is an entrance fee.
Situated in the oldest building in Aruba, Fort Zoutman and Willem III Tower, the historical museum offers a collection of articles from the island's earliest times through early Spanish and Dutch periods, up to the present.

Numismatic Museum
Zuidstraat 27, Oranjestad
Monday - Friday 7:30 - noon and 1 - 4
30,000 historic coins from Aruba and around the world.

Archaeological Museum
Zoutmanstraat 1, Oranjestad.
Monday - Friday 8 - noon and 1 -4
Located on Zoutmanstraat diagonally across from the bus stop in Oranjestad, this museum's five rooms exhibit giant earthen jars of which a few contain the remains of Aruba's original inhabitants. Also displayed in glass boxes with descriptions are ancient artifacts, pottery tools and art.

Deep Sea Fishing
Numerous boats and crews are available at the docks. In the temperate waters around Aruba, a variety of Atlantic game fish can be caught year-round. Sailfish, white and blue marlin, wahoo, shark, barracuda, amberjack, kingfish, bonito, and blackfin and yellowfin tuna are abundant. The captain and his/her first mate will help the vacationing fishing enthusiast bring in any fish, even if they have little previous experience. Many restaurants will even cook and serve your catch of the day You can sail for either a full day or a half-day on many of the fishing boats. Excursions can be arranged through your hotel activity desk or De Palm Tours, or directly with the captain of the boat of your choice.

Schooner Harbor
In this harbor are moored many fishing boats and schooners ,some from Venezuela.. Nearly all newcomers to Aruba like to photograph the Colorful boats dock along the quay, and boat owners display their wares in open stalls. Fresh fish are sold at the market nearby.

Wilhelmina Park
This park, named after Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands, is also on the sea side of Oranjestad. It features a tropical garden along the water and a sculpture of the Queen Mother.

Outside the City
A popular pastime is a drive into the cunucu, which in Papiamento means "the countryside." Here Arubans live in modest, colorful, pastel-washed houses, decorated with tropical plants that require expensive desalinated water.

Hooiberg
Caya G. F. Croes (7A) toward Santa Cruz. Hooiberg, also known as "The Haystack." It is Aruba's highest landmark. Those with energy to spare can scramble up the steps of this 541-foot-high hill and be rewarded with a view, on a clear day, of Venezuela.

Casibari
Open daily from 9 - 5, with no admission charge
Aruba is studded with massive boulders. The most impressive ones at Ayo and Casibari, northeast of Hooiberg. Diorite boulders stack up as high as city office buildings. The rocks weigh several thousand tons and puzzle geologists. Ancient Amerindian drawings appear on the rocks at Ayo. At Casibari, you can climb to the top for a panoramic view of the island or a close look at rocks that nature has carved into seats or prehistoric birds and animals.. The lodge at Casibari sells souvenirs, snacks, soft drinks, and beer.

Caves of Canashito
South of Hooiberg
Tours available. Inquire at your hotel.
Guides can point out drawings on the walls and ceiling of these unusual caves. There are giant green parakeets in the area as well.

Natural Bridge
Aruba's natural bridge has been formed over millions of years by surf eating away at a portion of the rocky northern shore. At 100ft. long and 23ft. tall, it's no major miracle, but it's a pretty decent break from the beach and perfect for photos. Andicuri Beach, a short stroll over the bridge, is a popular boogie-boarding location for competent swimmers.

Arikok National Park
297/8-28001
The park is a desertlike ecological preserve that covers 18% of the island's area, starting on the east coast and jutting inland almost to the west coast. The island's rich crust makes it one of the rare places in the world with geological origins traceable with the naked eye. Hiking trails make it easy to explore the preserve's unusual terrain and diverse flora and fauna. Iguanas and many species of migratory.
This park encompasses a significant area of land in the interior and a long stretch of the northern windward coast. The park contains traces of nearly all the significant forces that have impacted on Aruba's history, including Arawak petroglyphs in the Fontein Cave, the remains of Dutch peasant settlements at Masiduri, plantation houses in the Prins Valley and the ruins of an old gold mining operation at Miralamar. The park covers 620 sq. ft.
The Aruban government is working on a 10-year ecotourism plan to preserve the resources of the park. The park is topped by Aruba's second-highest mountain, the 577-ft Mt. Arikok, so climbing is also a possibility.

Mount Jamanota
Aruba's highest hill. There's a road running through the park, and some interesting hiking trails.

Spaans Lagoen Along the highway toward the island's southernmost section is Spanish Lagoon, where pirates hid and waited to plunder rich cargo ships in the Caribbean. Today it's an ideal place for snorkeling and for having a picnic at the tables under the mangrove trees.

Savaneta
To the east is an area called where some of the most ancient traces of human habitation have been unearthed.

Lago Oil Transport Company
You'll see here the first oil tanks that marked the position of the the Exxon subsidiary around which the town of San Nicolas developed. San Nicolas was a company town until 1985, when the refinery curtailed operations. Twelve miles from Oranjestad, it is now called the Aruba Sunrise Side, and tourism has become its main economic endeavor.

Guadarikiri Cave and Fontein Cave.
The Guadirikiri and Fontein caves are marked with ancient drawings. Park rangers are available to offer explanations. Both caves were used by native Indians centuries ago.

Huliba and Tunnel of Love Caves
Baranca Sunu, the so-called Tunnel of Love, has a heart-shape entrance and, within, naturally sculpted rocks that look like the Madonna, Abe Lincoln, and even a jaguar At these caves, guides show visitors the carvings and natural formations. The Tunnel of Love cave requires some physical stamina to explore. It is filled with steep climbs, and its steps are illuminated only by hand-held lamps. Wear sturdy shoes and watch your step.