Brief History
Museums
Beaches
Watersports/Scuba
...to be continued
| Aruba - At A Glance First Inhabitants: Caquetios Indians 1499: first European settlement by Spain 1636: Holland wins possesion over the island 1986: Status Aparte from its Netherland Antilles partner islands |
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| Aruba - In Depth Aruba’s original inhabitants were indians from the fierce Arawak tribe. Archaelogical evidence points back to 1000AD, for these first native settlements. Spanish explorer Alonso de Ojeda is recorded as the first European to set foot on the island, around 1499. Spain was to colonize and rule the new territory until 1636, when at the peak of the 30 years war between Holland and Spain, the Dutch won possession of the island. Except for a brief period during the Napoleonic Wars when England took it over, Aruba has remained a Dutch territory. However, in 1986 it was granted “Status Aparte” from its Netherland Antilles partner-islands, Curacao, Bonaire, St. Maarten, Saba, and St. Eustatius, and since then has functioned mostly as an independent provincial entity. back to top |
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| Museums Pottery, weapon fragments and primitive tools are among the relics today carefully preserved and presented for display at the Museum of Archaelogy. Located in the oldest building in Aruba is the Historical Museum showcasing a collection of articles from the island’s earliest times onwards to present times. Historic coins from Aruba and around the world can be seen at the Numismatic Museum. back to top |
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All you need to describe Aruba's beaches is one word: magnificent! On the south and west coast are stretches of seemingly endless white beaches that rank among the most beautiful in the Caribbean, while the northeast coast, along the Atlantic shore, is rugged and wild. An amazing place for snorkeling is Hadikurari Beach which is on the northwestern tip of the island. If you rather mingle with other sunbathing guests, Palm Beach, in front of the high-rise hotels, is just the right spot for you. A place prefered by locals and by far not as crowded is Eagle Beach. If you're not an experienced swimmer, or if you are travelling with kids, Baby Beach at the southeastern end of the island, would be the perfect playground. This little lagoon offers calm conditions for swimming and snorkeling. The marine life is very plentiful due to a gorgeos coral reef at the entrance to this protected bay. Manchebo Beach is a favorite crew hang out. Click the picture to the left to see a short video clip, shot at Manchebo Beach. back to top |
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Watersports/Scuba Diving |
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| The pride of Aruba’s sunken boatyard fleet is the Antilla, also held by most sources to be the largest underwater wreck in the Caribbean. The Antilla was an unarmed German freighter used to resupply submarines until sunk by its captain in a drama-filled showdown with the Dutch Navy in 1940. The ship escaped capture, but the captain and her crew served out the rest of the war as prisoners on the island. The Antilla however today is still providing unforgettable moments of enjoyment and thrilling exploration for divers and snorkelers alike. Please bookmark this site for more diving videos on Aruba coming soon. back to top ...to be continued |
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