While it's tempting to spend all of your time sipping Aruba Aribas at your beachfront resort, the unprocessed beauty of this Dutch Caribbean island demands you do more.
In Aruba, you will find cacti mingling with coconut trees as the island's arid clime accounts for its uncommon coastline, discover the endless azure waters that likely lured you in the first place, and learn that dushi is a term for all things beloved and sweet in the island's native Papiamento.
Aruba is as multifaceted as its people are multicultural. Traces of Amerindian, Dutch and Spanish influence the island's architecture and cuisine, and at least 90 different nationalities call the 75-square-mile island home.
But it's the raw rugged terrain untypical adventures that make Aruba a treat. And because it has the most sunny days of any Caribbean island, you won't need to worry much about the weather any time of the year, one among many for the country's catchphrase, "One happy island."
Here, 5 ways to take it all in.
Savor a seafood spectacle
Seriously fresh catch. All you can eat. King Crab legs. The seafood buffet at the Marriott Resorts's La Vistas restaurant is one scene not to skip. Aruba'a biggest dinner buffet, aptly named "Seafood Sensatio," is a carnival of culinary joy. Sample the ceviche station where the citrus cured stuff is made by the restaurant's chef, get shrimp and scallops grilled to order, all the crab legs you could dream of, a side of orzo dill pasta and finish with flan and biscotti. Then go for seconds--or thirds. Dine outside to take in the sea breeze.
Take your sun salutations to sea
When you're ready for a challenge, try a yoga class. On a paddleboard. Vela Windsurf, a seaside shack on the white sands of Palm Beach gives core workout a new meaning with its paddleboard yoga lesson. You'll paddle out to sea, fasten your board to the buoy line and practice doing downward dog without slipping into the water; the same tradewinds that make Aruba a top spot for winfsurfing and kitesurfing, may up the level of difficulty for your session. Once you've nailed warrior pose on a paddleboard, you'll deserve to spend the rest of the afternoon soaking up some bliss.
Get your hands dirty at Zeerovers
The outside sink and generous paper towels should be clear indications that Zeerovers is anything but fancy, though any place where the locals dine is where you want to be. At this dockside dive in the seaside town of Savaneta, fish comes fresh off incoming boats and served in a no-frills plastic bucket. The only menu you'll find is won scrawled daily on a dry-erase board as the dishes depend on the fishermen's catch, and your order is priced by weight. You'll nosh on barracuda, red snapper or king fish, with jumbo shrimp and a side side of pika (onions in vinegar) and pan bati, a corn flour pancake. Try a cold Balashi beer and watch waves lap against the jetty.
Cool off in conchi
On the island's windward coast, far away from just about everything, you'll find Aruba's greatest unrefined beauty. But only if you know where to look. Almost as if designed to remain remote, the Natural Pool, a secluded pond encircled by volcanic stone and rocks--also called conchi--isn't accessible by car. You'll have to hire a 4x4 or hike, and since oven the attraction signage is scarce, you'll make a left at the yellow house and drive off into the undefined rubble. Once there, climb over a few rocks and slide into the clear, calm waters where you'll swim with striped sergeant major fish and watch the sea splash against the rocks.
Booze on a catamaran
Though sometimes cliche, sunset cruises can be a great way to take way to take in the island from a new vantage point, possibly while consuming open bar beverages. Departing from De Palm Pier, Aruba's S imply Sunset Sail takes you on a two-hour catamaran ride. Timed to perfection, the sun falls just as your inhibitions subside, and the onboard DJ starts the dance party with saca, konpa, merengue and a little soul. When Pharrell's "Happy" plays, you'll realize it's the island's anthem. After the cruise, it's time for a three-course meal at Simple Fish where you'll dine with your toes in the sand--shoes are prohibited.
