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The island of Aruba is an autonomous part of the Kingdom of
the Netherlands. It is located in the Lesser Antilles in the
southern Caribbean Sea, just a few miles off the coast of Venezuela. The terrain is mainly flat and quite arid. Mount Jamanota is
the highest part of the island at approx. 190 metres above sea-level.
Travel Insurance for Antigua & Barbuda:
Area: Worldwide exc. USA / Canada *
Aruba was first inhabited by Arawak Indians. The island has
changed hands several times, being visited by the Spanish in
the 15 th century and then the island was claimed by the Dutch
in 1636. The British ruled for a short time and then the Dutch
took control again and it became an official part of the Netherlands
. It is not a member of the Netherlands Antilles group any more,
but separate and dependent within the Kingdom of the Netherlands
. It has long been known by many travellers as a part of the “ABC” islands,
which are the islands of Aruba , Bonaire and Curacao .
The capital and largest city on the island is Oranjestad. The
majority of the island’s population lives there. It also
has a major port. It is a fairly modern place now, with casinos
and many large resorts bordering along its beautiful white sandy
beaches and calm waters.
Aruba is a destination for sun seekers with swimming, sailing,
scuba diving, snorkelling, windsurfing, waterskiing and all the
popular water sports. A popular spot is De Palm Island, which
is a short ferry trip from the main island. This is a great place
for snorkelling and scuba diving as there are lots of colourful
fish on the coral reefs. Golfing is popular and there is plenty
of nightlife for those seeking it, as well as gambling in the
casinos. |
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For nature lovers there are interesting hiking and biking trails
and strange rock formations to explore as well as different species
of flora and fauna. There are great places for bird-watchers
to visit, and mountain goats and iguanas may be seen. Jeep safaris
are available to be booked.
The population is comprised of indigenous Caribbean people
and Europeans. Roman Catholic is the dominant religion with some
Protestants. Dutch is the official language. However, many Arubans
speak Papiamento, and Spanish and English are also spoken.
The island thrives mainly on tourism, along with offshore banking
and oil processing. It is best to hire a car if you wish to explore
the island to any extent, and there are plenty of places to do
this. There are lots of taxis to be found also, and some places
can be reached by bus. The main airport is located in the southern
part of the island, south of Oranjestad and is named after Queen
Beatrix.
Facts
Queen: Beatrix (Kingdom of the Netherlands )
Governor: Fredis Refunjol (2004)
Prime Minister: Nelson O. Oduber (2001)
Capital: Oranjestad,
Population: 71,500 approx.
Time Zone: UTC -4
Currency: Aruban guilder/florin
Country Dialling Code: 297
Climate
/ Weather
Aruba ’s climate is mainly tropical with only small temperature
variations, depending on the season. The temperature is also
moderated by trade winds from the Atlantic Ocean. The temperature
is fairly consistent at approx. 28 C, so it is basically a year-round
tourist resort.
Health
Travel Insurance for
travel to the Aruba
We recommend purchasing World Wide (exc. USA & Canada)
Travel Insurance for cover.
Aruba
Links
www.aruba.com This website is
the official Tourist site for Aruba . It gives good information on
all tourist activities, accommodation, places to go, etc.
Disclaimer: While we have tried to ensure this information
is correct we do not accept responsibility for any inaccuracy.
* Inclusion on this guide does not guarantee travel insurance is available in this country at any given time. Travel Insurance is not available in countries for which the F.C.O. advise against travel to.
** At the time of writing, the F.C.O. advised against travel to countries, or areas thereof, marked thus at the time of writing. Travel Insurance is not available in areas where the F.C.O. advise against travel to.
You are strongly advised to visit the F.C.O. web site for up to date information and general travel advice before you travel.
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