Situated in the Caribbean sea, twenty kilometers off the Venezuelan coast, Aruba measures thirty kilometers long by nine wide and has a surface area of some 184 square kilometers. Year after year this volcanic island of marked contrasts attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world. Its beautiful beaches and well cultivated vegetation provide a marked contrast to its cactus filled desert. Maybe this is Aruba’s real charm, not forgetting the brilliantly colored sea that even the most experienced travelers find captivating. Its population of around 100,000 is a complete mixture of nationalities all of whom are good natured and have a real passion for hospitality. The modern Aruban usually has a mixture of ancestors, including Indians, Africans and Europeans.

The first inhabitants of Aruba were Arawak Indians. Remains of the first Indian settlements dating back to the year 1000 AD have been discovered, and rock paintings of symbols are still visible at Fontein, Ayo other places. Pottery remains can be seen in the museum of archeology. Several centuries later the first European settlers landed on the shores of Aruba. The Spanish explorer Alonso de Ojeda is believed to have arrived in 1499. The Spanish quickly enslaved the Indians and took them to Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic), where they were put to work in the copper mines.

In 1636, following the end of the eight years war between Spain and the Netherlands, the Dutch took possession of Aruba and ruled for some two centuries. In 1805, during the Napoleonic Wars, the English briefly ruled the island, but it was returned to Dutch rule in 1816. Today Aruba remains under Dutch rule although it functions independently.

The island’s economy received a big push in 1824 thanks to gold, and to the aloe that was introduced to the island and flourished to the extent that at one time, Aruba was the world’s biggest exporter. But real prosperity came a century later with the establishment of the Lago oil refinery, by a subsidiary of the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey (later Exxon). However Exxon closed its operations in 1985 as a result in the worldwide reduction in demand for oil and an excess of refining capacity. The oil refinery reopened in 1991 under the name of Coastal El Paso Oil Refinery Company.

In 2004, the refinery was sold to the Valero Oil Corporation. The closure of Lago was an economic setback to Aruba. In response to the dangers of increased unemployment the Island re-directed it’s energies to the tourist industry. The successful development of tourism on the island increased the number of tourist visitors by a factor of 3, increasing from 206,747 in 1985 to 641,906 in 2003. Currently, tourism is the mainstay of Aruba’s economy and it is continually changing with more than forty nationalities peacefully sharing the island.

What to do in Aruba
First of all, rest your eyes, because the landscape is beautiful and the island’s layout, thanks to the European influence, will have a big impact on the visitor. Thanks to the special attention that is given to cleanliness, the streets and avenues are tidy and the delightful views of the turquoise ocean invite you to take a dip. This is why aquatic sports are the favorite activity for visitors to this fascinating volcanic island. Here you can enjoy diving, snorkeling, snuba, sea trekking, parasailing or any of a range of surfing activities. If you want to go sailing or fishing you will also find a paradise at your feet. Others prefer simply to lie on the beach under the palms and enjoy the splendor and generosity of the sun that shines in these latitudes.

Those in search of other pleasures can rent a bicycle, motorbike – even a Harley Davidson—a buggy or jeep to visit the interior of the island or enjoy a safari to areas that are hardly visited. Don’t forget to take the motorway which crosses the island and experience the advantages of this island’s links with a European country. Do you like golf? Aruba has something for you as well and you can enjoy the Tierra del Sol or The Links courses.

And of course, Aruba has a lot to offer the shopper with a great variety of items chosen with special care. Do you know the island’s other advantage? The evenings are long for the night owls who don’t sleep early and have a lot of energy. If you like salsa and merengue, you must visit Mambo Jambo, Café Bahía and Choose-A-Name. If you prefer techno, get yourself to La Fiesta and Muzika; but for a mixture of everything under one roof, Carlos and Charlie’s is the place to be. On the other hand if you want to relax and enjoy live music you should visit Chaos, Scandals, Garuffa, the recently inaugurated Soprano’s or one of the many bars in the tourist centers.

Actions speak louder than words, and when you have visited the island, you will see why time passes so quickly that no sooner have you started to enjoy it all, you’ll find yourself packing up to