5 Things You’ll Want to Experience in Aruba

Eagle Beach

Eagle Beach in Aruba is one of the most breathtaking beaches on the island and the widest beach. The area offers shaded picnic areas, some huts, and a variety of motorized water sports.

A few months per year Aruba Eagle Beach is dotted with red and white markers to protect turtle nests. Four species of sea turtles nest in Aruba - Leatherback, Loggerhead, Green and Hawksbill. Eagle Beach is also home to two of the most photographed and renowned fofoti trees in Aruba, with its trademark silhouette pointing in the direction of the Caribbean. During weekends, beach tennis is often played in the powdery white sands of Eagle Beach. It’s great fun to watch and to participate in this popular local sport.

California Lighthouse

Originally designed to warn ships from the coastline of Aruba, the California Lighthouse is now a landmark for tourism. The old stone lighthouse stands as a silent watchman in the area known as "Hudishibana," near the island's northwestern tip. The lighthouse was named after the S.S. California - which sunk previous to its construction in 1910. It offers excellent views of Aruba’s western coastline, and if you time it right, sunset views are spectacular. The California Lighthouse offers history, stunning memories and plenty of material for any photographer.

Archaeological Museum

You’ll be amazed at what has been preserved in time in downtown Oranjestad in the historic Ecury family home, now museum.  Indian artifacts dating back to the Pre-Ceramic period of 2500 BC are on display. The museum preserves and showcases Aruba’s Amerindian cultural heritage.

The three periods of Amerindian habitation documented are: Pre-Ceramic period of 2500 BC – 1000 AD when semi-nomadic bands of Amerindians migrated from the South or Central American mainland; Ceramic Period of the Caquetio Indians, the hunters-fishers-gatherers who inhabited Aruba from 900 – 1515 AD until enslaved and taken to Hispaniola; and the Historic Period from 1515 – 1880 AD..

Opening hours: 10am–5pm week days and 10am–2pm weekends. Closed on Mondays and some public holidays.

Fort Zoutman

Fort Zoutman is the oldest building in Oranjestad. Every Tuesday night the fort hosts a Welcome Party or Bon Bini Festival from 6:30 – 8:30 pm celebrating the island’s culture and history.

Fort Zoutman was built in 1798 for protection against pirates and other enemies. The Willem III Tower was built in 1868 and was first lit on King Willem III’s birthday; it served as both a lighthouse and public clock tower. After 95 years, the light in the tower was extinguished in 1963.

Over the years, it has housed government offices, a police station, jail, tax office, courtroom, library and post office. Today, the restored fort and tower house the Historical Museum.

Open from 8:30 am – 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday.

Antilla Wreck

SS Antilla was a Hamburg America Line cargo ship that was launched in 1939 and scuttled in 1940 and is the largest shipwreck dive in the Caribbean.  The entire wreckage is 400 feet long and much of the ship is still intact today. Covered by tube sponges, coral formations, tropical fish, shrimp, lobsters, and orange anemones, the wreck can be explored by snorkeling or scuba diving. What a wonderful way to explore some history of Aruba.