Activities
Activities
Picture-Perfect Places by Susan Campbell This island is always ready for its close-up with such a diverse range of natural beauty and colorful, man-made splendor; so go explore, savor the moments, and share your memories.
Now more than ever, capturing superb souvenir shots of your vacation is a breeze thanks to the excellent quality of cameras on today’s smartphones. And instantly sharing your happy times on “One Happy Island” to make family and friends back home envious of your paradisiacal setting is a popular visitor pastime. But you really need to venture off the resorts to avoid having only typical fun-in-the-sun snapshots. And we know just where to go to garner the type of frame-worthy photographs that truly reflect this island’s unique attributes. So make sure to charge your camera and follow our lead to find Aruba’s most picture-perfect places. Prime Perches
Grab a seat on the upper level of Oranjestad’s double decker eco-trolleys to snap some interesting perspectives
of the capital’s colorful Dutch colonial architecture as you slowly loop through the urban core. Take a guided stroll with Aruba Walking Tours and climb to the top of historic landmark Fort Zoutman for a unique view of downtown and the sea. Want to go higher? Then head for the newly renovated California Lighthouse on the other side of the island and climb the spiraling 123 stairs to the top for a stunning panoramic view. If that’s not enough climbing for you, then take a trek to the 587 steps (the counts vary) leading up to the top of Hooiberg! Locals call it “The Haystack,” and though one would think it’s the highest peak on the island, it’s not! At 620 feet above sea level, the highest natural summit is Mount Jamanota, and you can access it by car for fabulous photo taking. On a clear day, you might even see Venezuela!
The Chapel of Alto Vista is certainly worth a trip. The church is a lovely historic landmark to photograph in its own right, but the views from the summit are stunning. Alto means high and Vista means view, so it’s aptly named. And for a bird’s-eye perspective of more than 80 species of migratory feathered-friends, the sheltered wooden outlook tower at Bubali Bird Sanctuary also provides a perfect perch for picture taking.
shores and cliffs cresting stunning aqua waters are a photographer’s dream. Wild waves on secret beaches and small natural land bridges looking out onto the sea all invite a creative eye. And most of this natural beauty is found within the boundaries of Arikok National Park. E View from Arikok Park
Surreal natural settings
Many visitors are surprised to see how much everything changes mere minutes away from the popular beaches. Aruba’s arid, desert-like landscape of craggy, rocky
Ayo and Casibari Rock Formations
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Activities
Activities
Pristine and surreal and peppered with twisted divi-divi trees and studded with multiarmed cacti, the island’s protected preserve of Arikok Park holds a stark beauty all of its own. Although wildlife might appear to be elusive there, the arid outback is actually buzzing with it. You just need the right guides to help you discover it. The visitor center at the entrance of the park will enlighten you about all the flora and fauna you might see. Also within the park is the secret treasure called the natural pool, or as locals call it, “conchi.” It’s virtually impossible to take a bad picture of this natural wonder; black volcanic rock walls surround a grotto where the waves come crashing over to constantly refill it with seawater. It’s incredible. And if you go with a tour you can snorkel there, so bring a waterproof camera. Horseback riding tours will also take you to some incredibly photogenic spots like the cool ruins of the gold mines at Bushiribana and off the beaten track where vehicles cannot go. In fact, the entire northern coast with its rougher beaches, crashing surf, and rocky cliffs also offers plenty of naturally gorgeous scenery to shoot. If driving by Boca Grandi beach, and your camera sports a powerful zoom, you can also snap a few daredevil kitesurfers doing spectacular aerial jumps. This always makes for impressive photographs.
Get some rocking shots
Amazing animal snaps
Aruba rocks for finding Stone Age-style shots! The odd geological formations of Ayo and Casibari look like something out of the prehistoric days, ideal for offbeat photos and cool angles. At Casibari you can explore within and on top. There are tunnels, stairs, and railings, and children adore playing hide-and-seek in this natural jungle gym. There’s more rock art to be found at the Guadirikiri Cave too. One of the most photographed settings inside is the unbelievable natural skylight. The sun’s rays infiltrate the cave like lasers. If you go with a tour you’ll learn about the legend of ancient star-crossed lovers imprisoned there who escaped to freedom through sheer will – their spirits bursting up out of the rock to the heavens. The variety of cool stalagmites and stalactites also make for great photos, and don’t forget to look up and capture the upside-down bats napping on their rocky roosts.
Tracking this island’s cool critters and creatures is a great time to give your videotaking talents a try. The head-bobbing awkward walk of the resident iguanas and the zigzag scoot of the indigenous electric blue lizards are all the more comical in motion. The graceful swoop of the local pelicans are also better on video; go to the old pier poles on Druif Beach where they like to hang out, and maybe you’ll be lucky enough to catch one diving. You can try to film the quirky ground-dwelling shoco owls (the national animal symbol) out on the golf course at Tierra del Sol. And keep your eyes peeled for cool shots of wild goats atop rural roundabouts or wild donkeys huddled under a bus stop together seeking shade. All superb uniquely Aruban photo souvenirs. But there are spots where you won’t have to leave it to chance to catch great animal shots. Philip’s Animal Garden is one of them. This massive ranch full of rescued
animals is a gold mine for shutterbugs. Who knew you could get photos with a camel, an ocelot, a crocodile, and even a kangaroo on Aruba? There are more than 50 species of domestic and exotic animals to meet at their nonprofit center. Another surprise is the Ostrich Farm. Though these gangly birds are very far from their African home, they are very happy with Aruba’s similar arid climate. Learn all about them from egg to adult via guided tours on-site. The Donkey Sanctuary Aruba is another sure thing for fun animal shots. The rescued donkeys love to ham it up and smile for the camera, especially when you bring them treats like apples and carrots! The colorful winged wonders of the Butterfly Farm are also naturally photogenic. Set your camera to zoom when they land right on you! And go early in your vacation because your initial admission is good for return visits. They have turtles in their lush tropical garden pool as well. Man-made treasures & colorful culture
You’ll find wonderful outdoor art and sculptures surprising you at every turn thanks to many ongoing island beautification projects. Have you seen the cool blue ceramic horse series in Oranjestad? But the community that’s really gone beyond the outdoor arts arena now is San Nicolas. E
l Pool
Conchi, also known as Aruba’s Natura
Guadirikiri Cave
Professional kitesurfer, Hendrick Burgers, at Boca Grandi
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Lucky you if you catch Aruba’s elusive shoco owls Kitesurfing photo by Tony Filson ©
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Activities Walk along the main street of “Sunrise City” to discover the incredible mural art and special outdoor installations left behind from the first annual Aruba Art Fair. There are even displays that turn 3D when they appear on film. The art walk is still evolving too, so expect even more multimedia surprises as the year goes on. Charlie’s Bar, San Nicolas
Aruba’s cultural events will inspire your creativity, like the annual Carnival festivities that offer up a plethora of photo ops on a silver platter. But if you’re not on the island during that celebration, you can capture colorful local dance and musical displays at the weekly Bon Bini Festival. There’s also a local farmer’s market at Santa Rosa, a great place for photos with unique culture and color to shoot and plenty of made-on-Aruba keepsakes to take home. So grab your gear, head out, and happy snapping! K
Driftwood Fishing Charters Hook Your Own Fish and Feast On It! For 30 years now, family-run Driftwood Fishing Charters has been catching fresh fish daily to cook at their famous seafood restaurant also called Driftwood. But once “Captain Herby” realized that their charter customers often wanted to eat their own catch, he decided to create a duo dining adventure called “feast on your own fish”! Whatever you hook, Driftwood’s talented chef is happy to prepare it for you that very same night. The fishing charters are aboard their tournament rigged 35-foot twin engine Bertram Driftwood or on their more spacious 37-foot twin engine Bertram Living Easy, and you’ll find them both in the Oranjestad marina. Also in Oranjestad, Driftwood’s legendary warm and welcoming nautical-themed dining room is always serving up the freshest catch-of-the-day, big fabulous shrimp, and succulent Caribbean lobster as well.
For reservations call 583-2515 or visit www.driftwoodaruba.com. Closed Sundays. For fishing charters call 592-4040 or visit www.driftwoodfishingcharters.com. 80 Nights
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