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Aruba.

Top Aruba Attractions

The first time you visit Aruba, or any new destination, the question asked isn’t usually what attractions should be scene but what attraction to see first, what to expect, how to get there, and how much time is needed. We’ve provided tips, advice, and other information about the top tourist attractions in Aruba to help with your itinerary planning.

Archaeological Museum Archaeological Museum
Fort Zoutman Fort Zoutman
Butterfly Farm Butterfly Farm
Natural Bridge Natural Bridge
Natural Pool Natural Pool

Archaeological Museum of Aruba

 Address J. E. Irausquinplein 2A
 Admission Free
 Hours Mon-Fri 8am-noon and 1-4pm
 Phone 297/582-8979

There are very few places on the island to see the history and culture of Aruba. The Archaeological Museum of Aruba is squeezed between St. Franciscus Roman Catholic Church and the parish rectory. The small museum emphasizes Aruba’s Amerindian heritage. When you go inside the museum you can expect to find a variety of pottery vessels, shell and stone tools, burial urns, as well as skulls and bones on display. Even though this museum is not as exciting as the Louve, it is something to do if you don’t want to spend all your money or all your days out on the beach.

 

Fort Zoutman, Willem III Tower, and Museo Arubano

 Address Zoutmanstraat z/n
 Admission $2
 Hours Mon-Fri 9am-noon and 1-4pm
 Phone 297/582-6099

Aruba’s oldest example of Dutch architecture, Fort Zoutman, Willem III Tower stands on what was once the shore (landfill construction in 1930 altered the coastline). To defend Aruba from the pirates menacing Oranjestad's harbor by raiding horses and anything else of value, the Dutch constructed Fort Zoutman in 1796. Over the years, the site has served as an aloe garden, jail, courthouse, junk room, and tax office. Since 1992, the complex has housed the modest Museo Arubano, which displays prehistoric Caiquetio artifacts and remnants from the Dutch colonial period. On Tuesday from 6:30 to 8:30pm, the museum hosts the Bon Bini Festival, a fair with local arts and crafts, food, music, and dance. Not one of the best tourist activities that ever existed, but good enough to spend a low cost day and enjoy a good cheap buy at the Bon Bini Festival.

 

Butterfly Farm

 Address J. Irausquin Boulevard Z/N, Orangestad
 Hours Open all year, daily from 9am until ...check local times!
 Phone +297-586-3656

Located on Irausquin Blvd, across from the Divi Phoenix Hotel the Butterfly Farm is a 3000-square-foot mesh-enclosed garden with waterfalls and stocked fish ponds. This is a great place to take the kids or spend a romantic day on the island admiring the most fragile and beautiful creatures that fly. Walk through the garden as hundreads of majestic butterflies from all over the world flutter and flap their wings to show you their beautiful exotic color scheme. The farm is open daily, 9am-4pm, with the last tour at 3:30pm. Music is played throughout the garden to make your experience and visit to the garden enchanting. Who knows if you’re lucky a butterfly might even land on your nose as it waves its wings to say Bon Bini.

 

Natural Bridge

 Phone 297 582 3777
 Website www.aruba.com/pages/naturalbridge.htm

Natural Bridge is one of Aruba's most popular attractions. The area is always filled with tour buses any given time of day that stop and allow their passengers to take pictures and admire this natural formation.. The bridge is a formation of coral limestone cut out by years of pounding surf, and is one of the largest of these types of spans in the world. The Natural Bridge stands over 23 feet (7 meters) above sea level and spans more than 100 feet (30 meters) in distance. There is no admission fee or set hours for visiting. Anyone visiting on the island can go and visit this formation. The location is romantic for couples so bring a blanket and look at the ocean as you dig your feet in the sand, while the sun sets, and the natural light from the moon shimmers on the bridge.

 

Natural Pool

 Address Windward Coast
 Phone 297 582 3777
 Website www.aruba.com/pages/naturalpool.htm

Aruba has many fun and interesting natural locations. One of these locations happens to be a natural pool. This small rock-enclosed seawater pool is difficult to enter and exit, and not worth the trouble, unless you just want to cool off from the hot sun. However, the natural pool is worth climbing on top of. If you can climb onto the top of the boulder you can watch and take a few cool pictures of the ocean surf break over the rocks and cascade into the basin. Snorkeling and other water activities are not allowed at the natural pool since the water is too churned up. Many people come to the natural pool for its magnificent views. Other than that, save the trip and stay at your local beach, there are more water activity options available there.

 


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