Aruba

Located 15 miles north of Venezuela in the warm waters of the southern Caribbean, Aruba is home to beautiful white-sand beaches and 82-degree days. Our island is 19.6 miles long and 6 miles across, with a total area of 70 square miles. We’re located just below the hurricane belt, and unlike many islands in the Caribbean, our climate is dry, so we rarely have a rainy day.

Video by www.aruba.com

In the interior of the island, you’ll find Arikok National Park, a desert-like preserve with a variety of wildlife, cacti, and dramatic rock formations. You’ll also find some of Aruba’s most striking views, as the ocean crashes against the rugged shoreline below.

On the northeast coast, along the windward shore, you’ll see our island’s unofficial mascots, the Fofoti trees. The constant trade winds have permanently sculpted them into graceful, southwesterly bending forms.

On the south and west coasts of Aruba, you’ll find Oranjestad, our capital city, and miles of beaches that have been named some of the best in the world. Here, you’ll find most of the hotels and resorts in Aruba, and Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA).

The University of Aruba is located at the heart of Oranjestad, offering students an easily accessible University campus in the beautiful La Salle Building.

University of Aruba’s main campus, the “La Salle” building in Oranjestad

People of Aruba

Our population of about 120,000 inhabitants is made up of a broad international mixture of well-educated people with a pleasant nature and a zest for hospitality. The modern Aruban is generally of mixed ancestry, claiming Caquetio Indian, African and European roots. Aruba’s strong economy, excellent living conditions, and prime weather continue to attract individuals from all over the world. Today, the island claims over 79 different nationalities that live and work peacefully on the island.

The sincerity of a warm smile and friendly demeanor of Arubans have not been lost on the island’s guests, with many visitors remarking that it is the people that continue to bring them back to the island year after year. With so many diverse influences on the island, Aruba still retains its uniqueness, as reflected in the openness of its population.

Over the years, a great number of people from all over the world have found their way to Aruba. Immigrants hail from South America (primarily Colombia, Venezuela, and Peru), other Caribbean islands, and as far away as China, the Philippines, and seventeen European nations. Despite a multi-cultural background, Arubans share a strong national identity buoyed by the success of a healthy economy, a strong educational system, and one of the highest standards of living in the Caribbean.

Language of Aruba

Dutch and the local language, Papiamento, are the official languages of Aruba, but most Arubans speak a minimum of four languages including English and Spanish.

Aruba’s native language embodies the friendliness for which the local population is known, with the language marked with an inclusive and open nature as represented in its unique sayings and mannerisms.

Video by www.aruba.com

Unique to the ABC islands of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao, Papiamento evolved from a rudimentary pidgin language, utilized for the purposes of communication among people with different native languages, into the more complex language it is today. At its base, the language is an Afro-Portuguese Creole, which, over the years, has grown in syntax and lexicon with increased borrowings from Dutch, English, and Spanish, but still possessing its own unique rhythm and meanings.

Evidence of its first widespread use can be observed in official documents from Curaçao in the early 18th century. Through the middle of the 19th century, Papiamento was the language of choice for written materials, including Roman Catholic hymnals and schoolbooks. The first Papiamento-language newspaper soon followed with the apt moniker of “Civilisado” (The Civilizer) in 1871. Papiamento would have continued to be used as the language of instruction up until Dutch subsidies came with the stipulation that lessons be taught solely in Dutch. Papiamento’s reintroduction into the educational system did not happen again until recent times.

Although in use as the native language for 300 years, Papiamento was only declared Aruba’s official language, alongside Dutch, as of March 19, 2003.

These are frequently used words and phrases:

English	Papiamento
Welcome	Bon Bini
Good morning	Bon dia
Good afternoon	Bon tardi
Good evening	Bon nochi
Have a nice day	Pasa bon dia
Please	Por fabor
I	Ami
You	Abo
How are you?	Con ta bai?
I am fine, thank you	Ami ta bon, danki
Very good	Hopi bon
Thank you very much	Masha danki
You’re welcome	Na bo ordo
See you later	Te aworo
What is your name?	Con jamabo?
My name is…	Mi nomber ta…
Where are you going?	Unda bo ta bai?
Everything is alright	Tur cos ta suave
I am thirsty	Mi tin sed
I am hungry	Mi tin hamber
Can I have a beer?	Mi por haña un cerbes?
Can I have a glass of water?	Mi por haña un glas di awa?
How do I get to…?	Con mi ta jega…?
What time is it?	Cuantor tin?
My darling (sweetie)	Mi dushi
A kiss	Un sunchi
A hug	Un brasa
Happy	Feliz
I love you	Mi stima bo
One	Uno
Two	Dos
Three	Tres
Four	Cuater
Five	Cinco
Six	Seis
Seven	Shete
Eight	Ocho
Nine	Nuebe
Ten	Dies

Aruba’s Climate

Aruba’s residents and visitors are blessed with clear skies, bright sunshine, and cooling trade winds practically every day of the year. Except for a few scattered weather events annually and perhaps some limited showers on some days (very welcomed by our tropical plants!); the sun does indeed always shine here! Wonderful weather is one of the many reasons for Aruba’s highest return-visitor rate in the Caribbean.

On average, Aruba receives yearly only 408.9 mm (16 inches) of rain, where the greatest likelihood of precipitation is from October through January.

The average air temperature is 27.8 C (82 F). The hottest months are from May through October and the coolest months are from December through March.

Aruba’s trade winds blow from the Northeast and the East 95% of the time. The wind speed average is 17 miles/hour (27 km/hr). The minimum wind speed is observed in November and the strongest wind is observed in May through June.

The official Atlantic hurricane season extends from June 1 through November 30, with peaks from mid-August till mid-October. Aruba lies on the southern fringes of the hurricane belt and the likelihood of a direct hit is extremely small.

Activities

There is a unique combination of land and sea activities. Calm, glittering turquoise waters fringed by marshmallow-soft ivory beaches neighbor a national park encompassing a wild windward coast and unsettled rugged interior.

Quiet horseback rides and leisurely beach walks are good for the soul. Hikers can explore twenty rugged miles of trails in Arikok National Park. Golfing combines the challenge of constant trade winds and tropical sun with desert beauty and sweeping Caribbean views. Tour the island from the comfort of an air-conditioned motor coach or on a jeep safari. Be sure to exercise caution on mountain bikes and all-terrain vehicles!

The water is calm and perfect for swimming at resort areas. Challenging wave conditions and constant trade winds attract an international host of windsurfers as well as kite surfers and wave sport enthusiasts. Hop aboard a pleasure boat or luxury catamaran for a day of sailing. Rent a jet-ski, sunfish, wave-runner, or tube for some wet ‘n wild fun. Reel in dinner on a fishing excursion or kayak tranquilly along the mangrove coast. Shallow coral formations await snorkelers but reef and wreck diving reveal a brilliant underwater fantasy.

Annabel van Westerop, professional kiteboarder, and UA alumna

Attractions in Aruba

World-renowned beaches off-the-beaten-path along the wind-whipped coast afford magnificent panoramas. Explore natural wonders throughout Arikok National Park, the Casibari and Ayo rock formations, and Indian caves. Walkthrough history at the Bushiribana gold mill, Aruba Aloe Factory, and Alto Vista Chapel. Museums in downtown Oranjestad include the new state-of-the-art Historical Museum and the fascinating Numismatic Museum. You will enjoy the creatures at the Butterfly, Ostrich Farm, and Donkey Sanctuary.

Beaches in Aruba

Much of the seven-mile strip along the west coast is lined with resorts and packed with activity. Beachgoers relax on their comfortable lounges, lost in their favorite book or enjoying people-watching. Swimming, snorkeling, kite surfing, waterskiing, tubing, parasailing, banana boating, and all kinds of wet ‘n wild adventures are just steps away.

In contrast, the beaches along the windward coast are in more secluded and undeveloped areas. Here magical coves carved out of limestone and inlets formed by the relentless pounding of waves are overlooked by craggy desert terrain. Because of the strong undertow and crashing waves, swimming here is not recommended. But the beaches on Aruba’s wild coast do afford tranquility, privacy, and unique natural phenomena. Both coasts afford spectacular, glittering Caribbean views that will surely take your breath away.

Video by www.aruba.com

All beaches are open to the public. Popular beaches include Palm Beach, Baby Beach, Malmok Beach, Arashi Beach, Eagle Beach, Druif Beach, Manchebo Beach, Hadicurari Beach, and Mangel Halto.

Nightlife in Aruba

Aruba nights add excitement to the island’s quiet desert island persona. Mingle with locals at any of the scores of casual beach and pier bars that dot the southwest coast from downtown Oranjestad to the far end of the high-rise strip. Weekly cocktail parties and daily happy hours are island traditions.

Cruises depart from Palm Beach piers; hop aboard for a sunset sail, romantic nighttime interlude, or a wild party with a rope swing. The high-rise area now rivals downtown Oranjestad for trendy venues and after-hours haunts, from karaoke and martini bars to upscale bistros and casual pubs.

Video by www.aruba.com

The strip comes alive after dark with shops, kiosks, movie theatres, cafés, restaurants, and bars. Let loose on a wild and wacky bar-hopping bus. Some of the most popular bars and clubs among students are South Beach Lounge, Local Store, Café Rembrandt, Gusto, and Café the Paddock.

Dining in Aruba

On Aruba, the abundance, full flavor, and diversity of cuisines prepared by world-class chefs; fine international wines; casual, elegant, and creative ambiances, and attentive service combine to create very special dining experiences.

The high-rise strip is now home to over 100 resorts and independent restaurants. This bustling area is dotted with an eclectic patchwork of shops, malls, cafés, and restaurants. But do venture downtown and off the beaten path to discover local favorites and trendy new establishments. No matter where you go, you will find an eclectic menu of delicious ethnic and international fare.

Video by www.aruba.com

Classical delicacies such as frogs’ legs, duck, venison, foie gras, and chateaubriand join fresh Caribbean catch such as mahi-mahi and wahoo, Argentinian churrasco, Middle Eastern shoarma, Japanese sushi, and teppanyaki selections, Spanish tapas, Indian curries, Caribbean jerk ribs, homemade pasta, USDA choice steaks, Maine lobster and local goat stew and “keshi yena.” Indeed, the tiny island nation of Aruba provides an impressive world culinary tour rivaling the most cosmopolitan of cities.

Practical information

Currency

Aruba’s currency is the florin, denoted by the letters ‘AWG.’, divided into 100 cents. The rate of exchange with the US dollar is AWG. 1.77 for cash and AWG. 1.79 for checks. The US dollar is widely accepted in Aruba; the Euro however is not. To exchange money to dollar or florin, you can visit any banks on the island.

Banks

Should you need banking services when you arrive, you will find a bank located at the airport. There are also five banks with several branches at other convenient locations. Opening hours are usually from 8 AM – 4 PM, and ATM facilities exist all over the island.

Credit Cards

All major credit cards are accepted and there are Credit Card & Traveler’s checks representatives (American Express/VISA/MasterCard/Discover) available who will help you should you have any problems. ATM machines are also available for cards compatible with the Cirrus system.

To prevent any inconvenience, call your local bank to check whether your card will work in Aruba.

Our time zone

Aruba is on Atlantic Standard Time year-round. This is one hour later than in the northeastern United States when the clocks there are turned back in the fall for Daylight Savings Time. When the clocks are moved forward in the spring, Aruba has the same time.

Electricity

The power supply on the island is considered reliable. North American voltage standard of 110 Volt (60 cycles), the same as in the United States and Canada, has been adopted on Aruba. European electrical devices won’t work without a converter plug.

Transportation

Getting around Aruba is quick and easy. Bus service to and from downtown Oranjestad and resort areas is reliable and inexpensive. Taxis are always available and have set rates.

Many students rent a car for the semester because it is very convenient to have a car in Aruba.

If you choose to rent a car, please take note of a few important traffic rules:

• Driving is on the right side of the road.
• Foreign and international driving licenses accepted.
• Free parking throughout the island.
• No right turns on red light.
• In general, blue signs tell you what is OK and red signs warn you of a restriction.
• A red circle indicates that something is forbidden and a red triangle tells you something about the road conditions.
• A yellow or orange diamond indicates that you are on a road with priority.

For your convenience, we suggest rental car companies that rent cars to international and exchange students, such as the American Rental Car Companies, such as Dollar car rental, Hertz car rental, Budget car rental. Feel free to ask for other possibilities.

Health care

All International and Exchange students must have global/international health insurance prior to his/her arrival in Aruba. There are Doctors/Specialists that collaborate with the University of Aruba. Please contact us for more information. Take notice that all doctor’s appointments must be paid cash; you will afterward have to redeem your money with your insurance company.

Drinking water

There is no need to buy bottled water in Aruba; the island’s tap water is pure and refreshing, distilled in the world’s second-largest saltwater desalination plant. Oil is refined on the island’s southwest coast and a by-product of this process is abundant pure drinking water and electricity. The plant is called the WEB (Water en Energie Bedrijf), and tours of the plant that is located in Balashi are available (Phone +297 582 4700).

Telephone

The international code for Aruba is 00297. Cellular phone chips are widely available around the island. Our two main cell phone companies are Setar and Digicel.

Religion

Most of Aruba’s inhabitants are Roman Catholic, but just as so many nationalities live harmoniously side by side, so do those of various religious beliefs. Tourists are welcome at all houses of worship.

History of Aruba

Aruba’s path to the present day is marked by the mystery of ochre-colored rock drawings left behind by island shamans, the enterprising spirit of European adventurers and settlers, and the diverse experiences and traditions brought by the many nationalities that have since sought out the island as either a new home or temporary resting place. The look of the people, the languages they speak, and the innate hospitality that manifests itself in the Aruban psyche is the result of a multicultural mix that reflects a rich past.

Video by www.aruba.com

The AmeriIndians

The Caquetio Indians of the Arawak tribe from the South American mainland were Aruba’s first inhabitants. During the Preceramic Period of habitation (2500 BC – 1000 AD), they were hunter-gatherers who depended on the sea for survival and used tools of roughly flaked stones and shells. They lived in small family groups and fished along Aruba’s coast at locations now named Malmok and Palm Beach.

During the beginning of the Ceramic period (1000-1515 AD), five large Indian villages were founded on the best agricultural soil, producing corn and yucca. Indians buried their dead ceremoniously in different ways, indicating a hierarchical socio-political system. They made coarse pottery as well as finer well-crafted pieces.

Spanish Rule

When explorer Alonso de Ojeda discovered Aruba in 1499 and claimed it for the Spanish throne, he named it la Isla de Los Gigantes (Spanish: the Island of Giants). The tall Indians descended from Aruba’s very first settlers. After a decade, Aruba’s moniker was changed to Isla Inutíl, a useless island, as no gold or treasures were found.

In 1513, the entire Indian population was enslaved and taken to work on the Spanish estates in Hispaniola, now the Dominican Republic and Haiti. At the beginning of the Indian Historic Period in 1515, some Indians returned while others arrived from the mainland and lived in small villages in the northern part of the island.

With the return of the Spanish, the Indians were recruited as laborers for cattle and horse breeding. From the 17th century on, the majority of Indians migrated from the South American mainland. Indian preachers were Aruba’s Catholic spiritual leaders well into the 18th century. At the beginning of the 19th century, Indians made up about one-third of the island’s 1700 inhabitants, but in 1862, historians believe that Aruba’s last Indian died.

Dutch Rule

Aruba’s strategic location was recognized by the Dutch who initially occupied the island in 1636 to protect their salt supply from the mainland and establish a naval base in the Caribbean during their 80-year war with Spain. Further economic development continued through the Dutch West India Company located on the neighboring island of Curaçao. Aruba remained in Dutch hands, except for a brief hiatus under English rule from 1805-1816, during the Napoleonic Wars.

The university resides in Oranjestad, Aruba in the historic De La Salle building, which used to be the home of the fraters of Tilburg of The Netherlands and then became the “Huize de la Salle”, a Christian school of the frères, from 1937 to 1988

Aruba and the kingdom of the Netherlands

Aruba is a safe, stable, and friendly Caribbean island with Dutch roots. A former colony of the Netherlands, it later formed a part of the Netherland Antilles before gaining its autonomy in 1986; under Status Apartus, Aruba functions as an independent entity within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Aruba’s government is founded on democratic principles.

Historically, Aruba was part of the Netherlands Antilles, a six-island federation that also included Bonaire, Curaçao, St. Maarten, St. Eustatius, and Saba. This island grouping, in turn, formed the Caribbean component of the Dutch Kingdom, a constitutional monarchy with the Queen of the Netherlands having the dual role of head of state of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, as well as of the country of the Netherlands.

At a Round Table Conference (March 1983), all partners in the Kingdom (the Netherlands, the Central Government of the Netherlands Antilles, and the governments of the individual islands) agreed to grant Aruba a separate status within the Kingdom. On January 1, 1986, Aruba became a separate entity within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, an event of historic proportions. This does not represent full independence for the island, a step that may be taken only in the very distant future. Today the Kingdom consists of five partners: Holland, Aruba, Curacao, St Maarten, and the BES-Islands (Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba).

As a result of this agreement, Aruban affairs, formerly under the jurisdiction of the Central Government of the Netherlands Antilles, (aviation, customs, immigration, communications, and other internal and external matters) are now handled autonomously by Aruba. The Kingdom retains responsibility for defense and foreign affairs. Aruba has its own constitution based on Western democratic principles and manages its own aviation, customs, immigration, and communications. Briefly stated, this political status is a form of the commonwealth with Holland and sister islands, with which Aruba retains strong economic, cultural, and political ties.

The Governor is appointed by the Queen of the Kingdom for a term of six years and acts as the sovereign’s representative on the island. The Legislature consists of a 21-member parliament, elected by popular vote for a four-year term of office. The Council of Ministers presided over by the Prime Minister, forms the executive power. Legal jurisdiction lies with a Common Court of Justice of Aruba, Curacao, St Maarten, and the BES-Islands (Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba), and ultimately with a Supreme Court of Justice in the Netherlands.