Oranjestad

Despite its peaceful atmosphere Aruba is no slouch when it come to entertainment. Take your choice from, treasure hunts, casinos, beachside barbecues, or fish fries with steel bands, limbo and Carnival dancers.

Divers and snorkellers literally warm to the clear waters whose visibility extends up to 100 ft. Although tourism has resulted in the construction of many luxury resorts on the island, there are still undeveloped areas on the northern coast, and much of the interior is uninhabited except for a few herds of goats and donkeys.

With more than a dozen resort hotels populating its once uninhabited beaches, Aruba is now one of the Caribbean's most popular destinations. A recent moratorium on hotel construction, however, has halted the building of newer resorts, so hopefully for the time being Aruba will remain safe from the problems associated with over development. Arikok National Park, covering about 20 percent of the island, was first designated as being of significant national importance in the early 1980s. It is an area of unique scenic beauty, flora and fauna, geological formations and cultural resources. The highest points in Aruba are located in the park and include Arikok and Jamanota hilltops.

A visit to the north shore will provide a glimpse of wildlife such as wild donkeys, rabbits, goats, iguanas and lizards. You may also see pelicans and parrots of all colours.

Fishing is popular along the shore in Savaneta or off the rocks at Malmok. Visitors enjoy watching the fishing fleet returning at noon or late in the afternoon when it arrives at the Bali pier. Small wooden boats at Fisherman's Huts arrive heavy with their catch of the day.

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