Pristine beaches are the biggest draw for many vacationers -- and you will be within minutes of the best! (See "Plenty of Beaches" tab.) Many of Aruba's best-loved restaurants also are only minutes away. (See "Restaurant" tab.) With a new mall just a half mile away in the High Rise district, great shopping, cinemas, and casinos are a short walk or drive. The full range of water sports includes jet skiing, paragliding, snorkeling, surfing, wind surfing, scuba diving, sailing, deep sea fishing, and surf or pier fishing, -- again, most within a short walk or drive. And, yes, there is golf and tennis.
Nature is everywhere. There are many kinds of birds, cute lizards, and flowers that are not to be found in the U.S. or Europe. Many of these are right here at your Aruban home in Agave Gardens. A local butterfly garden provides a quiet place to enjoy local flora.
Services include churches, synagogues, ATM/bank, the hospital, police, groceries, and gas stations. Aruba is more than a Carribean getaway. It is a small country with a strong economy supported by local industry as well as tourism and also supported by a special relationship with the Netherlands.
We became fans of Aruba because it is more than just another vacation spot. The people are particularly friendly. The "Trade Winds" bring a 24/7 pleasantness to the warm climate. Rain is infrequent. So most days are sunny and few have more than a passing shower. (No hurricanes!) The people are warm and honest and they are multilingual; so language isn't a problem. Oh, and the assortment of restaurants. (Our favorites are under the "Dining" tab.) So Aruba became our favorite island, and we keep going back.
For the adventurous, Arikok National Park, about nine miles away, is a wonderful day trip. From some places in the park you can see Venezuela on a clear day! There are some terrific walking trails and it's real desert, so wear sneakers and bring a few bottles of water (according to the UN, Aruba has the purest water in the world, so why not enjoy it?).
Yes, Aruba is a very warm island. If you don't like warm, this isn't the place for you. If you do like warm, here are a few tips. When we first arrive, we try to acclimate to higher indoor temperatures, including in the house. An air conditioning setting in the mid-20s Celcius (mid-70s Fahrenheit) reduces the difference to outside temperatures and makes our vacation more pleasant.
Please see "About Agave Gardens" and "Amenities" pages for descriptions.