Aruba was one of the ports-of-call on a recent cruise I took with Carnival Cruise Line.
I am always interested in the “overview” of a destination that includes history, culture and natural beauty, so I took a 4x4 tour of the undeveloped North Shore and Arikok National Park.
A popular island only 17 miles off the coast of Venezuela, Aruba is known for its water sports where tourists can learn to kite surf, paddle board and scuba dive, or simply relax in the shade of a stately palm tree.
This day I am headed for the national park. Covering nearly 20 percent of the island, it showcases and protects Aruba’s natural state as well as its indigenous species: whiptail lizard, cat eye snake, endangered Aruban rattle snake, burrowing owl and Aruban parakeet.
The dusty landscape is dotted with towering cactus and surprisingly green undergrowth as we bump along rutted dirt roads between an abandoned gold mine and the rocky shore where the calm sandy resort beaches give way to crashing waves breaking over the rugged shoreline.
The beauty of a cruise is being able to visit several islands on one vacation. Whether it’s sun and sand, coral reefs, or, like me, history and culture you’re looking for, Aruba has something grand to offer every visitor.
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