Among multiple Caribbean tourist destinations, Aruba stands out, in particular due, because of its warm and welcoming moniker “One Happy Island.” Just hearing the handle is enough to conjure images of Aruba’s perennially sunny weather, world-class beaches with crystal-clear waters, vibrant festivities that proudly showcase the island’s culture and traditions, and the smiles of locals eager to share all those sights and experiences with any guest. Because of Aruba’s friendly and happy reputation, the island has received a steady number of visitors each year, with many of them opting to book vacation rentals to enjoy accommodations that can truly feel like a home away from home.
VacationAruba is a one local vacation rental agency dedicated to living up to Aruba’s slogan by providing tourists with furnished vacation rentals that’ll certainly make their stay much more pleasant and memorable. Whether you’re a first-time guest or a return visitor, your stay in Aruba will surely embody the happiness promised in its slogan at every point of your vacation. In fact, we’ve compiled several reasons as to what unique qualities of Aruba make it worthy of being called “One Happy Island.”
1. Consistently Sunny and Stable Weather
Aruba is well known for its year-round warm temperatures and sunshine, thanks to its semi-arid climate. This makes it the perfect tropical getaway, providing tourists more freedom in planning their itineraries as they wouldn’t have to worry about rainstorms or hurricanes potentially affecting their travel plans. Thanks to the island’s stable weather, outdoor activities such as beach lounging at Eagle Beach, paddleboarding along the calm waters of Palm Beach, or hiking the trails of Arikok National Park can be done with ease.
The constant sunshine is also a source of energy and cheer among locals. This then creates a more carefree and relaxed atmosphere that makes tourists feel more welcome. Aruba is certainly proof that sunny skies can bring about big smiles.
2. Breathtaking Natural Beauty
Aruba’s diverse landscapes and marine environments offer something for everyone. In addition to its pristine white-sand beaches, visitors can also explore Aruba’s rugged desert-like terrain where they can discover cacti, rocky cliffs, and hidden coves. Seeing the island’s natural beauty—both in land and sea—is an uplifting experience that makes for happy stories to tell even long after you’ve left the island.
The natural diversity found on the island also inspires a sense of adventure and excitement among guests. The Conchi Natural Pool, for instance, is located in rugged terrain that makes it accessible only by foot, jeep, or horseback. Despite the extra effort needed to reach it, however, it’s all worth it as you get a glimpse of the natural pool’s stunning rock formations with waves dramatically crashing against them. If you’re curious about other hidden gems like this that you can enjoy on the island, VacationAruba is more than happy to give you tips and recommendations to help you discover more of Aruba’s natural beauty.
3. Welcoming and Friendly People
The hospitality of locals is essential to the “One Happy Island” experience that Aruba delivers. Locals are often delighted to assist visitors, offer directions, provide recommendations, or even share a drink or two while chatting. In fact, this warm welcome starts even before you’ve set foot on the island. By booking with VacationAruba, you’ll have our dedicated team working with you to ensure you find the perfect vacation rental that suits your budget, travel plans, and other specific needs. Moreover, we offer exclusive deals you won’t find on third-party booking websites, as we eliminate the middleman to give you the best prices directly.
Communicating with locals is also easy since many Arubans often speak multiple languages, such as English, Spanish, and Dutch, in addition to the beautiful Papiamento language spoken on the island. This can make you feel more at ease asking questions or chatting with the locals, which adds to the warm and friendly atmosphere of the island.
4. Delicious Cuisine
One of the experiences that people always remember fondly from a vacation is the mouthwatering local desserts they indulged in, followed by the delicious food they ate during their trip. To that end, Aruba has no shortage of scrumptious dishes such as keshi yena (stuffed cheese with spiced meat), pisca hasa (pan-fried fish), and bolo di cashupete (cashew cake) that you can share with your travel companions or locals you’ve befriended. With both local and international flavors available on the island, you can surely find ones that’ll satisfy your tastebuds.
Aruban dishes also reflect the island’s diverse cultural influences by featuring a blend of flavors from Caribbean, Dutch, and Latin American culinary traditions. This makes each meal both a gastronomic and cultural experience that will surely be a bright spot in your travel memories.
5. Strong Sense of Community
Arubans showcase their strong community spirit through local celebrations such as the Bon Bini Festival in Oranjestad and the Island Festival in San Nicolas, events where tourists are highly encouraged to join. Through these festivities, Aruba is able to foster a sense of connection between its locals and tourists as both participate in enjoying local food, music, parades, and other performances. This strong sense of unity and willingness to accept tourists in local celebrations further enhances the island’s happy and welcoming atmosphere.
Aruba’s “One Happy Island” is more than just a tourism slogan. Rather, it is a genuine reflection of qualities that make the island an exceptional place to visit. So, what are you waiting for? Browse through our available rental properties and let us help you find the best place to stay during your next Aruba trip, thus allowing you to focus on the happiness that Aruba’s unique sights, celebrations, and food can bring.