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9 Cheap and Easy Things to Do Near the Cruise Port in Aruba

12/29/2016

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Bushiri Beach in Aruba
An inviting stretch of Aruban beach bliss is a less than 25-minute walk from the cruise pier.
By John Roberts 
If you're coming ashore in Aruba by cruise ship, you can find several cheap and easy things to do right at the port. I took a wander during my last stop there so that I could compile a guide for you outlining what I found.  

You can try a few of these options when you come to Aruba on a cruise and decide that you don't want to pay for an expensive excursion. All of these options I found within a 30-minute walk from my cruise ship.
 
One-stop shopping -- The first thing you encounter when you exit the cruise terminal is a small market selling crafts. Shop here, or head left (away from the busier tourist strip that is directly to the right as you exit the terminal) to find the Flea Market selling sun dresses, wraps, hammocks, hats, jewelry and other handmade items. 
Aruba market stalls
Flea market in Aruba
A run in the sun -- The road heading left away from the port has ample space for a run. Follow the red brick sidewalk in the median for a while and then cross over toward the beach. 
L.G. Smith Boulevard in Aruba
Wheeling around town -- You can see people zipping around the streets in ATVs, scooters and motorcycles. George's Cycles offers rentals from its location on the main strip 124 L.G. Smith Boulevard, about a 10-minute walk from the ship. Prices for daily rentals start around $55 for an ATV and $100 for a scooter. Also, look for companies that rent bikes and Segways. 
George's ATV rentals in Aruba
Bicycle rentals in Aruba
Last chance for a tour -- De Palm Tours has an office at 142 L.G. Smith Boulevard. If you wander past the office early enough in the morning and get the itch for an island tour or a snorkeling outing, you can pop in to see whether you can join an excursion and maybe negotiate a last-minute price that makes it worth too good to pass up. 
Bushiri Beach in Aruba
Bushiri Beach is about a 20-minute walk from your ship.
Soft sands -- As you keep on wandering, you'll notice the white sands of Bushiri Beach, a public space with no services but clear blue waters great for snorkeling and swimming. This is the closest beach to the cruise port and ideal for packing a picnic and towels for a few hours of swimming. Plenty of trees nearby offer a chance to relax in the shade, too. 
Cactuses in Aruba
Iguanas in Aruba
Beyond the beach -- Keep heading away from the port past Bushiri Beach and you'll start to see resort properties. You also will notice a small park in the median area across the road. A quick stroll there offers spots to sit and relax in the shade. Your only company is likely to be the rows of cactuses that guard the entrance like sentries and the iguanas lazily sunning on rock piles adjacent to small ponds. 
Ritz snack restaurant in Aruba
Snack or sweet treat -- Worked up a hunger during your day ashore? Stop in to Ritz (122 L.G. Smith Boulevard) to grab an ice cream cone, shake or sundae. The snack shop, which has been on the island since 1938, also serves wings, Cuban sandwiches, wraps and burgers. 
Iguana Joe's bar in Aruba
Lolita's sandwiches in Aruba
Downtown -- The touristy area to the right of the cruise pier as you leave your ship is good for a quick stop before you head back to your ship. You can seek out souvenirs, food and drink.
The area is filled with restaurants and
 shops, as well as where you'll find the historical, numismatic and archaeological museums. 

I recommend stopping by Iguana Joe's for an appetizer and a beer or seeking out Lolita's Sandwiches. P
ull up a stool at this small open-air serving counter (on Havenstraat, one street behind and parallel to L.G. Smith) for a Balashi beer or two and an empanada. 

Thanks for reading! 
Enjoy you time in the island paradise. 

JR
Balashi beer in Aruba
Flavor to savor when in Aruba! Balashi beer. Happy travels.
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Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao: The ABC Islands of the Caribbean

8/30/2014

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Sea turtle at Klein Bonaire
The ABC Islands of the Caribbbean -- Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao -- are a water lover's paradise. If you love snorkeling or diving, you're sure to see plenty of great creatures such as this sea turtle I spotted in Bonaire.
By John Roberts

Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao make up the ABC islands in the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean.

These islands located just off the coast of Venezuela (a bit north of the country) are part of the Netherlands. Several cruise ship itineraries make stops to these destinations, although Bonaire is the least developed and least visited of the three.

We have been to all three and thoroughly enjoyed them. All are watersports havens. Aruba would be my choice for lazy beach days and partying at night. It offers more of the typical Caribbean island experience you might expect. Curacao offers plenty of neat places to explore, such as forts and limestone caves, as well as shopping areas filled with local vendors offering handicrafts.

Bonaire is for the hardcore scuba diving crowds. The island has few beaches, but you step right off the shore into deep water filled with an array of wonderful fish and coral reef. We don’t even dive (we snorkel), but this island struck us as our favorite for its relaxed vibe. We had a great time drift snorkeling at Klein Bonaire, a tiny, uninhabited islet off the shore of the mainland.


I recommend that you look into a cruise that will get to at least two of these islands during your trip. The weather will be warm and sunny, and you'll never run out of fun things to do. Plus, you'll want to return often. Brush up on a few phrases in Papiamento, the native tongue in the islands. It's a mix of Portuguese and African languages, with English, Spanish, Dutch and American Indian influences, too. 

Try a wide-smiling "bon dia" (good morning) when you arrive, and you'll be warmly greeted and on the way to a wonderful adventure.

ARUBA
Baby Beach in Aruba
Baby Beach in Aruba has soft sand, and you can walk right in for some great shore snorkeling. Bring plenty of sunscreen and apply often! We got quite burned our first time.
Filling up on Balashi beer in Aruba
When the sun gets to be too much, make sure to take a few breaks for Balashi beer. So refreshing and cold, just what you want after a few hours in the sun and water.

BONAIRE
Drift snorkeling at Klein Bonaire
One of my favorite excursions ever was the day I spent drift snorkeling at Klein Bonaire, a spot off the coast of mainland Bonaire. We saw turtles rays and all sorts of reef and fish.

CURACAO
Curacao fort
In Curacao, we have snorkeled, shopped and done some sightseeing, like at this fort. You can venture to the high points of the island for great views of the harbors (picture below). The island has an arid climate, with scarce rainfall, and is home to curious whiptail blue lizards (picture at bottom).
Curacao
Curacao gecko
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