Hereās why: Aruba Today collected some things to do BEYOND the beach. Yes, we know. Aruba, locatedĀ 15Ā miles north of Venezuela in the warm waters of the southern Caribbean, is home to beautiful white-sand beaches,Ā 82-degree days, and thus ideal for the perfect beach day. But we are also blessed with some of the warmest people in the world and our island isĀ 19.6Ā miles long and 6Ā miles across, with a total area ofĀ 70Ā square miles. Bit more to discover than the white stretch on the coastline we say. Letās mention some of these hidden gems.
Nature Calls.
The Arikok National park is worth the ride. We love the hikes that are guided by the parkās rangers whose job is to maintain trails and protect natural resources. The flora and fauna are beautiful and the historical sites tell you about the islandās indigenous roots. The guided tours are even free of charge. If you are not up to walking, you can drive through the park, one way or another this park is a great place to spend an entire day. Cruising through the landscape you end up at some of the most stunning beaches like Dos Playa or Daimara Beach. In Total the park consists of 7907 acres protected nature with a richness of animals living in it. The Aruban whiptail lizard (cododo), Aruban cat eye snake (santanero) and endangered rattle snake (cascabel) are just some of them, you can also admire these close in the parkās Visitorsā Center. For more information, visit the website www.arubanationalpark.org
Philip’s Animal Garden.
To stay with the animals, letās hop to an amazing place. Something different to do, an experience that is to be enjoyed by people of all ages. Welcome to Philipās Animal Garden. We are not talking about a zoo here, this is actually a sanctuary for all types of creatures, from horses to peacocks, kangaroos to turtles, monkeys, goats, and many, many more different species. The place was founded in 2009 and it is the only organization rescuing and rehabilitating exotic animals in Aruba, which has resulted in an amazing collection of these animals. They provide a suitable living environment for all the rescued animals. Up until now the owner, Philip, has built this shelter with his own efforts; building all the cages from scratch, designing all structures and welding them with his own bare hands. His goal is to upgrade the facilities to a world-class animal shelter with veterinary care and round-the-clock staffs. With the input from the Aruban community and visitors they provide the best care for these animals. Please check out their website for more information: www.philipsanimalgarden.com.
