Aruba

East Coast

After my time in Canada was ending, we brainstormed about where we would like to hava a trip to before heading back to Germany. Originally the plan was to spent some time on Hawaii, maybe travelling down the US West Coast and then flying over to South America or Asia. I had saved up some money and wanted to keep travelling in case I didn’t settle in Canada which I wasn’t as I talked about in one of my last blogs. But Covid also changed those plans.

We were only allowed to enter the USA with a PCR Test and Canada restricted the access to those only to business travelers as they would not encourage leisure travel. We tried multiple medical centers but all refused. So, we looked outside of the US in Central America and the Caribbean or South America. There were a bunch of places that required not test at all but that didn’t feel safe either. We would be willing to make a quarantine or test when landing but no control at all was too risky for our own health as well. Aruba was the only place we knew in the midst of Covid where we could enter the country without already having a PCR Test result ready. We had to apply in advance for a health insurance on the Island that also covered quarantine and hospital stays. Also, when arriving directly at the airport we had to do a PCR Test and book a quarantine hotel beforehand and isolate for up to three days until our test results arrived. Our test results were there just a few hours later so we could even get out of our place and buy some food for the night. That process went so much smoother than expected. On the island itself while inside you had to wear masks but as soon as for example you would reach your table in a restaurant you could take the mask off. So, it was safe but with not many restrictions.

I split my blog in two parts, as there where just so many great spots and therefore shots on this gorgeous island, so the first one is about the more popular and touristy east coast and the second one will show the more wild side of the west coast and the mountains and rocks in the middle of the island.

Also the pictures start from the north tip of the island going down all the way south to the island.

Malmok

California Lighthouse all up north from where you had a great view as the next two pictures will show.

After our first week where we basically just relaxed by the Palm Beach, we got a car and spotted this gorgeous spot not too far from our stay but too far from walking. So, we decided to rent e-bikes for a week and drove to this beautiful spot almost daily. Apart from a few fishermen sometimes and every now and then a boat with tourists we mostly had this bay for ourselves and relaxed in she shades of a few trees and went into the water for a cool of but even more for snorkeling. The underwater life was stunning already super close to the coast. So many cute and also some curious fish were around you and I could have spent hours if it wouldn’t be too risky for me to burn my back fully 😉 I would sometimes just stay in one spot and look down on all the small details of the rocks and corals and all the water animals around it. Other times I would swim around with the waves and look curiously at everything I could spot. I was so calming to be here.

Boca Catalina Beach & Arashi Beach from the top, you can see the perfect turquoise water. Our small bay was not far from there.

Can you spot the huge hotels from afar? The left ones are at the Palm Beach and the right ones on Eagle Beach.

Palm Beach

This shot is probably my favorite from Aruba. The blue sky, a small boat, the diverse turquoise and blue tones of the super clear ocean and the unbelievably soft sand were just gorgeous. Sadly, that day I only had my phone with me and the days I took my camera the sky was less clear and thus the water seemed not so perfect like here even though in real life that’s how it felt like almost every day. This picture hangs in my apartment in the bathroom and every day it gives me a smile.

Moslty without car or bike we relaxed at the Hilton part of the Long Beach. It was less busy and closest to us. We could use the umbrellas for free but would need to pay a fee if we wanted a lounger. In Aruba no beach can be restricted to public, so even though the fancy hotels are right up the beach front you can lay down wherever you want. Below some impressions of some of those hotels.

Hotel Riu Palace Aruba.

Barceló Aruba and Hyatt Regency Aruba.

Beach of the Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort and the Riu Palace behind it. As you can spot on this picture, we had a few rainy days at the end and this was a thunderstorm on the rise.

Here it was in full blown action. It was stunning.

We stayed for a little over three weeks on Aruba near Palm Beach. First in a room and then after a few days we switched to an apartment with a full kitchen and living room to be able to cook ourselves. Of course, we did also eat out, but due to Covid we limited it to a couple of times. Mostly we went out for fresh fish, that’s something I sure can’t beat at home. Also, we fully enjoyed the delicious Dutch cheeses that we could by at the supermarkets after a way to long weird cheese time in Canada. Canadian or US cheese is just crap and not real cheese. They call it mozzarella or gouda but it is just a pressed blog not even with the same consistency… So that was a huge plus as well 😄

The view out of our room each morning. The apartment complex was almost empty as due to Covid not many traveled.

The reason why we even had the idea to look up saying on Aruba was thanks to Rachel Brathen known as Yoga_Girl on Instagram. I followed her since 2012 and was always inspired by not only her beautiful pictures but also her being and way of life. As she lived on the island, I suggested it as one option and we were so glad we took that chance! I even had a few classes at her studio while being on Aruba as our place was just a short walking distance apart. I never felt so good in a life class than in the first one I had with her. Tears were running down my cheeks while doing the heart opener at the beginning, sure that was me realizing that a gorgeous chapter of my live in Vancouver was now done. So relieving!

Eagle Beach

We only went to the Eagle Beach twice. Once at the end of a day of walking by the beaches and one to only relax here. It was weird as during the day there were so many photo shoots by the Divi also called Fofoti Trees. Either as wedding pictures, one of the weddings was taking place directly by the beach and the bride was a bridezilla for real 😂 Others were for engagements or family photos. That why we didn’t spend more time here. It was sunningly beautiful but to busy to us with not enough shades.

By the way, this is how rough and beautiful the coast in between the Long and Eagly Beach looks like. Lava and rocks and a rough ocean. I really loved the contrast.

Oranjestad

Honstly, I didn’t enjoy the capital this much. It seems designed as a shopping paradise for cruise ship passangers full of expensive stores which sure no local could afford and seemed staged. Only spend half a day here.

The most authentic to me where these locals down below 😄

Aruba Aloe Factory Museum

Also touristy but we visited the museum once. Aloe is a great healing remedy but we didn’t buy any. I still know it from my time on Lanzarote where it also grew.

Mangel Halto

You would need a car to get to this spot all the way from Long Beach the most touristy area so there weren’t that many tourist at all. It is a beautiful rocky beach, nice to snorkle and beside it you find stunning mangrove trees that live in the water by the beach. It was a great cool down in their shadows.

We also went into the water from here with a ladder going down from this rocks. Such a clear water is just so stunning to me. In general, the island was super clean, well maintained and safe as it felt to us.

Aruba Art Fair in San Nicolas

We didn’t even knew this spot existed and I just saw one graffiti that cought my eye when passing by first and I decided that I wanted to take a shot of that one when comming back. Wow! I have underestimated the ton of beautiful graffiti present, here just a few of the great art in this town:

Baby Beach

At the southern most spot of the island, we visitied this beautiful beach twice. I guess it is called Baby Beach as it is a safe bay and the water doesn’t go to deep to it is a great spot for kids to play. Also super far from the tourist sights whe were almost alone the two times we got here.

One of the most beautiful sunsets we had on this island and in the next blog about Arubas West Coast you will see the greatest sunrise, about a 5 minutes drive apart just facing the other direction.

We weren’t fully alone because as soon as the dawn was there a bunch of albatross started their hunting season diving into the water from flying to catch fish. It was spectacular to watch.