#Philip&039;s Animal Garden

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Aruba vacation on the island of flamingos in the Caribbean

Flamingo Beach is a beautiful private beach located on the Renaissance Island. This is a man-made atoll in Aruba, owned by the luxury resort Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino. The white sandy beach is surrounded by turquoise waters with unusual feathered inhabitants – pink flamingos, which quietly walk along the coast right among the sunbathers.

This is the island of your dreams – one of the rarest spots in the world where you can see pink flamingos right next to it. The flamingo is a migratory bird that has found its home on this beautiful Caribbean island. A fascinating thing about these birds is that they actually enjoy interacting with humans. Therefore, it shouldn’t be surprising that they eat out of hand on the beach and swim with some of the resort’s guests. The world’s largest flamingo population lives in Kenya, on the local lakes of Nakuru and Bogoria.

  Tourists with extensive travel experience know perfectly well where Aruba is, and has become today a truly center of attraction for the tourist elite. The island has a great infrastructure, luxury resorts and hotels, beautiful beaches, soft sand and clear water. For many it will be a discovery that this island with a tropical climate is part of the country of the Netherlands with an absolutely non-tropical climate. In terms of practical information for tourists, Aruba is an island with its own passports, currency and visas, that is, it is an independent state. You can get here from different European cities, but the easiest way is with a transfer in the Netherlands. The only thing that can cloud a vacation in Aruba is high prices.

General information

Aruba is an island of volcanic origin, located 18 mi (25 km) from the Gulf of Venezuela. Its area is 69.1 sq mi (179 sq. Km).  is only slightly larger than the state of Liechtenstein – 62 square miles (160 sq. Km). If you wish, you can go around the whole island in one day, for this you have to overcome 6 miles (9 km) wide and (21 miles) (32 km)  long.

The highest point of the island is Mount Jamanota is at 188 meters (617 ft) The lack of vegetation is more than compensated by the comfortable beaches, many of which are worthy of being in magazines dedicated to the best resorts in the world.

The capital of Aruba is the city of Oranjestad, nearby is the international airport – ReinaBeatrix (AUA). It is noteworthy that there is no Duty Free zone at the airport, since the entire island is a duty free zone. That is why Europeans combine their vacation on the island of Aruba with shopping and entertainment in local nightclubs and bars.

Interesting fact! Aruba is often referred to as Las Vegas in the Caribbean. Dinner can be combined with playing at the casino or watching an exciting show program. Most of these establishments are in the north of Oranjestad, which is located between Palm and Druif.

The island has a low crime rate, so you can rent a car without fear and not worry that it will be stolen. The island of Aruba is the westernmost part of the Lesser Antilles, it is a worthy place for lovers of passive relaxation on the soft sand under the sun. Of course, the prices for holidays in Aruba are quite high, but the money spent is worth the emotions and impressions that a trip around the island will give you.

Population

The population of Aruba is 104,636 (as of February 2017). The majority of the population is Aruban, Indians and black slaves. There are also Dutch, Portuguese, Lebanese, Chinese, Indonesians and Filipinos.

Language

The official language of Aruba is Dutch, but almost all residents speak English and Spanish well. In addition, the islanders very often use the papiamento language.

Religion

About 82% of the population are Catholics, 8% are Protestants, the rest are adherents of Islam, Hinduism, Confucianism and Judaism.

Prohibited

Leather products from Haiti, weapons and explosives, drugs and narcotic drugs are prohibited from import into the country. The export of objects and things of historical and artistic value, especially those found at the bottom of the sea, is prohibited without special permission.

Attractions and entertainment

First of all, the attraction of Aruba is its atmosphere – joy, liberation and kindness. In addition to comfortable beaches, the island has a museum and national parks. If you are interested in the history of the island, visit fort Zoutman – initially the building served as a fortress, then it was converted into a lighthouse, then a clock tower, and today there is a historical museum. Be sure to visit the Arikok National Park Park. Lovers of British culture will surely love the island’s second largest city, San Nicholas.

Good to know! In terms of security, the island is quite calm and quiet, of course, in places of a large crowd of people it is necessary to keep an eye on personal belongings, since pickpockets hunt.

Aruba island. Caribbean carnival

Celebrations usually stretch over several months, starting immediately after the New Year and ending with the beginning of the Easter fast for Catholics.

The first carnival in Aruba was held in 1954. Then it was a small street celebration, although it was associated with the carnival, but officially it was not. It received the status of a carnival only the next year, at the same time the queen of the holiday was elected for the first time. Later, in 1981, the Light Parade was added to the celebrations – an incendiary street party by torchlight. Today, along with him, as part of the carnival, a children’s parade and a “pajama party” are also held.

The most spectacular is usually the grand parade, which closes the carnival and marks the beginning of the Easter fast. Colorful mobile platforms, fiery rhythms, sparkling costumes – all this, of course, is present, as in any carnival parade. However, the grand parade in Aruba has its own peculiarity: at exactly midnight it is customary to burn a stuffed carnival spirit – King Momo, who comes to life again on the eve of the festive season year after year in order to once again bring unrestrained fun to the island.

Renaissance Island

You can talk endlessly about the Caribbean island, but the question most often asked by tourists is the beach with flamingos in Aruba – where is it? To begin with, the flamingo beach is not located in Aruba, but on a small island that belongs to the Renaissance Hotel. That is why, first of all, the residents of the hotel can visit the paradise with pink birds. There is a beach with flamingos from Aruba to the south. If you live at the Renaissance hotel, during a trip from Aruba to Flamingo Island you only need to pay for food and drinks, everything else – towels, sun beds, water sports equipment – is provided free of charge.

Boats run from the hotel’s pier to the islet throughout the day. Home to hundreds of flamingos, the island is a coral atoll that covers an area of only 0.06 mil (0.16 sq km). Since the island is the property of the hotel, there are excellent conditions for relaxation – there are two beaches, a restaurant and a bar.

Iguana Beach is spacious, covered with white sand, the entrance to the water is gentle, as it is located in the lagoon. There is a restaurant on the shore that serves delicious ice cream, you can order a cocktail and a delicious lunch.

Interesting fact! Large iguanas live on the shore, they are tame and happily eat lettuce and fresh vegetables.

The highlight of the island is Flamingo Beach. Pink flamingos walk freely between vacationers, you can even take pictures with them. However, the flamingo is a proud bird and will not allow any familiarity in its address. The beach with flamingos is secluded, there is a peaceful atmosphere, it is also called the beach for adults. The entire territory is regularly bypassed by stewards, you can ask them for a cocktail.

After talking with flamingos and iguanas, you can go through the thickets of mangroves inland, the main thing is not to follow the path. There are bridges and small lagoons between different parts of the island – people don’t swim here, as fish come here to breed. If you are lucky, you can see a moray eel cub. In addition to flamingos, lizards, crabs, pelicans and herons live on the island.

Tourists choose one of the ways to relax on Renaissance Island:

come in the morning, rest before lunchtime, chatting with flamingos or iguanas, and then devote time to shopping;

you can devote the whole day to rest at the Renaissance – lie on the beach, swim with a mask and a snorkel, eat in a restaurant.

The island with pink flamingos, turquoise water and surrounded by mangroves is a true piece of paradise. The attraction is available only to the residents of the Renaissance hotel, but what should the guests of Aruba who live in other hotels, but want to see flamingos do? You can buy a ticket and go to the island as part of an excursion group.

Good to know! Groups of 20-25 people are sent to the island in order to have time to buy a ticket, you need to arrive at the ticket office early – by 7-00.

Bird protection

Guests of the hotel can sunbathe with flamingos, swim with them, or even feed them.

True, there is a certain limitation. Flamingo Beach can accommodate no more than 30 guests and is open from 7:00 to 19:00. Children are not allowed here.

What if you are not a guest of the Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino? To do this, you need to buy an excursion ticket at a travel agency and sail by boat as part of a group of 20-25 people. Groups form early in the morning. To get there, come to the ticket offices early in the morning.

Beach entrance – $99.00

Beaches

The best beaches are located in the south of the island, however, some tourists find it strange that a seaport, an air terminal and an industrial zone were built in the same part of Aruba. Another distinctive feature is that there are no bays in the south of the island, which means that the waves are quite strong. But, given the close location of South America, the wind on the island blows from the north, so there are less waves on the southern coast.

  However, in the northwest there are also decent beaches, the best of them are Arashi Beach, Hadikurari Beach – there are excellent conditions for diving and snorkeling. If you love luxury, choose Palm Beach and Eagle Beach, which are close to luxury hotels. For families with children and tourists who prefer privacy, Baby B and Rogers Beach are suitable. Of course, Renaissance or Flamingo beach should be especially noted. This place is different from all others – iguanas and flamingos roam freely here.

Interesting fact! Flamingos that live in captivity on the hotel grounds are white in color, as their diet lacks crustaceans and algae.

Eagle Beach Aruba

The beaches of Manchebo and Eagle Beach form a promontory that juts out into the sea and resembles an eagle’s beak. They are located on opposite sides of the “beak”. Eagle Beach is white, fine sand, fofoti trees, palms and various water activities. All this makes the coast one of the best for relaxation. The white sand heats up less, so you can walk along the shore barefoot.

There is a parking lot near the shore, there are toilets, a cafe. In the evenings there are sunsets of amazing beauty.

It is important! The beach is located at the hotel, however, access here is open to everyone, you can use everything except sun loungers.

Guests can rent a room in large but low-rise hotels.

Arashi Beach Aruba

This picturesque place is located in the northwest of the island of Aruba. The quality of recreation here is so high that Arashi was awarded the Blue Flag symbol for maintaining the standards of beach recreation. The main attraction is the California Lighthouse, which is visited by couples in love from all over the island. There are also good conditions for snorkeling.

There are awnings on the shore and palm trees grow, this creates a pleasant shade in which you can hide from the scorching sun. The shore and the bottom are covered with sand and stones. The water is clear, you can see the fish, so vacationers come here with a mask and a snorkel.

Good to know! This is the last place suitable for swimming, then the windy part of the island, covered with stones, begins.

Palm Beach Aruba

This is the most party place in Aruba. There are many palm trees, restaurants, discos and shops and, of course, a huge number of tourists. The shore and the bottom are covered with sand. There are luxury hotels nearby and you can rent a private condo. This shore is often chosen by families with children, as the descent into the water is gentle and gentle. There are many water activities on the shore. The only thing that can darken the rest is the constant noise and a large crowd of people. You can get there by bus or minibus.

Palm Beach at Aruba

It’s important to know! It is on Palm Beach that a cruise liner calls in every day, so the number of tourists on the shore is increasing.

Baby Beach Aruba

Located on the east of the south coast. This place is named because of the high degree of safety – children are brought here on weekends. One of the few places where there are almost never waves, since it is located in a lagoon, sheltered from the wind. In addition, Baby Beach is recognized as the most photogenic, most likely due to the unusual color of the water – it is a uniform, turquoise color.

The shore and the bottom are covered with sand, fungi have been installed, there are several cafes, a parking lot. A little to the side is an oil refinery, which, however, does not spoil the impressions of the rest.

Manchebo Beach Aruba

This place is recognized as the most romantic on the island, perfect for relaxation. It is always not crowded and secluded here. You can get here by bus. Paid sun loungers are available, but guests of the Manchebo Hotel use them free of charge. Considering that the coast belongs to the hotel, there is always a clean coast, the sea is warm, trade winds are constantly blowing and this adds a certain flavor to the rest.

Food and Restaurants

Since the tourist infrastructure in Aruba is well developed, there are no problems with where to eat. As usual in beach resorts, the closer the establishment is to the water, the higher the prices will be. But you can always find a restaurant that is optimal in terms of price / quality ratio.

A full lunch at a cafe will cost from $10 to $15 per person.

The average bill for two in a restaurant will range from $50 to $80.

The price of a budget lunch in fast food establishments is from $7 to $8.5 dollars.

The national cuisine of Aruba is an amazing blend of European traditions, combined with local flavor. Most of the Aruban cuisine is made from seafood, seasoned with vegetable oil, herbs and vegetables. An integral part of them are shrimps, lobsters, lobsters, all kinds of shells, algae.

Popular dishes of Aruban cuisine include: small pies stuffed with meat, shrimp, fish and pasteshis spices, ayakas meatloaf, bitterbal meatballs, stoba lamb stew, kala bean pancakes, pea soup “Ervten-soep”, as well as fish soup. For dessert, sample pudding di coco coconut pudding and ponche cr��me rum punch. The island produces first-class beer, the most popular is the Balashi variety.

Weather and climate when is the best time to go

The weather remains warm throughout the year. There is no clear seasonality on the island, with the difference between day and night temperatures no more than 6 ° F. Traditional daytime temperatures range from 78°F to 84°F. The water warms up to 75°F.

It’s important to know! In general, holidays in Aruba are great at any time of the year. In the period from November to December, there may be intermittent showers, from May to September it rains quite often.

Diving and snorkeling

There are more than 50 places on the island with excellent conditions for diving and snorkeling. In some places, the visibility reaches 98 feet (30 m.)

The best places for water sports.

Antilla is the largest shipwreck in the Caribbean at 400 feet (122 m). The ship was sunk during the Second World War. Part of the ship can be seen above the surface and you can go snorkelling. Night diving is the most popular.

Pedernales is a wreck that is part of a sunken oil tanker. The ship sits at a depth of 29 feet (9 m), which is why this diving site is often chosen by beginners.

Jane See – The cement ship sits on a flat bottom at a depth of just over 82 feet (25 m) and attracts a lot of fish – small, tropical and large barracuda. This is a great location for underwater photography.

Mike Reef – if you can describe this place in two words – an explosion of color, there are sponges of orange or purple color, a large number of corals.

Mangol Halto Reef – starts at 16 feet (5 m) and ends at 108 feet (33 m). The reef is teeming with marine life – from small fish to large stingrays and octopuses.

There are many diving centers in Aruba, where clients will be provided with the necessary equipment. You can always use the services of an instructor. The most popular diving center with branches all over the island is Krasny Parus. Most branches work every day from 9-00 to 18-00.

Another popular diving center is Aqua Windies, where you can take a full course or take a single dive. Instructors select a dive site individually for each client. The diving center is open every day – on weekdays from 8-00 to 20-00, and on weekends – until 17-00.

It is important! Each center provides quality diving equipment for rent. You can also take part in an organized snorkeling tour.

If you want to experience the deep sea world without diving, check out Deep Sea Fishing. To do this, you can visit a diving center or arrange fishing with local fishermen.

Butterfly farm

This is a netted garden that covers an area of 0.003 square mile (9 thousand square meters). Hundreds of butterflies fly in a picturesque, tropical garden with waterfalls and ponds. The insects are so tame that they land on visitors. If you want to see nature in all its diversity and beauty, be sure to visit the farm, where butterflies of a wide variety of shapes and colors live.

Good to know! Guests are offered to purchase a half-hour excursion, during which the guide in English talks about the miraculous transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly.

In the garden, butterflies are represented at all stages of the life cycle – caterpillar, pupa and, finally, butterfly. From the guide, guests will learn interesting facts about butterflies. In addition, tourists can take pictures in the garden for their own pleasure. Believe me, the frames are gorgeous.

Interesting fact! Want butterflies to land on you? Wear brightly colored clothes, and the best shots come in the afternoon when the number of visitors decreases.

Practical information:

official address: J.E. Irausquin Boulevard, Noord, the attraction is within walking distance from Palm Beach, you can also get to the farm by car;

work schedule – every day from 8-30 to 16-30, the last group of visitors enters the garden at 16-00;

prices for services and other useful information for tourists on the official website: http://www.thebutterflyfarm.com/.

Philip Aruba Animal Garden

Of course, first of all, Aruba is a flamingo, but the island is a godsend for a naturalist, there are many parks here. Philip’s Animal Garden is very popular. This is not just a zoo, but a non-profit, charitable organization dedicated to the rescue of exotic species of animals living on the island and in the region. Thanks to the efforts of the park’s founder, unique animals and birds have appeared in the collection. It is noteworthy that the entire territory of the zoo was designed and built by the forces of one person – Philip Conrad Merriweather. Initially, Philip became interested in snakes. In addition, the collection contains many monkeys, goats, pigs, horses, camels, ostriches, and rare bird species. The zoo regularly holds events aimed at improving the conditions for keeping animals. If you find yourself in an excursion group, you will be allowed to feed the animals.

Practical information:

address: Alto Vista 116, Noord Aruba, Dutch Caribbean;

You can get there by car, the trip takes 5-7 minutes, the landmark is the Alto Vista chapel, there are signs along the road;

work schedule: from Monday to Friday – from 9-00 to 17-00, weekends – from 9-00 to 18-00;

ticket prices and other useful information on the official website: http://www.philipsanimalgarden.com/.

Donkey sanctuary

As you approach the donkey sanctuary, you will hear the characteristic cry of animals. Here you will find cute, good-natured animals that trustingly reach out to the guests’ hands. The history of the appearance of the reserve is quite dramatic – earlier donkeys were used as the main means of transportation, however, with the advent of cars, the need for animals disappeared and they began to be ruthlessly thrown away. Stray donkeys roamed the roads, and the founders of the reserve decided to save the animals by providing them with food, drinks, care and good living conditions.

The attraction appeared in 1997; today about 40 donkeys live here. On the territory of the zoo, you can buy a tour, and in the souvenir shop you can buy mementos. Donkeys are also great gourmets, they love carrots and apples, so be sure to take vegetables and fruits with you.

Good to know! There is no entrance fee, but any donation is welcome as it is used to improve the animal welfare.

Practical information:

addresses: Sta Lucia 4A and Bringamosa 2Z;

work schedule: daily from 9-00 to 16-00, January 1 – day off;

prices for services are presented on the website: main.arubandonkey.org/portal/.

Arikok National Park

Aruba is a tiny island, almost 20% of its area is covered by the Arikok conservation area. The park is located in the north of the island, around the Arikok and Hamanota mountain peaks. In this part of the island, the soil is rich in minerals, which is why there is lush vegetation and many animals. Some of them are typical only for the island of Aruba. This includes some species of owls, parrots, quihi trees, divi-divi, aloe and tropical flowers.

The park has preserved unique sights – natural and historical:

Arawak petroglyphs found in Fontaine Cave;

old plantation;

Dutch settlements of colonists;

gold mines.

Throughout the park, there are hiking trails that lead directly into thickets of exotic plants. A huge number of animals have survived on the territory of the protected area.

Natural formations – the Guadirikiri caves and the Tunnel of Love are located on the outskirts of the reserve. In the caves, tourists visit two halls with a total length of over 98 feet (30 m).

Interesting fact! Tunnel of Love is so named because of the shape of the entrance, which resembles a heart.

Practical information:

work schedule: Monday to Saturday – from 8-00 to 16-00;

ticket price 11 dollars, children under 17 years old admission is free;

the ticket is valid throughout the day;

website: http://www.arubanationalpark.org/main/.

  How to get to Aruba

Despite the fact that there is no direct flight to Aruba, tourists do not have any difficulties with the flight. You can choose different flight options, all of them will be with transfers – in New York, London or Amsterdam.

Aruba island – interesting facts

The landscape of Aruba is somewhat specific – there is no dense vegetation, and plain, desert landscapes prevail.

If your destination is diving or water sports, choose northeastern Aruba. Luxury hotels for a passive, beach holiday predominate in the southwest of the island.

It is impossible to meet nudists on the island of Aruba; it is not customary to relax here without clothes.

If you are planning to travel around the island by rented transport, you have a unique opportunity to visit all the beaches, as they are compact and convenient for vacationers.

Every year the island hosts a windsurfing championship. The favorite sport of the locals is beach tennis. In Aruba, you can safely drink tap water. True, tourists still prefer to buy cleaned in stores.

The island has two official languages ​​- Dutch and Papiamento language. Most of the locals speak English and Spanish.

Considering that the island is a duty-free zone, the high prices for vacations in Aruba are partially offset by the democratic prices in the shops. Jewelry is in great demand.

Aruba is an island that is visited by over a million tourists annually. This fact undoubtedly indicates the popularity of the resort.

Pink Flamingo Beach in Aruba in the Caribbean Aruba vacation on the island of flamingos in the Caribbean Flamingo Beach is a beautiful private beach located on the Renaissance Island.