About Aruba

ABOUT ARUBA

Aruba is situated in the southern part Caribbean Sea and is an island in the Lesser Antilles. It is still a part of the Kingdom of Netherlands and has no governmental subdivisions. It is just 26.88 km north of the coast of Venezuela and approximately 128.75 km east of Guajira Peninsula.

Denonym: Aruban; Dutch

Ethnic Groups: Mixed White, Caribbean and Amerindian

Official languages: Dutch, Papiamento

State Religion: 80% Roman Catholic

Population: 107, 635 (est. 2012)

Government: Constitutional Monarchy
Chief of state – Queen Beatrix
Prime Minister – Michiel Godfried Eman
Governor – Fredis Refunjol

Currency: Aruban Floran (AWG)

Capital: Oranjestad is the capital of Aruba and it was established in 1796. The name comes from the first heir to the Dutch House of Orange, King Willem van Oranje-Nassau. Its location is on the western end of the island.

Weather:
Almost always, the weather is wonderful — warm, sunny, dry, and breezy. There’s no monsoon season and no risk of tropical storms — the island is outside of the hurricane affected area. The average annual temperature is 82°F (28°C), and no month of the year has an average high temperature lower than 85°F (29°C) or higher than 89°F (32°C). Lows range from 76°F (24°C) to 80°F (27°C).

The sun can be very hot and desert like, and its mirror image off the white sandy beaches is simply blinding. Fortunately, the almost-constant trade winds make it easy to forget just how warm it is. Usually a bonus, these pleasant, mild breezes can occasionally escalate to unexpected gusts or constant winds, so hold onto your hat. Buy one with a chin straps to be on the safe side.

High Season Vs. Off Season:
Because the weather is nice all year-round, Aruba’s high and low seasons reflect climates of the United States and Canada, more than the weather on the island itself. When it’s cold and wintery in North America, demand for Aruba’s warmth and sunshine hits the highest point. Roughly speaking, the island’s high season runs from mid-December to mid-April.