If I learned one thing, it’s that the short winter days in the USA make me want to escape to a sunny tropical paradise. Like Aruba.
You’ve at least heard of Aruba before. And, rightly so, may be thinking of cruise ship stops, luxury travel or all-inclusive resorts. These normally aren’t on our travel itineraries. That hasn’t changed- they aren’t in our plans for Aruba either. See, it turns out this Dutch “constituent country” offers way more to travelers than I had thought:
- It has a history and culture distinct from its island neighbors and the South American continent (which you can see from its beaches).
- Its food and capital city, Oranjestad, offer a fusion of Caribbean, Latin and Dutch influences.
- 20% of the island is a national park dedicated to conserving ecosystems and providing awesome adventure opportunities.
- You can snorkel the clear blue waters at any of the 40 beaches. Which is what I plan to do.
Oh, one final point: it’s just a 2 hour and 45 minute flight away from the US mainland! (Apologies to those reading from other countries)
This trip will be particularly special. Our families are meeting up (mine from the US, Janina’s from Peru). It’s the first time since Covid that we’ll have this reunion, and for some it’s the first time they’ll ever meet!
Aruba was smack dab in the middle of both countries, making it even more perfect.
Conclusion
Stay tuned for posts on our trip and more exciting updates! And check out our older articles that are updated for 2022:
- The 2022 Travel Guide to Machu Picchu
- The Ultimate Guide for Taking the Boat to Iquitos
We’ll soon discuss 2 more epic adventures that are already on the calendar. We’re super pumped and can’t wait to share more content with you.
Stay cool and free!
-Brad
