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San NicolasCity/Region: Oranjestad
The industrial center of Aruba, San Nicolas is the island's oldest and largest town. Until the late 19th century it was a small fishing village but all this changed with the mining of phosphate on the island, and more recently the discovery of oil off the coast of Venezuela. The town provides a glimpse of old British-Caribbean charm and contains a handful of restaurants and shops. There are a few popular beaches to the east of the town that offer good swimming and snorkeling opportunities
and are suitable for families.
Arikok National ParkCity/Region: Oranjestad
Arikok National Park encompasses a significant chunk of the interior and a long stretch of the northern coast. The park has miles of well-marked hiking trails and this, for most, is the best way to discover its attraction. Between the towering cacti and the contorted divi-divi trees can be found the best preserved Indian cave paintings on the island, deserted plantation houses, and the ruins of an old gold mine. Within the park is Mount Jamanota, which at 620ft (188m) is Aruba's biggest hill. From the top one can enjoy good views of the island and on a clear day one can see across to Venezuela. At the southern reaches of the park are the Guadirkiri Caves and the Tunnel of Love. Legend has it that the headstrong daughter of an Indian Chief was trapped here with an unsuitable suitor and left to perish but their love-boosted spirits shot through the roof of the cave and into heaven.
Beach StripCity/Region: Oranjestad
Just north of the capital, Aruba's best stretch of beaches extend four miles (7km) between Eagle Beach and Palm Beach. The endless fine, golden sand and the crystal-clear shallow waters have not surprisingly attracted the crowds and with them the high-rise, luxury hotel complexes that line the beach. There are no shortage of bars and restaurants to choose from and beachgoers are able to hire all sorts of toys including kayaks, windsurfers, snorkeling gear and catamarans. North of Palm Beach are some colorful reefs and shipwrecks to entice divers and snorkelers. Diving trips, windsurfing and sailing lessons can be arranged through most hotels. For those looking to take a break from the beach, distractions include the nearby Butterfly Farm and the Bubali Bird Sanctuary, a small marshland where visitors can view hundreds of species of migratory waterfowl including coots, cormorants, terns and herons. A favorite place to enjoy the sunset is at the restaurant by the California lighthouse on the northern tip of the island. The lighthouse was built after the British steamship, the California, ran aground here in 1891.
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