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Charming sanctuary: the Alto Vista Chapel

Perched high on a hill overlooking Aruba stands the Alto Vista Chapel, a tiny sanctuary that is often illuminated by dozens of candles that create its special ambiance. Everyone is welcome, both believers and non-believers, to enjoy the serene atmosphere or attend one of the weekly services. The current building dates from 1952, but the location has a much longer history, as this is where the first church on Aruba once stood.

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The Alto Vista Chapel with labyrinth

Catholic pioneers

The original Alto Vista Chapel was built in 1750 under the supervision of Venezuelan missionary Domingo Antonio Silvestre, even though there was no priest to be found on the entire island. He won the souls of the Caquetios and paid for construction out of his own pocket. But the chapel did not protect against the plague, which swept through the village 26 years after it was built. The surviving believers then left. In the many decades that it was abandoned, the chapel fell into such disrepair that little more remained than tragic ruins. But, thanks to a resolute school teacher, the chapel rose again, 136 years after its abandonment.

Determined Francisca

While on a hike with her class in the 1940s, school teacher Francisca Henriques Lacle found a small painting of the Virgin Mary surrounded by flowers and candles. She saw this as evidence that the locals still felt strongly about this place. Although the Bishop of Curaçao originally rejected her request to rebuild the chapel, Francisco raised 5,000 florins through picnics to have a large statue of the Virgin Mary made in the Netherlands. When it arrived on the island, she received the bishop’s blessing for construction. The chapel she helped build stands proudly once more.

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Romance

Beach

Water sports

Arts & Culture

Nature

Romance

For couples in love, a sunset dinner is a great incentive to leave the hotel room. Preferably dinner on the beach with your feet in the sand, a sultry ocean breeze and gourmet cuisine. The beautiful island of Aruba boasts many outstanding restaurants with an ocean view.

Beach

Aruba’s beaches offer a lot more than just snorkelling and diving. There is also plenty of action above the surface. Thanks to a strong and steady wind, the island is known as one of the best wind and kite-surf destinations in the Caribbean. Several of Aruba’s beaches offer excellent activities on the water, for both beginner and more experienced surfers.

Water sports

Aruba is an island paradise, both above and below the surface of the ocean. Here you will find some of the most spectacular dive spots in the world. Those who cannot dive will miss out on beautiful reefs and fascinating shipwrecks. But not to worry, diving is easy to learn – whether you wish to become a certified diver or simply try an introductory test dive.

Arts & Culture

The California Lighthouse is a 30-metre-high lighthouse on the north-western tip of Aruba. Now that modern technology has made the original function of the lighthouse obsolete, it primarily serves as a beacon for tourists, who like to come down to his part of Aruba to enjoy the spectacular views of the island. An added plus is that there is always a refreshing ocean breeze to cool you off.

Romance

Feet in the sand, swaying palm trees, the murmuring of the sea — in Aruba, there seems to be a romantic spot around every corner. No wonder it’s such a popular place to propose or get married. And with a declaration of love comes a profound attachment to the island: many couples keep coming back to celebrate their anniversary.

Beach

If you’ve ever dived the reefs and wrecks around Aruba, you might have encountered them before: sea turtles. Sea turtles are like underwater carrier pigeons: no matter how far they roam, they always return home. Their ‘home’ is the Aruban beach where they once hatched out of an egg — and also where they come to lay the next generation.

Beach

Good, better, best: it’s difficult to choose between all the beaches on Aruba. Are you looking for the finest or whitest sand, or clearest water? Perhaps something shallow and suitable for children? Or something impressive or maybe even festive? Aruba has it all. Each beach is unique in its own way, so you’ll always find one meeting your needs.

Romance

Although various languages are spoken on Aruba, the word for ‘sweetheart’ in Papiamento is probably the cutest of all: ‘dushi’. The island is an absolute paradise where old romances are rekindled and new ones born. All the same, there’s plenty more to do than getting lost in each other’s eyes. After all, special memories are also made by doing things together.

Water sports

The waters surrounding Aruba harbour a true ship graveyard. Some of these ships were torpedoed — others perished in a storm. Nowadays, a few are even sunk here deliberately. Why? Because not only the fish love these wrecks, but also divers and snorkellers, who can explore the underwater world while enjoying a bit of history in the process.

Water sports

Floating serenely through a quiet underwater world full of surprises… Once you’ve been bitten by the diving bug, there’s no going back. Try out the crystal-clear Caribbean waters of Aruba, for instance, and you'll experience culture shock in Technicolor. The coral reefs in particular seem to be an entirely different planet.

Nature

The nature reserve Arikok covers close to one-fifth of Aruba and contains virtually all the flora and fauna that the country has to offer — against a background of beautiful volcanic rock formations. In addition, the national park is home to a large number of historical heritage sites.