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Experience the best of Oranjestad

Oranjestad is Aruba's small harbour capital, a Caribbean town of pastel Dutch gables, old forts and shopping streets on a dry, sunny coast.

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Oranjestad sits on Aruba's leeward coast, where the island is flat and arid and edged with cacti, and its centre mixes Dutch colonial gables with Caribbean colour. Fort Zoutman, dating from the 1790s, is among the oldest buildings in town and holds the island's historical museum, with the Willem III Tower, a later addition, beside it. Wilhelmina Park, a small tropical garden by the water, is named after the Dutch queen.

The main street runs back from the harbour past shops, cafés and restaurants, and the marina fills with yachts and fishing boats. Outside town, Arikok National Park covers much of the rocky eastern interior with caves and limestone cliffs, the California Lighthouse marks the north-west tip, and the small Alto Vista Chapel stands on the north coast. The hotel beaches of Palm Beach and Eagle Beach lie a short way up the coast.

Aruba's own cooking draws on Dutch, Caribbean and South American habits: keshi yena, a hollowed round of Edam stuffed with spiced meat, pastechi, fried pastries filled with cheese or meat, and fresh grilled fish served with funchi, a cornmeal side. Papiamento, the local language, blends Portuguese, Spanish and Dutch. Trade winds keep the dry climate comfortable all year, and the island lies just outside the usual hurricane belt.

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  • 4.8 across the top 24

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Day trips from Oranjestad

10

Guided tours in Oranjestad

19

Outdoor and adventure activities in Oranjestad

11

Nature and wildlife tours in Oranjestad

6

Desert and safari experiences in Oranjestad

5

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