Aruba

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 it.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. There are also two ancient Aruban adobe huts, made entirely from materials found on the island, that have been carefully restored using traditional building techniques. The huts give a fascinating insight into the life of Arubans before they were able to import many useful materials into the country.Within the park is Mount Jamanota, which at 620ft (188m) is Aruba's biggest hill, as well as the only slightly less high Arikok Hill. From the top of either hill 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.

Website : www.arubanationalpark.org

Just north of the capital, Aruba's best stretch of beaches extends four miles (7km) between Eagle Beach and Palm Beach. The endless golden sand and crystal-clear shallow water has attracted crowds and with them the high-rise, luxury hotel complexes that line the beach.There is no shortage of bars and restaurants to choose from and beachgoers are able to hire all sorts of toys including kayaks, windsurfers, snorkelling gear and catamarans. North of Palm Beach there many colourful reefs and shipwrecks to entice divers and snorkellers. Some shallower reefs are so close to the shore that it's possible to walk out into waist-high water to look at the sponges and coral. Diving trips, windsurfing and sailing lessons can be arranged through most hotels. Tubing, parasailing and banana-boating are also available, and very popular.For those looking to take a break from the beach, the nearby Butterfly Farm is a fun outing. There's also the Bubali Bird Sanctuary, a small marshland where visitors can view hundreds of species of migratory waterfowl including coots, cormorants, terns and herons. A favourite 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, which ran aground here in 1891.

Also known as 'Conchi' or 'Cura di Tortuga', Aruba's Natural Pool is a must-see tourist attraction. It is formed from a depression in the surrounding volcanic rock, and filled by the spray of the tide smashing into the deserted coastline below. The Natural Pool is a unique geological formation, and a tranquil place to spend the day swimming.The pool is situated in the heart of Aruba's most rugged terrain, and is inaccessible by car; however, visitors can hire or charter a Jeep to take them there, or hike there, or (most romantic of all) get there on horseback. The sense of discovery in 'finding' the Natural Pool in the midst of the rocky, almost lunar landscape, is second-to-none. Take note, though, that the rocks around the pool can be sharp and are also slippery because of the spray, so it is a good idea to wear shoes when clambering over the rocks. There are also often little crabs crawling all over the rocks.

Address : Windward Coast, Noord, Aruba

San Nicolaas is the industrial centre of Aruba, and 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, most notable in a section of the town's main road that has been turned into a promenade.There are a few popular beaches to the east of the town that offer good swimming and snorkelling opportunities and are suitable for families. The main natural attraction in San Nicolaas is the natural bridge, carved out of rock by wind and water, that can be found in nearby Seroe Colorado.Charlie's Bar is another popular attraction. Established in 1941, local lore has it that the bar used to serve rowdy sailors and oil refinery workers. Over the years, the bar's patrons have often left little keepsakes there - a licence plate, a shirt, a hat, a frisbee, and much more. All of these items now hang from the bar's ceiling, giving the space an eclectic feel. The bar has been featured in two recent novels by the American author Daniel Putkowski.