Blogging to Aruba: Aruba Activities

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

The Donkey Sanctuary has reopened!

After the obligatory lock-down because of the Corona virus on the island, the Donkey Sanctuary has officially reopened. A visit to the donkeys might be a great idea, combining a learning experience with fun. Of course our volunteers have kept on working during the lock-down, as the donkeys needed to be fed and cared for and the sanctuary needed cleaning on a daily basis as well.

That is one of the reasons why our clean sanctuary is ready to receive you from 9 am until 4 pm.

During your visit there is a number of rules to adhere to:

* no more than 10 visitors at a time are allowed inside the visitors’ center
* there should be a distance of 6 feet between persons
* one visitor at a time is allowed inside our shop
* please use your bank card – preferably no cash money
* wash your hands with soap.

All in all standard rules that you will find everywhere. They will keep you safe and relaxed while visiting the sanctuary. Please come and enjoy your time with our lovely animals. There is no entrance fee.

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

#HappinessWillPrevail - Aruba's way of staying Together While Apart

In these unprecedented times, there’s one thing we could all use right now: a break! So we’re sharing some calm and lightness, with little ways to bring Aruba into your home.

Crossword, Word Search, Scramble - test your knowledge of One happy island!

We’ve collected beautiful Aruba images for your mobile phone, desktop computer or video meetings. Represent Aruba!

Let the kiddies show off their creativity. Get out those crayons, you’re gonna need a lot of beautiful Aruba blue!

Find it all at aruba.com!

Tuesday, April 28, 2020

12 Things You Should Know Before Traveling to Aruba

Year-round sunny weather, white-sand beaches, friendly locals, and tasty international cuisine—these are a few of the reasons we love Aruba. In addition to picture-perfect beaches, the clear water that rings the island is perfect for snorkeling and wreck diving. And while visiting Aruba is pretty easy, there are some things you should know before you get on the plane (No, visiting Flamingo Beach in Aruba isn't as easy as you think). We're covering everything from the when to go to Aruba to whether you need a visa, the best beach resorts, and what must-do experiences you need to book while traveling to Aruba. Read MORE.

Tuesday, March 3, 2020

Soul Beach Music Festival Hosted by Aruba Goes Platinum Celebrating 20 Years of Luminous Performances

Announcing Iconic Headliners Mariah Carey & The Roots
Celebrity Host Deon Cole
Memorial Day Weekend May 20-25
COMEDY NIGHT AND LIVE MUSIC PERFORMANCES BY AN ARRAY OF ARTISTS

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Come find your place in the sun and soak up the vibes at the 20th Anniversary of the Soul Beach Music Festival hosted by Aruba unveiling the stellar lineup and superstar performers, Memorial Day weekend, May 20-25, 2020 with main stage concert headliners Mariah Carey and The Roots. Bringing incandescent vocals embodied in glitter and glam to headline Sunday, May 24th, MARIAH CAREY is the best-selling female artist of all time with more than 200 million albums sold to date and 18 Billboard Hot 100 #1 singles (17 self-penned), more than any solo artist in history. Mariah is a singer/song-writer/producer recognized with multiple Grammy® Awards, numerous American Music Awards, Billboard's "Top Female Artist of All Time", Billboard's "Artist of the Decade" Award, Billboard's "Icon Award," the World Music Award for "World's Best Selling Female Artist of the Millennium," and BMI's "Icon Award" for her outstanding achievements in songwriting, to name a few – with her distinct five-octave vocal range, prolific songwriting, and producing talent, Mariah is truly the template of the modern pop performance. Elevating the soul like no other with laced lyrics and impeccable vibrations to headline Saturday, May 23rd, THE ROOTS have become one of the best known and most respected hip-hop acts in the business, winning four Grammys®, including "Best R&B Album" for "Wake Up!", "Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance" for "Hang in There" (with John Legend) and "Best Group or Duo R&B Vocal Performance" for "Shine." This brings the band's Grammy®, nomination count to twelve. Additionally, "The Roots Picnic," a yearly star-studded mix of musicians, has become a celebrated institution. The Roots were named one of the greatest live bands around by Rolling Stone and serve as the official house band on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. DEON COLE is a comedian, writer and actor who can currently be seen on ABC's Black-ish, Freeform's Grown-ish and his latest one-hour stand-up special for Netflix, COLE HEARTED. Deon will illuminate the main stage with rousing comedic genius and his calculating stage presence sure to captivate thousands of festival goers.

"We are thrilled to welcome celebrated musicians and comedians to the 20th anniversary of the Soul Beach Music Festival on the One happy island of Aruba. Each year, this unforgettable festival creates treasured memories for visitors as they immerse themselves in the local culture, dance the day and night away and enjoy our pristine beaches," said Ronella Tjin Asjoe-Croes, CEO of Aruba Tourism Authority.

Delve into the overflow of Aruba - One happy island - to experience the Caribbean Wow factor like you've never seen it before with sun swept coastal views, majestic tranquility, trailblazing scenic tours, aquatic adventures and shopping escapades along with culinary superstars ensured to alter ones state of mind. Aruba's wanderlust-fueled appeal, a true multicultural mix of modern luxury and artistic charm, draws globe-trotting travelers to pad across powder soft sands while beckoning their souls to soar beyond imagination. The amplified allure of this island paradise is unmatched and offers endless attractions as in a picture-perfect postcard. Soul Beach Music Festival, previously named #4 by USA Today readers' choice "10 Best Caribbean Celebrations" and #1 "Caribbean Summer Festival" by Jetsetter Magazine, boasts a seasoned blend featuring live music performances, comedy shows and beach parties. It's no wonder festival goers return year after year to indulge in the coastal collaboration of Soul Beach Music Festivals' mega gathering and the breathtaking destination of Aruba's oceanic oasis. Coupled with the celebratory feast of Soul Beach Music Festivals entertainment and Aruba's star power, this dynamic duo offers up a lifetime supply of boundless memories. There is no other place to be Memorial Day weekend other than in the afterglow of a paradise supernova, the 20th Anniversary of the Soul Beach Music Festival hosted by Aruba.

"The Soul Beach Music Festival delivers an annual event that celebrates a reunion of family, friendships and great vibes. The event is powered by soul stirring music and hilarious comedy performances" said Soul Beach Festival Productions, CEO, Mark Adkins. "As we look forward to the 20th Anniversary, we want to extend a heartfelt thank you to the tens of thousands of Soul Beach tourists that have traveled to attend the event and to our true partners in Aruba, the people, sponsors, government, and Tourism Authority. This year's combination of performers is exceptional and includes one of the best live bands in the business, multi-Grammy winners The Roots, as well as one of the most extraordinary vocal Icons in history, singer/songwriter, Mariah Carey along with comedy meteorite, and this year's host of main stage concerts Deon Cole. All of this year's talented artists will further highlight the range of great performances that have graced Aruba's beautiful shores over the past two decades. We hope you'll join us for this momentous celebration and look forward to seeing you there," said Mark Adkins, Executive Producer of Soul Beach Festival Productions.

The 2020 Soul Beach Music Festival, #SBMF20, will roll out more highly anticipated announcements of main stage performing artists in the weeks to come. For information about ticket sales, accommodations and the latest updates sign up for CLUB SOUL BEACH, by visiting http://www.soulbeach.com.

Join the Soul Beach Music Festival community: follow us on Twitter and Instagram @SoulBeachMusic and become a fan of the 2020 Soul Beach Music Festival on Facebook.

The 2020 Soul Beach Music Festival is sponsored by Aruba Tourism Authority; additional sponsors include Aruba Hotel & Tourism Association, Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino, Hilton, Divi Resorts, Tamarijn Aruba All Inclusive, Eagle Aruba Resort & Casino, Courtyard by Marriott Aruba Resort.

Aruba
As one of the most revisited destinations in the Caribbean, Aruba — One happy island — is an island of contradictions, where pristine turquoise waters collide against the desert-like terrain of the north shore; where peace and relaxation coexist with wild and rugged adventures; where Dutch influence meets American ease and where a diverse history parallels a bright future. Nestled in the southern Caribbean outside the fringes of the hurricane belt, the island is just a two-and-a-half-hour flight from Miami, a four-hour flight from New York City and boasts year-round cooling trade winds with an average 82-degree temperature. Aruba offers beach-lovers, adrenaline junkies, relaxation-seekers and everyone in between a slice of paradise with breathtaking beaches, a booming culinary scene of over 200 restaurants with 25+ located ideally on the water, world-famous festivals and events, exciting land and water activities, art galleries and museums, sumptuous spas, championship golf, exclusive shopping and signature experiences such as cooling off in Conchi, Aruba's natural pool— accessible only by foot or off-road vehicle. With all-inclusive options, boutique properties in charming Eagle Beach, high-rise branded resorts in Palm Beach and cosmopolitan city hotels in Oranjestad, the island of contradictions provides the perfect getaway for both first-time guests and loyal visitors. www.aruba.com

Tuesday, February 25, 2020

Playground in paradise: Fun and flamingos on De Palm Island, Aruba

If you’ve ever had fantasies of relaxing on the sun-soaked deck of a thatched-roof cabana perched over the Caribbean Sea while a butler fills your glass with bubbling champagne, then you’re gonna want to head to De Palm Island in Aruba, stat. Read MORE

Monday, December 2, 2019

Presentation of the Donkey Sanctuary Aruba Calendar 2020

Coffee with cake made the presentation of the new Donkey Calendar 2020 at the sanctuary a festive affair. Well-known journalist Nico van der Zee presented the first calendar to Rona Coster, local publisher, journalist and columnist. She was chosen for this honor for her involvement in getting sponsors for the realization of the new roof for the visitor center. Her enthusiasm and drive were key for the realization of this major project.

Usually manager Desiree Eldering presents the first calendar, but she was unable to attend because of illness. Fortunately she found in Nico van der Zee a perfect representative.