Aruba, along with Bonaire and Curacao, is one of the ABC islands, also known as the Dutch or Neth-Antillies, a small chain of islands off the coast of northwestern Venezuela. It is a popular tourist destination for Americans and Europeans, with direct flights from the Netherlands and over 14 places in North America. 

People come to Aruba because it is hot and safe, the beaches are gorgeous, and the water is absurdly blue. There are also plenty of great restaurants, nightlife, casinos, and luxury hotels. What Aruba is not, however, is lush. Aruba, for most people, is a relaxing–though more expensive than Mexico–fun in the sun destination. 

People who aren't familiar with the geography and climate of this part of the Caribbean are often surprised when they get to Aruba to find that, aside from the stunning Caribbean Sea, the landscape looks more like the American southwest or an Australian scrub desert than the stereotypical images of the Caribbean you get in popular media. 

Suppose you expect jungle-covered mountains sloping into giant blue harbors fringed by white sand beaches. In that case, you are most likely thinking of the Caribbean's Leeward Islands–places like St. Thomas, Anguilla, Guadeloupe–Cua, or Jamaica. While it's understandable that these are the most iconic places in the region, Aruba's natural beauty is special in its own right, extending far beyond the coast and hotel zone. 

Now that your interest is piqued, below are five destinations in Aruba that are very much worth the time and effort to experience: 

• Mangel Halto (Spanish Lagoon)

• Arikok National Park

• California Lighthouse

• Arashi Dunes

• SS Antilla Shipwreck

1. Mangel Halto (Spanish Lagoon)

Mangel Halto is the name of a neighborhood and small beach located on the southern half of Aruba's west coast. It is quite well protected from the open ocean by an offshore seawall, making it a favorite for local Arubans. You will also see tourists here, but far fewer than anywhere else on the island.

People come from all over to park their cars, watch the sunset and play in the cerulean water. It is where local kids have their swimming lessons, where older folks come to take a comfortable dip, and It is, hands down, the best off-the-beach snorkeling spot on the island. 

Mangel Halto means "tall mangroves" in Aruban Papiamento, and the beach is not so much a beach as it is a large patch of sand that has been added to an otherwise cliff and mangrove-dominated stretch of coastline. Because of the lack of beach space, crowds are not usually an issue, especially if you go on a weekday. 

If you want a more leisurely snorkeling experience, you can go straight off the beach and snorkel within the bay. There is still plenty to see, and beginner snorkelers will feel comfortable, although the coral quality is not so good.

There are also several spots along the coast to make your way into the water if you want a little more solitary experience, although some of the entries are a bit precarious. However, the best and healthiest coral is about 100 meters from the mangroves on the south end of the lagoon.

As mentioned, within the bay, snorkeling is beginner level. On the other side of the barrier wall, however, just offshore, the swell can pick up, you have to know how to read the currents, and you need to be constantly mindful of boat traffic. This is not a location I would bring first-timers or kids. 

If you are a confident swimmer, have good quality fins, and are willing to take the risk, the outer wall offers an abundance of healthy soft and hard coral and a wide range of Caribbean marine life. Nearly every dive shop on the island takes people here. 

Mangel Halto also has some nice accommodation options for people looking for a more "local" experience and who want to avoid the crowds and tourist traps of the north. The main road along the beach is a quiet two-lane residential street with beautiful, understated houses looking out onto the sea. Behind that, the streets are a mix of concrete and dirt, with modest local homes and plenty of peace and quiet. Nowhere else on the island has this vibe. 

Bonus: if you come on a Sunday, the little restaurant right across from the boardwalk entrance to the mangrove beach and picnic area has delicious homemade Aruban barbecue. They also rent snorkeling equipment. But you must get there before 2 p.m., or they sell out. 

I stayed two months in Mangel Halto, snorkeling every day, eating at the local hole-in-the-walls, and biking around. The only downside is that it is far from grocery shopping and many other amenities you might want as a tourist. If you're looking for tranquillity and plenty of great local food options, on the other hand, this is the place to be. 

2. Arikok National Park

Most people who come to Aruba for a week go to the Island's much more developed and tourist-friendly northwest. This is where all the big hotels, casinos, and main tourist infrastructure are located. 

It's nice if that's what you're after, and there is plenty to keep you occupied. For instance, you could easily think you were in Miami or Cancun on a cruise through the Palm Beach area. Still, nothing signals you are somewhere as special as Aruba truly is: a small desertic island in the southern Caribbean, outside the hurricane belt, just 28km from the Venezuelan mainland, home to unique ecosystems, animals, and interesting Mesoamerican history. 

If you want to get a feel for Aruba's true natural beauty–a kind of Sonoran foothills desert that meets the Caribbean aesthetic–you want to head over to Arikok National Park. 

Arikok is a 34 square kilometer expanse that stretches from Aruba's rugged east coast and goes quite a ways inland, reaching almost to the other side of the island, on the outskirts of the town of Savaneta. It contains Arawak Indian rock paintings, pristine, rugged beaches, a turtle nesting site, and miles of paved road that take you through arid scrub and cactus desert as well as impressive caves and lava fields. 

Kids under 17 can enter for free, and it costs $11 for an adult. While you can walk the park's roads if you like, there is zero shade to be had, and it would not be a good idea to wander around Arikok in the heat of the day, even with plenty of water, as you'd be risking heat stroke. Most people do it in an air-conditioned car. 

The park's most popular attractions include the "Conchi" natural pool and the Arikok National Park Limestone Formation.

3. California Lighthouse

The California Lighthouse sits at (almost) the northern tip of the island, and it's a spectacular spot from which to look out over Arashi Bay and the Arashi Dunes.

The lighthouse is a nice photo op and very easy to visit if you are staying in the island's northern part. After you have seen the lighthouse, you should make your way down to the Arashi dunes. 

4. Arashi Dunes

The Arashi Dunes, along with Arikok, are the two most potent examples of the ruggedness of Aruba and, indeed, the rest of the ABCs. Covering the north and northeast tip of the island, the Arashi Dunes are completely exposed to the open ocean and did not look safe for swimming while I was there. 

It is a popular destination for off-roading and dune buggying. It is also a spectacular place to appreciate the awesomeness of the Caribbean sea crashing against this ancient, volcanic coastline. 

This coast stretch features large volcanic rocks and snow-white sand dotted with hardy coastal vegetation. 

You need some durable footwear to explore this landscape, and if you are driving into the more rugged parts of the coastline, some off-roading knowledge. There are also plenty of tour operators that will take you here. 

The area behind the dunes would have been a great place to bring mountain bikes, and I saw plenty of bikers and cars with bike racks while exploring the area. 

5. SS Antilla Shipwreck

Some ships were lost to storms over the years, while others were scuttled. The coastal waters around Aruba are home to more than then diveable shipwrecks. The SS Antilla is by far the most popular. 

The SS Antilla, also known as the "Ghost Ship" of Aruba, is one of the latter. When Germany invaded the Netherlands at the beginning of the Second World War, the Dutch deliberately sunk the Antilla, a German cargo ship, to avoid falling into enemy hands. 

The 122-meter-long ship is one of the biggest wrecks in the Caribbean, and, thanks to the fact that it rests on an angle, a decent piece of the boat is quite near the surface, meaning it can be both dove and snorkeled. 

It is far more impressive to dive, however. The ship is a labyrinth of holes and passageways colonized by hard coral through which you ascend and descend, surrounded by an abundance of reef fish. You will likely see at least one giant green moray while you traverse the wreck. 

You can dive with just your open water certification. Still, I believe it is also possible to do an exploratory dive (i.e., an uncertified dive where a dive instructor babysits you). 

Either way, the SS Antilla was impressive and something that I would have gladly snorkeled had diving not been an option. 

Aruba is more than just fun in the sun

Aruba deserves far more credit than it gets as a place of unique, albeit eclectic natural beauty. While not the lush green Caribbean usually portrayed in the media, it is hard not to be captivated walking, driving, or biking around Aruba's landscape. 

The fact that there is a comparatively harsh, cactus-studded desert coastline jutting into the impossibly blue and prolific southern Caribbean is special, and Aruba's various natural wonders are well worth seeing. 

What's more, Aruba is a small place, meaning that all of the things mentioned on the above list can be seen in just a couple of days, leaving plenty of time for lounging on the beach and sipping cocktails. I hope the descriptions above inspire you to check out one or all of these destinations and make your trip to Aruba richer. 

About the author: Since 2015 Alex has been a freelance writer and wildlife photographer, working out of some of the planet's most spectacular wildlife and nature travel destinations--from the Amazon to Raja Ampat--diving, snorkeling, fieldherping, birding and photographing his way around the world. He runs the nomad nature travel blog and contributes to outlets like The Costa Rican, Yahoo News and Sustainable Review.

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