A breathtaking island where you can relax on pristine beaches surrounded by flamingos is scorching hot in February and has been named the safest in the Caribbean
Not only is Aruba small, modern and easily accessible with direct flights from the UK, it also has more sunny days than any other islands in the Caribbean because it sits just outside the hurricane belt.
February is a perfect time to visit the stunningly beautiful island of Aruba, which is in the Southern Caribbean just off the coast of Venezuela. Temperatures there at this time of year are around 31C but the climate is uniquely dry compared to the other islands and it avoids the hurricane season that hits elsewhere. The trade winds make it great for wind surfing and mean it doesn’t get too stifling in the hotter months.
Even during the winter temperatures rarely dip lower than 25C, which means it’s ideal for spending long, lazy days on the white powdery sand of one of its 40 beaches lapped by turquoise, crystal clear waters. Flamingo Beach is a particular favourite where you can feed the pink birds that inhabit a private island – but you must get a day pass for entry as demand is high and it is part of the Renaissance hotel.
However the sunny climes are not the only reason to visit the stunning paradise retreat, also known as One Happy Island. You can wander around the bustling capital of Oranjestad with its pastel coloured buildings and shops selling perfume, designer goods, gifts made by local craftsmen and even Cuban cigars.
In Arikok National Park the beaches lead to rugged deserts with limestone cliffs dotted with cacti. Here you can find the wondrous Fontein Caves and the divine Conchi Natural Pool. For those wanting to soak up some of the calypso culture join in the dancing to steel drums at the weekly Bon bini Festival.
The island was colonised by the Dutch in 1634 and there are four different languages spoken – English, Spanish, Dutch, and the local Creole language of Papiamento. Much of the food is Indonesian and Dutch influenced such as the national dish of Keshi Yena – a large ball of cheese stuffed with spiced meat.
Wandering around looking for a restaurant in the evening is perfectly safe too. In fact Aruba was named the safest island in the Caribbean by Travel Safe Abroad . It scored 90 out of 100 and was only beaten by four other countries, with Iceland coming out tops with 95. Surprisingly, it is also completely fine to drink the tap water there too and visitors are encouraged to take refillable bottles with them to help save the environment.
Visitors to Aruba shared their holidays on Tripadvisor. One wrote: “25 visits and counting. April 28 next trip What I like is, the weather, the restaurants, the people, the relaxation. Did I mention the weather?” Another commented: “The island is safe and you can drink the water right from the tap.. totally safe and clean. Eagle beach is long and wide.. totally white sand and wonderful for those long beach walks.. while dipping into the blue ocean.”
