The beautiful Caribbean island paradise that's 30C in September

A beautiful Caribbean island reaches 30C in September. Aruba is a constituent island country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, in the southern Caribbean Sea.

The island was named among the top to visit this year by Money Week, which said it was the best for year-round sunshine, white sand, and cactus-studded landscapes. The magazine said it was an “ideal retreat for any holidaymaker”, with a highlight on the island’s watersports and snorkelling to see the wreckage of SS Antilla. Among Aruba’s top tourist sites are the natural coastal pools, Aruba Archaeological Museum, Eagle Beach, California Lighthouse, and the island’s second-highest peak, Hooiberg. Another popular site is the pilgrimage site, The Lourdes Grotto. This shrine is nestled into the rocks of Seroe Preto. Inside, there is a 700-kilogram statue of the Virgin Mary, visible from the main road. Aruba's pretty architecture is a mixture of Spanish, Dutch, American and Caribbean influences, dating from its “discovery” by Spanish colonisers in 1499 to the American inspiration of today.

The island is marked by rolling hills and limestone terraces, as well as being home to Arikok National Park. The low-lying regions have white sandy beaches, while the high plateaus on the north side of the island are constantly battered by rough waves, with caves and small natural bridge formations.

Aruba provides a habitat for unique wildlife, including the endemic Aruban whiptail, Aruba rattlesnake, as well as subspecies of Aruban burrowing owl and Brown-throated parakeet.

In contrast to much of the Caribbean, which experiences humid tropical climates, Aruba has a dry climate with an arid landscape. The relatively warm and sunny weather persists throughout the year and can reach up to 33C in September, with an average of 30C.

Aruba remains dry even during its supposed rainy season from September to January. Rainfall can be highly variable, ranging from as little as 150 millimetres or six inches during strong El Niño years.

Aruba is positioned south of the Main Development Region for tropical cyclones and generally avoids the direct impact of these storms. The island was affected by two hurricanes in their early stages late in the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season.

Aruba has a large and well-developed tourism industry, receiving 1,082,000 overnight tourists in 2018. About 75% of the GNP is earned through tourism and related activities. The majority of tourists are from North America, at 73.3%, followed by Latin America with 15.2% and Europe with 8.3%. In 2018, there were 40,231 visitors from the Netherlands.