ARUBA is the smallest, and also the Westernmost of the Leeward group of islands, and lies off the coast of Venezuela, in the Caribbean Sea.

It is 30km (20 miles) long, 9km (6 miles) wide, and mainly flat.
The West and Southwest coast, namely 'Palm Beach', has 11km (7 miles) of white, palm-fringed sands.

The East coast, however, has a wind-swept coastline, which boasts the famous and wonderful attraction of the 'Natural Bridge' - an arc carved out of the cliffs by the Ocean surf. It is the highest and largest natural bridge in the Caribbean.
In the middle of the island, and well worth a visit, is the old settlement of Santa Cruz, while to the Northwest of here is Hooiberg (Mount Haystack) which rises from the flat landscape, and can be climbed, by a series of steps, to the peak.
To the South of the island is Jamanota Mountain.

Aruba is dry and sunny, with pleasant trade winds, throughout the year. The small amount of rainfall occurs in October, November and December.