latest news in Aruba

ORANJESTAD (April 28, 2019) – Sundays I write about the most relevant and interesting happenings on the island in my newsletter.

This weeks edition features the top news headlines in Aruba.

Subscribing to my newsletter is an ideal way to stay up to date with what’s going on in Aruba – whether you’re living on the island, miles away or your first visit!  

If this is your first time reading my newsletter – welcome!



Michelin Star Culinary Week at Divi

Divi & Tamarijn Aruba Resort will host their first and biggest Michelin star pop up dinner and culinary week. Four international acclaimed Michelin starred chefs from the Netherlands will explode your taste buds.

If you’re foodie like me you’re thinking, when, where and how much?

What can you expect at this world class dining experience?

A series of fancy appetizers, delicious second starters, the best cuisines and soothing desserts that will tantalize your taste buds.

All dinners will be presented with 4 or 5 courses and wine pairings.

The participating chefs at culinary week are:

  • Francois Geurds (3 michelin stars)
  • Erik van Loo (2 michelin stars)
  • Edwin Vinke (3 michelin stars)
  • Jermaine de Rozario (1 michelin star)

Combine the talented chefs together and you have 8 Michelin star rating dinner of your lifetime!

Here’s a list of restaurants participating in the Divi culinary week:

  • Red Parrot Aruba
  • Fusion Wine & Piano Bar
  • Windows on Aruba

Culinary week will take place on June 1 – 9, 2019.

For reservations not staying at the Divi & Tamarijn resorts, price is USD $185 per person.

More information about the Michelin Culinary Week can be found at the Divi & Tamarijn Aruba Resort front desk or website.




Experience San Nicolas With New Aruba Island Fest

There’s a new reason to visit San Nicolas besides the stunning mural arts, display of culture, and beautiful beaches – a new street festival.

The new street festival is called Aruba Island Fest and will take place once a month.

It’s a different concept compared to Carubbian Festival. And it’s bigger and better!

Aruba fest is just one of the new additions to the list of activities lined up to start in San Nicolas.

What can you expect during Aruba fest?

Aruban atmosphere that can’t be found anywhere else in the Caribbean with live music local music, local arts and crafts. And ofcourse traditional foods, snacks and drinks!

It’s a perfect event to attend if you want to mingle with locals and catch a feel for the Aruban lifestyle.

Aruba fest will start for the first time in May 29, 2019 (more information will be released at a later date). If you loved Carubbian festival in Aruba, you’re going to go loco for Aruba fest. 


Open House At The Marine Corps

Did you ever wonder how the marines in Aruba look like? Or what they do on a daily basis?

This is your chance to see it with your own eyes as the marine corps organize their annual open house and fundraising event.

Open house at the marines is all about fun and entertainment – a family event!

There’s going to be different booths with souvenirs, tents with food and drinks, live music, rope swings, boat rides, zip lines and various kid friendly activities.

You can even buy raffle tickets and win cool prizes!

The marines are also known to display different demo presentations including K-9 dogs, war ships, coast guards and helicopters.

Last year the marines raised funds for Sgt. Pepper’s Friends, a local non-profit animal welfare organization.

This year they will be raising funds for the heart centered leadership foundation. It’s a non-profit educational foundation dedicated to assisting and empowering schools, youth serving organizations, teachers and parents to serve the youths to live healthy and successful lives.

Open house at marines takes place on May 1, 2019 from 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM. Entrance is free. Marine corps base is located in Savaneta.

May 1, 2019 is labor day on the island, a public holiday. Government office, banks, stores and supermarkets will be closed on this day. Restaurants and resorts will not be affected by this holiday.




The First ABC Windsurfing Championship Tour

Windsurf enthusiasts can now enjoy the first ABC windsurfing competition tour in Aruba next month (May 2019).

The ABC Championship is a series of windsurfing events taking place on Aruba, Bonaire & Curacao.

The competition highlights 40 professional and amateur youth windsurfers. Aruba is represented by 21 windsurfers in this competition.

Competitors will benefit from international exposure throughout the tour.

The winner of the competition will receive a sponsored trip to the next international windsurfing competition and local sponsorship deals.

Here’s a schedule for the ABC windsurf tour:

  • Curacao, May 10  – 12, 2019
  • Aruba, May 17 – 19, 2019
  • Bonaire, May 24 – 26, 2019

If you want to watch the windsurf action during ABC tour, head over to the “Blue Highway” which is the beach close to Fisherman’s Hut (next to Ritz Carlton Resort). 

It’s going to be an all day event of watching windsurfers zip through on one of the most beautiful spots in the Caribbean. 


Jazz Appreciation Month in Aruba

April is the month for jazz music lovers as they take time to appreciate this early American artform with all their love.

The love for jazz music in Aruba is also strong as local jazz musicians celebrate with an exciting show on April 30, 2019.

Jazz appreciation month started for the first time in Aruba back in 2006 by one local Jazz enthusiast.

Local jazz musicians will show their talent at Casibari Cafe & Grill on April 30, 2019 starting from 7:00 PM.

If you love jazz music head over to Casibari Cafe and enjoy an evening of the best live jazz music you’ll ever hear on the island.

Tourism Development in San Nicolas

Amongst all the plans for tourism development in San Nicolas, a new project was announced by the tourism minister this week.

A small boutique hotel with no more than 75 rooms. No additional details were released about this hotel project.

The tourism minister also announced that construction works will start for the redevelopment of the entire Baby & Rodgers beach area. New facilities, new restaurants, additional parking spaces and sports: volley ball, beach soccer, tennis and basketball.

secluded beach in Aruba

Redevelopment project at Baby & Rodgers beach will start in July 2019.

There’s also a 600+ rooms all inclusive hotel near Baby beach in the governments vision for tourism development in San Nicolas, but this project is still pending approval.

Baby beach is a long time favorite beach for locals and visitors. It’s going to get better after this beach maintenance project, you might want to put Aruba on your list of islands to visit in 2020. 




Two New Overpasses Under Construction

Two new overpasses are in the middle of construction as part of the new infrastructure project in Aruba called “Watty Vos Boulevard”.

Watty Vos Boulevard is a 4 lane roadway from the Airport until the hotel area.

The construction works involve rebuilding over 7.5 kilometers of roads, upgrading intersections with roundabouts and building two overpasses.

The first overpass in Aruba

According to the contractors, Mota Engil, the first overpass located in the district of Cumana should be completed in August 2019.

The second overpass located in Hato will start construction soon.





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