ORANJESTAD (June 30, 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!
The New Secret Hotel in Aruba
One of the most anticipated resorts in Aruba is finally becoming a reality.
It’s the new resort in San Nicolas, named Secrets.
The developers, Three Rivers Real Estate, met with the Government and San Nicolas Business Association this week. They presented the hotel designs, and completed their performance bond by the Central Bank of Aruba for 13 million dollars.
Finally Developments in San Nicolas
There’s a moratorium which prohibits the construction of new resorts, condominiums and apartments on the north side of the island. But compared to the north side of the island, San Nicolas has less tourism or industrial development.
San Nicolas is one of the only areas that is approved by law for new developments regarding tourism or industry.
More About Secrets
The resort will not be built on Baby beach, but at Seroe Colorado, close to the cliffs overlooking Baby beach.
According to stakeholders, groundbreaking construction will start late 2019. And the resort will be completed within 2 years.
Layout of the future Baby beach resort in Seroe Colorado
Three Rivers Real Estate partnered with Apple Vacations for Secret resort worth 220 million dollars in Aruba.
There’s also an area signaled near the ruins at Nanki Beach, between Baby & Rodgers beach for future developments.
According to Tourism Minister, a 40 room boutique hotel could be established here in the future.
The construction of the resort will cause a spin off effect that will benefit the economy of San Nicolas.
This includes the new opportunities for local investors to start car rentals, tours, water sports, restaurants, malls and more establishments that are non existent at the moment on this side of the island.
New Rules When Renting UTV & ATV in Aruba
New laws will be enforced to prevent violations against drivers who ride reckless with all terrain vehicles (ATV) and utility task vehicles (UTV).
UTV & ATV will be equipped with GPS to track drivers, in order to make sure they stay on safe trails while discovering the island.
New safe trails will be created, and unguided tours will most likely be eliminated.
Are you renting ATV or UTV?
It’s not allowed to drive on the beach, sand dunes, and terrain on the north side of the island which has habitats belonging to lizards, iguanas, crabs, owls, and other small animals, even indigenous plants.
According to the government, new changes will be applied soon.
New Flag Warning System Swimming in Aruba
The department of calamity prevention will soon introduce a flag warning system to notify beach-goers of potential water hazards, after recently noticing visitors in the ocean at beaches that are not suitable for swimming.
According to the director of the department, visitors are not well aware of the dangers when swimming, especially during the hurricane season (between June & November).
During the hurricane season, the winds in Aruba tend to pick up and create strong currents, undertows and big waves. This can be dangerous, if you are not a good swimmer.
Lifeguards are non existent on the island, so swimming is at your own risk.
The flag warning system is not official yet. More information will be released at a later date.
New Book Archaeology in Aruba
Aruba is known for palm trees and white sandy beaches, but on the other side of the island you’ll find the countryside.
This part of the island is dessert like and home to caves previously inhabited by Indians.
Inside the caves you’ll find brownish-red color drawings on the stone walls made by Indians who lived on the island almost 4000 years ago.
drawings inside the caves in Aruba
Two decades ago, an archaeologist and a writer started an inventory of all the drawings inside the caves and added them all into a catalog.
The new catalog named “The Archaeology of Aruba: The Pictographs & Petroglyphs” is more than a colorful coffee table centerpiece.
It’s a hardcover book with over 400 pages of Indian rock paintings around the island, and explains where to find them.
You can purchase this catalog at the archaeological museum in Aruba as of July 5, 2019 for only $52.
Where can you go to see these Indian rock drawings for yourself?
Take a trip to the islands only National Park (Arikok) to find these caves.
New Post Stamps – Aruban Athletes
The local post office in Aruba released a new collection of post stamps honoring four of the islands top athletes.
Here’s a short description on their achievements and post stamp.
Windsurfing
Aruba’s professional windsurfer, Sarah-Quita, is one of the youngest athletes to win over a dozen windsurfing world titles in her career.
Windsurfing is a well practiced sport on the island due to the trade winds, especially near Fisherman’s Huts.
If you’re lucky, you might see her zip and surf through the waters.
Her best windsurfing categories are slalom & freestyle.
Baseball
Xander Bogaerts is one of the most popular baseball players at the moment.
Currently playing for the Boston Red Sox, his two biggest successes are winning the MLB World Series title two times, in 2013 & 2018.
He’s one of the league’s best shortstops and offensive players.
Bike Motocross
The best bike motocross cyclist in Aruba is Shanayah Howell.
She has been winning all the motocross competitions in her age category since the age of 5 years old.
Shanayah is the first Aruban bmx cyclist to win a world title during a championship in Brazil 2006. She also was crowned Champion in Costa Rica 2016, and Canada 2017.
Taekwondo
Winning a gold medal in 2012 at the international taekwondo open in Orlando put, Chiara Petrocchi, on the road to becoming a rising star.
As one of the best taekwondo fighters, she’s won many titles in her career. Including bronze, silver and gold at international competitions in Costa Rica, Canada, Mexico & LasVegas.
All stamps are available for $6.00 at the post office located in Oranjestad, Santa Cruz and San Nicolas.
The post stamps are designed by local artist Armando Goedgedrag.
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