It’s 4:30 on a Thursday afternoon. Back in Greenville, the inferno of workday traffic on I-85 is just getting started. My current plight is only slightly different: wading ankle deep through the luminous, crystalline waters of the Caribbean Sea. If a short end of the stick exists, I am, quite literally, over a thousand miles away from it.
{ Bon Bini }
I was hooked on Aruba long before the plane touched the tarmac.
Craning my neck from the aisle seat — breaching the unspoken rules of in-flight etiquette — I watched the creamy shores and lustrous blue waters form in greater detail. Maybe it’s because I was raised on the South Carolina coasts, where the ocean is a dark emerald rather than a clear-cut topaz. Maybe it’s because a small child hollered for the entire last leg of my flight. Whatever the reason, stepping into the fragrant, sunlit lobby of the Ritz-Carlton’s seafront resort felt like shrugging off a bulky winter coat in exchange for a temperate, naked breeze. The glass of Champagne at check-in certainly didn’t hurt either.
As a vetted traveler, I’ve stayed in plush Las Vegas hotels, roadside inns off Florida interstates, and everywhere in between. One thing I seek consistently is the marriage of extravagance and comfort; after all, your temporary home away from home should feel just like that—a home. The Ritz-Carlton, Aruba, does this exceedingly well. Whether you’re (hopefully) cleaning up in the casino, indulging in a sunset dinner prepared by Executive Chef Stephen Toevs, or lounging in the adults-only pool (yay!), there’s an omnipresence of unwinding leisure.
The property’s design brings in elements of the island’s natural beauty, capturing scenes from my ocean-view balcony and reflecting them in the spectrum of cerulean, pear-green, and saffron that dictate the rooms’ plush interiors. The sugary sands spread below like a crisp white apron, which I documented religiously. What is social media for, if not to tell the world that you are in Aruba?
Sunny-side Up // From the Ritz-Carlton’s plush amenities to the island’s sublime waters and attractions, such as its iconic California Lighthouse, Aruba has much to see and absorb.
{ Bon Dia }
It took some steely reserve to pry myself from the downy comforts of room 3207 the next morning—I’m not exactly sure what the Ritz-Carlton puts in their mattresses, but I now regard my own bed as less than satisfactory. Any lingering remnants of travel exhaustion quickly dissipated when I climbed aboard the Monforte III, a spacious teak vessel that matches its sumptuous ambience with plenty of go get ’em speed and agility. Insert your boat theme song of choice.
We anchored in Boca Catalina, a quiet crescent of ocean characterized by mild currents and a lively underwater ecosystem perfect for snorkeling. After a minor mea culpa consisting of a face plant against the waves and sucking down saltwater, a colorful prism came into focus. Swirls of silvery grunts, electric blue tangs, and striped angelfish threaded around me, floating above tufts of rigid coral and lazily swaying algae. They observed me with casual indifference, evidently accustomed to the occasional interloper. Fine by me.
Having convinced myself that snorkeling was similar to working out, I accepted the regionally-brewed Amstel Bright as a reward for my efforts and toasted our on-deck chef, who prepared shrimp, steak, chicken, and pineapple kebabs for lunch—an impressive feat considering the grill is on the rear platform of a moving boat.
Tidal Wave // Beautiful sights and activities mingle with history and tradition to infuse this tropical paradise with depth, variety, and calm.
{ Bon Tardi }
One perk of a less-than-20-mile-long island is that it takes a relatively short time to reach any of Aruba’s many destinations. A short car ride brought us to Tierra del Sol, a combination resort, spa, and golf course rambling across nearly 600 acres of prime real estate.
An alternative to the close quarters of hotel-living, Tierra del Sol’s family of pristine condos, villas, and palatial estate homes accommodates those pursuing both privacy and plenty of space, which I gratefully appreciated during that morning’s sun-salutation yoga. It was an authentically calm, renewing experience held poolside at one of the properties. I’ve since tried to recreate that same atmosphere in my own backyard, but with little success.
Our ritual complete, we gathered around the dining table for a meal with one of Tierra del Sol’s personal chefs. Like Aruba itself, the menu was a fusion of culture, carefully curated with influences from Dutch, Asian, and Caribbean cuisines. For once, I was thankful for small portions, as I was able to savor every dish in its entirety.
Our ritual complete, we gathered around the dining table for a meal with one of Tierra del Sol’s personal chefs. Like Aruba itself, the menu was a fusion of culture, carefully curated with influences from Dutch, Asian, and Caribbean cuisines. For once, I was thankful for small portions, as I was able to savor every dish in its entirety.
Tierra del Sol’s crown jewel, however, is the golf course, an 18-hole tour de force that capitalizes on the landscape’s rolling hills, native foliage, and perennial winds to stimulate even the most seasoned athlete. My hand-eye coordination (or lack thereof) has been set in stone since I failed out of tee ball, so I opted for a massage instead of a tee-off. I’m not sure if I’ve ever experienced a more peace-filled 45 minutes.
Bon Nochi
Aruba continued to surprise with its diversity, not only in an amalgam of ethnicities but also in the topography of the island itself. Our last day began with a 4 a.m. wake-up call—and fortunately plenty of coffee—as we ventured out of the resort region to Rancho Daimari for a sunrise horseback ride through Arikok National Park.
I’d not ridden a horse since summer camp, and was anxious about getting back in the saddle. But our equine friends expertly picked their way up and down the craggy earth before breaking into swift trots in the soft sand. The sun climbed upward, dappled in hues of tangerine, rosy pink, and pale yellow. It was hanging high when we reached the “conchi,” a natural pool encircled by high, jagged rock walls. I felt like I was swimming in the eye of a storm; with each rolling wave came a thunderous crash as water made contact with rock, sending salty sprays above my head.
Following lunch in the Arikok National Park, we spent the afternoon traveling to some of the island’s landmarks, including the Alto Vista Chapel, Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins, and the California Lighthouse. A personal highlight was the Terrafuse Aruba glass and ceramics studio, a sunny workshop located in Noord. Sitting behind a burner torch, I watched the glass colors melt together to form an individual bead. It was simple, yet perfect. The bead now rests on my key ring, a constant reminder of an incredible adventure on the One Happy Island. I have an inkling I will be back someday, but until then, Ayo, Aruba.
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