By Scott Bateman
© Caribeez.com
Vacationers in Aruba will find a number of ATV excursions that will take them through the small island’s arid countryside, sometimes through neighborhoods and occasionally even onto busy roads.
An all-terrain vehicle excursion is one way to see a large part of the island in a brief amount of time. It also is a chance to visit the most interesting attractions on the island, although the actual attractions visited vary by tour. Attractions include:
- The California Lighthouse, built a century ago
- The baby natural bridge
- Alto Vista Chapel, Aruba’s first chapel which was built by the Indians and Spanish Missionaries
- Bushiribana Gold Mine Ruin, built at the start of the 19th century and operated by the Dutch and English
- Casibari Rock Formation, consisting of granite boulders
- Mount Jamanota, the highest point on Aruba at 622 feet. This rocky climb to the top provides a clear view of the entire island and a glimpse of the Venezuela coast.
An excursion starts with the operator’s bus picking up people at the hotel and taking them to the starting point. Everyone is given a brief introduction and practices driving their ATV in the vicinity.
Once people are comfortable with their vehicles, a guide will lead everyone off the operator’s property and onto the road leading to the various attractions. The arid Aruba landscape makes the ride bumpy, dirty and dusty, especially when the ATVs go off road and start climbing Mount Jamanota.
A typical “half day” ride is two to four hours, plus traveling time by bus from the hotel. Costs vary by tour operator and time of year, but expect to pay about $85 to $125 per person.
Aruba ATV tour operators include Watapana Tours, Aruba Off-Road, Aruba Tours, Rancho Notorious and Rancho Daimari. Anyone interested in an ATV excursion can schedule it through the operator’s Web site in advance of vacation or at most hotels while staying on the island. Scheduling in advance has the advantage of locking in one of the limited number of openings available.
Drivers must be at least 18 years old and have a valid driver’s license.
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