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Nestled on the beach in the small town of Savaneta, Aruba Ocean Villas is home to the island’s only over-water bungalows, the most camera-ready of which is the Isla Alistaire. A favorite of Instagram influencers, it offers gorgeous sunset views and a hammock strung over a cut-out in the broad wooden deck so guests can sway over the water. Should you not have the budget for an over-water room, there are also a variety of waterfront and bungalow-style accommodations available, some with direct access to the sand. Additional amenities at the hotel include a popular seafood restaurant, spa services, and complimentary use of watersports equipment like snorkels and paddleboards. If you’re staying for more than three nights, be sure to ask the concierge for a private photographic island tour.

First domesticated on this tiny island in 1840, the aloe plant is so important to Aruba that its image is emblazoned on the nation’s crest. Crops once extended over nearly two-thirds of the island and, to this day, remain Aruba’s largest export, explaining why the plant is a frequent motif in local art and architecture. For more information, visit the Aruba Aloe Factory, where you take a guided tour and learn about the manufacturing process. Then, head to the museum to browse a small collection of ancient aloe planting tools as well as books on the plant and its history.

Superlatives reign at this massive Palm Beach resort. Among the outsize offerings? The biggest casino in Aruba, with more than 500 slot machines and 26 gaming tables, as well as the island’s largest spa. Its 414 accommodations aren’t lacking for space either: Each room has a walk-in closet, double-sink bathroom, and private balcony; the highest-end suites are so palatial their balconies alone measure up to a sprawling 500 square feet—with ocean views to sweeten the deal. When you’re not playing roulette or indulging in a moisturizing coconut-milk wrap, kick back in one of the beachside palapas, or practice your breaststroke in the free-form pool, complete with cascading waterfalls and a volleyball net (a serene adults-only pool features a swim-up bar if that’s more your speed). In keeping with the more-is-more theme, guests are spoiled for choice with seven on-site restaurants, bars, and cafés, including a Ruth’s Chris Steak House, where the 500-degree plates ensure another best—the hottest meal in town.

Taste your way through Aruba’s diverse cuisine with stuffed cheese, conch stew, savory pastries, and more.

It’s not just one thing that attracts two million in-the-know travelers to Aruba each year, says longtime resident Louella Brezovar of The Ritz-Carlton, Aruba. From amazing beaches, fabulous weather, butterflies and caves to beach shacks and sushi, here are her recommendations for the “one happy island.”

Visit Aruba during the off-season and attend fun annual events like symphony festivals, golf tournaments, fashion shows, and more.

Take a break from the beaches and head in search of the island’s cultural heritage, including an archaeological museum, a mural district, and a picturesque chapel.

Head to the markets and smaller shops for local goods like Dutch cheese, beach house decor, traditional wooden figurines, and more.

Aruba, Curaçao, and Bonaire have postcard-perfect beaches and plenty of activities—plus, they’re outside the Caribbean hurricane belt.

Whether you want a secluded stretch of sand perfect for sunbathing or a lively spot with water sports galore, there’s an Aruban beach for every type of traveler.

From otherworldly hiking and scenic skydiving to walking the ocean floor, there are unlimited ways to get your adrenaline pumping on this Caribbean island.

No visa or application is required for the new 90-day program, dubbed “One Happy Workcation.”

With everything from sprawling resorts and boutique hotels to luxury condos and a city stay with two private beaches, Aruba offers endless ways to experience island life.

As a travel writer, I have spent time in stunning places all over the world—but I haven’t found any region that rivals the Caribbean.