Attraction
Oranjestad is on a Roll by Susan Campbell Since a massive revitalization of Oranjestad’s infrastructure and the introduction of pedestrian-only walkways, served by free, eco-friendly trolleys, visitors are finding it more enticing than ever to explore this vibrant and historic capital city.
A few years back it became clear that Aruba’s capital city was in dire need of major modernization and improvement, especially in the underground infrastructure, which hadn’t been updated for decades. Since the government knew they had to tear up the streets anyway, they decided to undertake an entire facelift at the same time and endeavor to bring locals and visitors back to the original heart of the island: Oranjestad. Originally, Caya G.F. Betico Croes was the “main street,” a vibrant nexus of island commerce and history. But as time passed, few visitors wandered beyond the harborfront offerings while the neighborhoods behind the Renaissance Mall began showing their age with the streets, alleys, and shops appearing neglected, and in some cases downright decrepit. Fast forward to 2016, and the completely rejuvenated downtown core is a thing of beauty. It’s a gorgeous marriage of old and new replete with palm-lined pedestrian walkways, additional shops and plazas, refreshed colonial buildings, and a renewed sense of local pride. There is also new signage to direct people towards the points of interest. And the best way to explore it all? Aboard the free trolleys! 10 Nights
All aboard a unique adventure
This avant-garde form of urban island transportation is unique to Aruba. In fact, there’s nothing else like it in the entire Caribbean. The first trolley began rolling in 2013, and by early 2016 the entire fleet of four trolleys were operating on a regular basis. Two are single-deck that can hold 42 people, and two are double-decker and can seat 64 passengers. All have shade coverings and run on a rechargeable battery (no impeding wires and no polluting engines), and all are wheelchair accessible.
The route is a loop throughout the downtown center on a mile and a half of track that starts just outside the cruise ship terminal at the Paardenbaai Plaza, a lovely new welcome center with shops, visitor facilities, and information kiosks. Departures begin at 10 a.m. daily and leave every 20 minutes, with the final loop beginning at 8 p.m. There are nine stops in all, and the vehicles move slowly so you can get a good look at your surroundings and take advantage of the wonderful photo ops all around you. If you’re a first-timer to Oranjestad, we recommend you do the entire trip to get your bearings, then hop on again and get off at spots that appeal to you. Each stop has interesting exploration options nearby. Downtown delights
Shopping is a given downtown, but there are far more than souvenir shops and flea market stalls. The newly refreshed retail grid is an eclectic mix of family-run mainstays: pharmacies, grocery stores, sporting goods, and the like, mixed in with modern new designer emporiums and retail giants. And the indoor/outdoor Renaissance Mall has upscale jewelry ! Top and middle photos by Luis Mejia