Aruba is the smallest island in the group of Dutch Caribbean islands that includes Bonaire and Curacao. The island is 30 km (19.6 miles) long and 9 km (6 miles) across at its widest point. The landscape is predominantly flat, dominated by Jamanota Mountain at 188 m (617 ft). The West and Southwest coasts boast long stretches of unspoilt, palm-fringed, powder-white sand beaches at the edge of a beautiful blue-green sea, while in contrast, the East coast has a desolate, windswept shoreline of jagged rocks carved into weird and wonderful shapes by the ever-pounding surf.

Aruba is basically dry and therefore has an abundance of cacti as well as the wind shaped Watapana (divi divi) trees, the highly medicinal aloe and the Flamboyant trees in bloom from June to August. The small but well kept gardens of Aruban homes also have a variety of tropical flowers and foliage.

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