ARUBA UNCUT “JOLLY PIRATES”

Whether you are visiting Aruba or even if you live on the island, doing a morning or afternoon snorkeling tour is a must-do activity. Apart from sailing the coastline, you get to see the island from a different angle. 

Your choices are many since there are many water sports tour operators in Aruba. Basically, you can pick any one of them, be it a catamaran, trimaran or pirate boot, you will have a good time. You may also enjoy a sunset “booze cruise”, a sunset dinner or full moon sail.

Most of these operators will do the same type of route and stops, so in that aspect, it doesn’t change much, unless the operator is located on the Southside of the island, where the stops are different.

One of those operators is Jolly Pirates and they started their operations in 1997. They have two “pirate” boots, which has a capacity of 60 passengers each. Their shop is located at Moomba beach.   

With Jolly Pirates, you can choose to do the a.m. snorkel or the p.m. snorkel tour. The morning snorkeling tour leaves at 09:00 and will return at 13:00. The p.m. tour leaves at 14:00 and you’re back at 17:00.

They also have a sunset cruise, which leaves at 17:00 and returns by 19:30. Bookings for all three trips can be done with them or through a variety of vendors or agents including online. Private charters are also possible.

When you arrive at their shop, you will have to fill out a waiver, register and wait for the staff to take you to the dock. You’re issued a boarding pass, which is colored and indicates which of the two boots you will board.

If the boot is not moored on the dock, you will be transported with a skiff to the boot, which is anchored a few hundred feet away from the dock. Arriving on board the crew, consisting of 4 to 5 people will welcome you and explain about the tour, rules on board and safety aspects of the boot.

The jib is raised and with the engine running the boot will make way towards the first stop, the shipwreck of MS Antilla. The bar is open from the moment they set sail. Captain’s poison, rum punch, and other concoctions are mixed, which you really don’t want to know what goes inside. There is no beer on board. The snorkeling equipment will be provided on board unless you bring your own.  

Jolly Pirates makes a 20 minute stop at MS Antilla, which is about a mile offshore. Here the water is 60 feet/18meters deep and snorkeling can be a challenge with winds and surface currents. There is one crew member who acts as a safety person but kids must be watched carefully.

The Antilla as it is commonly known was a German freighter and happens to be anchored right off the coast of Aruba in 1940 when Germany invaded The Netherlands.

Because of the invasion, the Dutch government ordered the local authorities to seize anything German. However, when the Royal Dutch Marines ordered the captain to surrender, the crew of MS Antilla scuttled the ship.

She capsized and rested in 60 feet of water on her port side while her starboard side was still sticking out of the water. A hurricane in the 1950’s caused the ship to break apart in two, almost at mid-ship.

Due to wear and tear, weather and aging process the wreck eventually started to collapse in 2014 and now it is completely submerged.

Since it sank, the wreck has developed into an artificial reef and it is a habitat for many different types of marine life.

While snorkeling there is still plenty to see and the bow, which is pointing towards shore you can see good sections of the wreck and the marine life. It can be a little crowded there sometimes because all the other water sport and scuba dive operators also make stops there. 

The next stop, Tres Trapi, is also 20 minutes. Here the waters are calmer and the boot will be closer to shore in about 15feet/5meters of water. The fish are plenty but limited coral formations.

Your third stop will be Boca Catalina where you will get a chance to rope swing off the boot and do backflips into the water. After about 40 minutes of this fun, the crew will get everybody on board and lunch will be served.

During the morning briefing before the trip, the crew will inform everyone about the hazards that plastic cups are for the marine life and how to minimize the chance of these going overboard. However, throughout the trip, the crew will keep reminding people about the cups including trash collection during and after lunch.

No bones or anything is allowed to be tossed overboard and they use recyclable biodegradable plates but still use plastic utensils and plastic cups.

The Jolly Pirates is also involved in supporting marine conservation efforts and they host once a year a fundraising event with local marine conservation foundations.  

There is plenty of shade on the aft section and enough room to accommodate everybody and there are marine toilets on board.

The Jolly Pirates is fun for everyone. Kids and adults will both have fun during these snorkeling trips. Definitely thumbs up for this activity. 

Doc.

ARUBA UNCUT

CALIFORNIA LIGHTHOUSE

The California lighthouse is one of the most popular tourist spots in Aruba. The lighthouse is not only a landmark but it’s also a locally recognized monument.

Aruba had two lighthouses in its history. One was located on Seru Colorado on the southeast side of the island and the California lighthouse, which is still located on the northwest side of the island at Hudishibana. 

The Seru Colorado lighthouse was demolished at some point and it was replaced by an electric pole, which is still functional today.

September 2018 the California lighthouse will turn 102 years old. The lighthouse is 40 meters high or 120 feet. It has 17 windows, 116 steps to the top and was constructed between 1914 and 1916.  

On September 3^rd, 1891, the steamship named California hits the rocks right off the shore on the northwest side of Aruba. It sinks and rests in approximately 40 feet of water. 

This steamship was on a voyage from Liverpool England to Central America, when it ran aground off the coast of Aruba. There were no casualties and everybody made it to shore.  

The area where the lighthouse is built is known as Hudishibana. After the completion of the construction the lighthouse was named after the steamer California and people also commonly refers to the area as California or lighthouse.

Along with the lighthouse a small house was also built where the lighthouse keeper lived. The first lighthouse keeper was Jacob Jacobs who came from the neighboring island Curaçao. The last lighthouse keeper was Federico Fingal from Aruba.

The lighthouse keeper basically had one task. Before sunset, he would walk up those 116 stairs with an oil lamp and light up the lighthouse light. He would walk back down the 116 steps and around sunrise he would repeat this again in order to put out the light. So twice a day he would walk those stairs for a total of 464 stairs every single day.

When the lighthouse updated with an electrical light, this was also the end of the lighthouse keeper era. The keeper’s house was sold and expanded with additional buildings, which became the current “Farro Blanco Restaurant”.

In 2015-2016 the lighthouse underwent a restoration and “face-lifting” process. A newer light system was also introduced.

Normally the light of the California lighthouse can be seen at 20km/12 miles away. With extremely good visibility the light can even be seen up to 40km/24 miles.

After the restoration, the lighthouse was placed under the management of the restaurant. This is also the first time in its history that lighthouse was opened to the general public.

Small groups and private tours are available. The general entrance fee is $10.00 per person.

The tour can take up to about 40 minutes. Inside the lighthouse, it can be a little hot but they have some of the 17 windows open, which lets the air circulate inside.

The stairs will spiral upwards and it gets narrower as you are ascending towards the top. Once you get to the first landing, there is a door that is opened and you will be in the “cage”. 

This cage is the meshed wire enclosure, from where you can have a 360-degree view of the area. At that height, you are well over 90 feet or 27 meters off the ground floor. The air is pretty cool up there. Actually, it can be pretty windy up there, especially if you walk around and do the 360 view. But oh what a view!

If you go back inside there are still about 10 or so stairs that will take you straight into the heart of the lighthouse. This is where the actual light is housed. 

At this point, you are between 100 to 120 feet or 40 meters from the ground.

A word of caution! Climbing the stairs can be a strenuous activity and should be considered before signing up for a tour. The staircase as it winds up becomes narrower and not everybody might fit going up. The stairs are steep and you must be cautious when placing your feet going back down. 

I have seen people climbing with little kids, please use common sense and good judgment.  

The view from the top is really nice and if there are no clouds the view is even more spectacular. The guide takes you through the tour in a very relax and easy going manner. 

I didn’t feel rushed at all, but it was only the two of us with the guide. (Private tour)

This I would definitely recommend doing this while in Aruba. Just remember to take it easy to the top, because you will still have to come back down.

Thumbs up!

Doc.

MADAME JEANNETTE

MENU

Doc.

ARUBA UNCUT 

BUTTERFLY FARM

If you Google butterflies, 630 million results will appear as your search. The first result, which is Wikipedia, will give you an in-depth explanation of butterflies. From their etymology to their ecology everything is explained in details with their full scientific names and complicated Latin and Greek names. 

That is why I am not going to get into that and neither will the tour guides at the Aruba Butterfly Farm.

The Aruba Butterfly Farm is open 7 days a week. The farm is open from 08:30-16:00. Some days they open from 06:00 with yoga. Please check with them on alternate hours and activities.

Butterflies, in general, need a humid environment to live in. This farm comes close to the perfect environment, but this makes the farm also hot during the day. The best time to visit would probably before 11:00 or between 14:30 and closing.

Butterflies are pollinators, which mean that they carry seeds from the male flower to the female flower. This process works for both the flower and the butterfly because the butterfly enjoys the nectar from the flower and in return helps to carry the pollen.

Butterflies like the fermenting juices of rotting fruit, so you will find “feeding” stations in different areas of the farm with bananas, oranges or other fruit. 

While they fly around and are very busy in the morning hours, because of this fermented diet, the butterflies will usually settle down in the late afternoon.

At any given time there are somewhere around 800 butterflies from 35 different species living in the garden. Some butterflies have a live span of about 2 weeks while others can live up to 9 months, depending on the species.   

Entrance fee ranges from eight dollars for children ages 4 to 14 and fifteen dollars from 15 years and up. For visitors between 0-3 years old are free. Please inquire about the return pass or other specials.

The farm offers a guided tour every fifteen minutes where the guides will explain the entire process from eggs, chrysalis, caterpillars and the entire life cycle.

Butterflies are very gentle but fragile creatures. Please follow the staff instructions so that no butterfly is harmed during your visit.

This is a very interesting, educational and fun activity while in Aruba. For kids is probably a must do.

I recommend this activity any day of the week. Just be prepared for the heat and humidity. This is a big thumbs up!

Doc.

Eel Trying To Steal Lion Fish

ARUBA UNCUT

“FLAMINGO ISLAND”

Some people who visit Aruba ask to visit “Flamingo Island”. Well, first of all, there is no such thing called “Flamingo Island”. People are referring to the Renaissance island, which is located right offshore from the Reina Beatrix International Airport.

Renaissance Island is a private island, owned and operated by the two Renaissance hotels in downtown Oranjestad the capital of Aruba.

The island is meant to be a private beach and leisure island exclusively for the use of the guests of the Renaissance hotels.

Some years ago the Renaissance hotels introduced six flamingoes to Renaissance Island. These flamingos were initially an attraction on Renaissance Island but soon gained international popularity and many visitors to Aruba want to go there to see these birds.

So how can you visit Renaissance Island?

The Renaissance hotels offer a day pass that can be purchased for 125 dollars per person. You get one drink, a lunch, and a towel. You will not have the same privileges as a registered hotel guest.

The boat shuttles will run every 15 minutes starting at 07:00 from the downtown Renaissance to the Renaissance Island. The last boat returning from the Renaissance Island is at 18:45.

These passes are limited based on the hotel's occupancy percentage. If the hotel is over 90+ percent they will not sell day passes.

The best way to do this is to go to the hotel around 06:00 in order to check availability. They don’t book anyone over the phone.

If you can get a pass, you can leave on the first boat at 07:00. The day pass is a one-way to and one-way back from the island. You can’t go back and forth on a day pass.

There is another option, which is to book a room for a night. As a registered guest, you will have “free” access to the Renaissance Island.

Just keep in mind that the room rates can run you minimal about the same price of two tickets, depending on availability and season.

(Photo: courtesy of Lili.)

These flamingoes have been domesticated and are dependent on humans for the rest of their existence. They can’t fly away because their wings have been cut.  

It’s like a “petting zoo” because the birds just walk around and people are taking photos and selfies all day long.

Since flamingoes are protected, were or are any laws broken or violated? Is this marketing or animal abuse?

Honestly, I don’t know if paying $125.00 per person to go see 6 flamingoes is worth it. You can make a reservation and check into the hotel, still, the only attraction is really just the flamingoes.

Aruba has never had flamingoes living in the wild. 

To see flamingoes in the wild you need to fly over to the islands of Bonaire or Curaçao, which is 20 to 30 minutes from Aruba.

Bonaire has a colony of about 20,000 flamingoes and the island of Curaçao has a colony of about 5,000, all in their natural habitat.

No matter how you turn it, it’s a good business stunt by the Renaissance hotels. It’s a milking cow, which keeps on giving as long as the flamingoes are there and the people willing to pay to visit.

As far as I’m concerned, this is a thumbs DOWN!

Doc.

Aruba Uncut Restaurants

ARUBA UNCUT

I have read several articles regarding blogging. I followed some instructions here and there and I watched some videos on how to blog and vlog. However, I'm not sure if what you need to become a good or popular blogger is really a science or if there is a blueprint. 

I recently met some influencers, who do their thing on several social media channels such as Instagram, Youtube etc. Honestly, I didn’t see the science behind it and these people have hundreds of thousand people following them.

Maybe I am missing the secret behind it, but one of the things that I do agree with is this. Blog or write about something that you are either good at or you know it well. I think that I have said this before. 

Knowing something firsthand kind of makes you an “expert” so this is why I have decided to start with an “UNCUT” version of information or blogs on Aruba.

Many “travel writers”, press groups or influencers seek all sorts of freebies in order to write a nice article. I know that some people who will read this will not like it. Some people will feel offended, hurt or whatever, but again this is my unpaid, uncompensated and uncut view of things, and particularly in Aruba.

Where else can you get better material then right in your own backyard, right?

Everybody has a different take when it comes to life experiences. Some people will only stick to what they know, while others will try as many experiences as possible. Again, every experience is measured by the beholder. 

I would like to start with some culinary experience in Aruba. The numbers have no priority or ranking whatsoever. I have decided to post these first and more will follow in the future. I will probably come back to them as things might change or develop. 

1.O’NIEL CARIBBEAN KITCHEN, located in the heart of San Nicolas. This restaurant is known for its local and Caribbean cuisine. As far as its location, the restaurant is right in downtown Sanicolas.

Parking can be a little tricky if it’s busy, but you can find parking within 100-200 feet from the restaurant.

Although it has a terrace, personally I have hardly seen anyone sit outside during my visits, but this can be due to the heat.  

Seating inside can be a little bit of a challenge sometimes when it’s full. They do have a “second” room but I have never seen this open to the public. The air-conditioning can be an issue if you are sitting right in front of one of the split units. 

Overall impression of the restaurant is pleasant and clean. The restrooms are clean and the restaurant has no particular lingering smell or odor. The background music is typical Caribbean music and not loud enough to interfere with your conversation.

The waiter and bartending staff need to be a little bit friendlier. Maybe some more smiling and some more people skills will do wonders for the customer.

This restaurant is great because of their food consistency. Every visit you will find their dishes consistent in taste, generous portions and there is a solid structure to their menu. This is also why they have many repeat guests.

It’s important that your local population supports a local business or restaurant. When your local population eats at a local restaurant, this is a good indication of quality. At O’Niel, there are many local folks any day of the week at lunchtime.

My personal favorites are the Ox Tail with rice, the Black & Blue Burger, the Roti, the Garlic Conch or Garlic Shrimp.

You will find that the menu is reasonably priced between USD 8.00-18:00 per person. The servings are generous portions and waiting time is at the most 20 minutes before the food is on the table.

My experience has only been with lunch visits but I recommend this restaurant at any time. For me, it’s either thumbs up or thumbs down.

O’Niel Caribbean Kitchen in San Nicolas Aruba is a big thumb’s up.  

Doc

2.ZEEROVERS

Zeerovers is located in the village of Savaneta. It’s almost in the middle of the island on the southeast coast.  Savaneta is a fishing village. It’s also the oldest settlement in Aruba, dating back approximately 5,000 years ago.

Zeerovers started as a family local fish market and it grew into a local attraction in Aruba.

Today still, fishermen will come in and deliver their fresh catch and this is sold to the general public or delivered to local restaurants or hotels.

The owners saw the potential for expansion a few years ago and now Zeerovers is an internationally known local hangout. With this expansion, the owners started to serve food based on a simple but successful concept.

You walk in and you order your food at the first window. Here the staff will weigh your shrimp and or fish by the pound. You can eat this plain or you can order French fries, tartar sauce, pickled onions and local bread. You pay for the food and you get a wooden block with an order number. 

You walk around to the next window where you can order your drinks, including your choice of the locally brewed beers. You pay and go find yourself a table. If you’re lucky, you can sit on the pier section or the pier extension.

Within 10-15 minutes your food will be brought to your table in a basket. The staff collects the number and they provide a bottle of hot sauce and plastic utensils, but you might as well eat with your hands. You will most likely have to peel the shrimp anyway.

Zeerovers is the only type of local hangout like this on Aruba. Locals and tourist alike go there because of the atmosphere and the simplicity of it.

The food is good. It’s consistent and no guessing. It’s fish, shrimp or both. If you don’t eat fish or shrimp, maybe you can still enjoy a cold beer or a coconut flavor ice-cream.

You can’t call it a “restaurant” because the staff doesn’t serve you. You can’t make reservations and there are no menus. They bring the food to the table and that’s it. If you want to re-order a beer, you will have to do it yourself at the window.

The place is simple yet very popular. If you order a little too much, they will wrap it up for you to go. They are closed on Mondays and they take cash ONLY!

Zeerovers is a must do and for around $ 40.00 dollars per couple, it’s definitely thumbs up!

Doc

3.MADAME JEANNETTE

Reservations are definitely required here! 

This restaurant serves an average of between 400-500 people per evening. During high season this can reach up to 700 guests per evening. This is probably THE busiest or one of the busiest restaurants in Aruba.

Madame Jeannette offers an international French Caribbean fine dining cuisine. Personally, I would recommend this restaurant any time in terms of the food and service. This restaurant is very good.

Despite the fact that they serve a lot of people, the average waiting time to be seated is 15 minutes and you can have a very nice dining experience in about 1.5 hours.

You can be seated in several different areas of the restaurant. They offer covered areas and open areas in the garden.  They have nine seating’s starting as early as 17:30. Madame Jeanette is closed on Sundays.

The Madame Jeanette bar offers a cocktail and wine list menu and has the largest selection of international craft beers.

The restaurant has a main menu and specials menu. From the “Le Poisson Cru Ceviche”, (Made with the Madame Jeanette pepper), to the “Old Butcher Steak”, all dishes are prepared to perfection.

Madame Jeannette is a little bit on the pricey side. Expect to spend around 50-60 dollars per person. 

However, if you want to dish out the money and please your honey, this is an excellent choice for an anniversary dinner or any other type of celebration. 

Again, the service is great and very attentive! Big thumbs up.

Doc

4. WHITE CUISINE

Photo source: White Cuisine

White Cuisine has a concept of blending their dishes in order to create a unique dining experience based on taste. So, selecting your appetizer, main course and dessert is carefully orchestrated by the staff.

One of the best cuisines in Aruba, so when my girl and I went there recently for lunch, and there was no avocado for the salad or the Mexican burrito, I was a little disappointed. On top of it, the service was slow.

Despite this, they managed to create a very good lunch without the avocado. 

As mentioned before, the opinions on here are uncut and straightforward.

My recommendations are simple. I have had lunch and dinner here before and the food is great. This is also why I would still recommend this restaurant.

White Cuisine is not an “all you can eat” concept. Their dishes are prepared as culinary artwork and not based on large quantities. Some dishes will look “tiny”.

They don’t advertise mainstream. The restaurant is located in a gated community but anyone can make reservations.

We selected to sit inside during the day because outside it is very warm and uncomfortable.

At White Cuisine you can easily spend anywhere between 65 to 85 dollar per person for dinner and about 30 to 40 dollars per person for lunch.

 Personally, I’m not a fluff artsy food person. I’m pretty easy and simple with it comes to food. It doesn’t have to be fancy, pretty or tiny. It has to be good.

This may not be for everyone, especially at those prices.

Having said this, I still enjoy the culinary experience and taste. Therefore I’m giving White Cuisine thumbs up! 

Doc

5. THE WEST DECK

The West Deck is a family owned and operated restaurant. 

My girl loves this place. You can sit here overlooking the sea while enjoying your lunch, dinner or just drinks. Airplanes can be seen landing or cruise ships departing from port.

The staff is very service minded and friendly. The service is great! The ambiance is excellent.

The West Deck is an island grill, beach bar-restaurant that serves lunch and dinner. They are open daily from 10:30-23:00.

The West Deck has an extensive food and drinks menu. From their “Brain Freezers”, margaritas, cocktails, non-alcoholic to their wine lists, there is something for everyone. 

Their burgers, ribs, shrimp, chicken and fish dishes are plentiful. 

The ceviche has a bite to it. If you are not used to Picante food, skip the ceviche. 

The fish is to die for. The burgers are juicy but not greasy. All food portions are generous.

Their desserts range from local delicacies to the New York cheesecake. 

The tamarind juice is great thirst quencher and it’s homemade in-house. This fruit can be found on the island in the wild and is used for several different recipes.

The West Deck is casual and reservations are not mandatory but recommended due to the limited seating capacity. Thumbs up!

Doc.

6.DELICIOUS

A new restaurant in the Palm Beach area where the owner and Chef Annelotte Ellis does her dishes from scratch. Open for lunch and dinner, Delicious offers a variety of personalized dishes with an artistic touch.

Delicious restaurant also does takeout and delivery orders. 

The restaurant is casual attire. The food is delicious and the quality is good. The portions are reasonably sized and the price is also very attractive.

The unique thing about this restaurant is that Chef Annelotte makes every dish a personal work of art. Unlike bigger restaurants where mass production can take away from the touch, here your dish is personalized. She shops daily for supplies and creates the dishes based on fresh ingredients.

They offer daily specials next to an ever-changing menu.

The restaurant has been open less than a year and they are working on their staffing. The place is clean and can seat about 20 people.

There is no particular décor or setting. The place is simple and not wow. The food, however, speaks for itself.

It can be a little hot during the day because it’s an open terrace and inside there is no air conditioning.

Reservations are not mandatory but calling ahead wouldn’t hurt. Thumbs up.

Photo source: Delicious Restaurant

Doc.