Aruba

Fact 1 - Aruba's famous Divi-Divi trees all point southwest due to the constant trade winds blowing across the island, making them natural compasses.

Fact 2 - While part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Arubans hold their own passports and have their own distinct culture and language, Papiamento, a Creole language blending Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, English, and African dialects.

Fact 3 - Aruba boasts one of the highest rates of return visitors in the Caribbean, with over half of tourists having visited the island multiple times, drawn back by its safety, stunning beaches, and friendly locals.

Fact 4 - Despite being a desert island, Aruba has a surprisingly diverse ecosystem thanks to its national park, Arikok, which covers almost 20% of the island and protects cacti forests, caves with Arawak Indian drawings, and unique geological formations.

Fact 5 - On St. Nicholas Day (Sinterklaas) on December 5th, instead of presents being delivered by Santa Claus, 'Zwarte Piet' (Black Pete) arrives by boat from Spain with Sinterklaas to distribute gifts, a controversial tradition still debated today.

Fact 6 - The Casibari and Ayo Rock Formations, ancient geological wonders, are made up of massive tonalite boulders, some weighing thousands of pounds, creating a unique lunar-like landscape amidst the otherwise flat island.

Fact 7 - Aruba is a major aloe vera producer, with the Aruba Aloe Balm N.V. being one of the oldest aloe companies in the world, having cultivated aloe vera since 1890 and exporting its products globally.

Fact 8 - Arubans affectionately refer to themselves as 'One Happy Island' and this isn't just a marketing slogan; Aruba consistently ranks high in surveys measuring happiness and life satisfaction.