Three visits to Aruba, and I keep finding reasons to return. The first time, I came for Eagle Beach — that iconic stretch of powder-white sand with windswept fofoti trees bent permanently toward the southwest. The second time, I explored the desert interior of Arikok National Park, discovering an island nothing like the Caribbean postcards had led me to expect. The third time, I simply wandered Oranjestad's Dutch colonial streets, ate fresh seafood at a waterfront café, and watched the sun set over the harbor. Each visit revealed a different island, yet all three shared the same fundamental truth: Aruba earns its "One Happy Island" slogan not through marketing but through genuine warmth.

What sets Aruba apart from other Caribbean destinations is its position outside the hurricane belt. While other islands board up windows from June through November, Aruba enjoys year-round sunshine with less than 20 inches of annual rainfall. I've cruised here in February and August, and both visits delivered the same reliable trade winds and cloudless skies. This meteorological blessing shapes everything about the island — the sparse desert landscape, the constant cooling breeze, the relaxed certainty that weather won't disrupt your plans.

Eagle Beach holds the distinction of being consistently ranked among the world's best beaches, and my experience confirms the accolades. The sand is genuinely different here — finer, whiter, softer than typical Caribbean beaches. I arrived early on my second visit, around 8:30 AM, and had the famous fofoti trees nearly to myself for photography. By 10 AM, cruise passengers had transformed the scene. Yet even crowded, Eagle Beach maintains its magic. Chair and umbrella rentals run about $15-20 for the day, and the Amsterdam Manor across the street offers excellent restrooms and a beach bar where local Balashi beer costs around $5.

The public bus system represents one of Aruba's best-kept secrets for cruise visitors. The L10A route runs every 20 minutes from downtown Oranjestad to Palm Beach and Eagle Beach, with the entire round-trip costing just $5. I took the bus on my third visit, sitting next to locals heading to work and tourists heading to sand. The journey takes about 25 minutes to Eagle Beach and reveals the island's residential neighborhoods — not glamorous, but real. However, the bus schedule doesn't always align with cruise ship departures, so I built in extra buffer time for the return trip.

Oranjestad itself rewards exploration beyond the duty-free shopping zones. I discovered the Renaissance Marketplace by accident, wandering past jewelry stores and finding an open-air complex of restaurants, bars, and local vendors. The Royal Plaza Mall offers welcome air-conditioned relief during the intense midday heat, though prices are predictably tourist-oriented. My best meal came at a small restaurant near the fish market — grilled wahoo with funchi (Aruban polenta) for about $18, washed down with fresh passion fruit juice.

Arikok National Park covers nearly 20% of the island, and I spent four hours exploring its desert landscapes, natural bridges, and hidden caves on my second visit. The terrain felt more like Arizona than the Caribbean — giant cacti, divi-divi trees, rolling hills of red and brown. I rented a UTV for about $150 for a half-day, which allowed access to remote beaches and the famous Natural Pool (Conchi). Though the dusty road to the Natural Pool is rough, requiring a 4x4 or UTV, the reward is truly spectacular: a natural swimming hole protected by volcanic rock, with waves crashing just beyond. I swam there for an hour, watching waves explode against the volcanic rocks while floating in water calmer than any swimming pool I've known.

Baby Beach on the southern tip offers the best snorkeling I've found in Aruba — a shallow, protected lagoon with calm water and abundant marine life. The drive takes about 45 minutes from the cruise port through the island's rugged interior, and most visitors arrive by rental car or organized tour. I went independently, stopping at San Nicolas (the island's second city) for a local lunch. Chair rentals at Baby Beach run about $10, and the snorkeling gear rental shack charges around $15 for mask, snorkel, and fins. Wheelchair users will find the beach accessible via a paved path, though the sand itself requires mobility consideration.