Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz is Aruba's inland heart and the gateway to the wild interior. Highlights include climbing the steps up the Hooiberg landmark hill for island-wide views, scrambling the giant Casibari and Ayo rock formations with their petroglyphs and footpaths, and entering Arikok National Park for its caves, the Natural Pool and the rugged windward coast.

The Hooiberg is a distinctive haystack-shaped hill rising from the centre of Aruba near Santa Cruz, one of the island's most recognisable landmarks. A long flight of concrete steps climbs to the summit, where on a clear day you can see across the whole island and even glimpse the coast of Venezuela on the horizon.

Casibari and Ayo are clusters of giant tumbled boulders in Aruba's central interior near Santa Cruz, unusual monolithic rocks that rise from the desert landscape. Both have footpaths, viewpoints and stairs to scramble, and Ayo features ancient Arawak petroglyphs. They are popular, easy stops for views and a touch of the island's geology and history.

Yes. Santa Cruz sits beside Arikok National Park, the rugged protected wilderness that covers nearly a fifth of Aruba's east. From here you can join a jeep safari or hike into the park to reach the Natural Pool (Conchi), the limestone caves, and the wild windward Atlantic coast, where beaches like Dos Playa are scenic but too rough to swim.

For the deeper interior, yes. The Hooiberg and the Casibari and Ayo rock formations are reachable by ordinary car, but the Natural Pool and much of Arikok National Park require a 4x4, a guided jeep or UTV safari, horseback or a long hike, since the tracks are rough. The interior is dry and lightly serviced, so bring water and sun protection.