Aruba

Aruba is one of the most popular of the Caribbean islands, particularly with North Americans looking for some winter sun. It's not hard to see the appeal – white-sand beaches, a compact capital city and azure seas that provide a playground for an impressive range of water sports.

Most of the development of Aruba is around the western and southern coasts, leaving the north and east of the 180-sq-km island largely untouched. Expect to find pristine beaches, caves and nature reserves, which form some of the best attractions on Aruba.