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Aruba is a Caribbean island located in the southern Caribbean Sea, about 15 to 18 miles north of the Venezuelan peninsula of Paraguaná.
The island sits just off the northern coast of South America, making it one of the Caribbean’s closest islands to the continent. Aruba is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and belongs to the Leeward Antilles island group, along with Curaçao and Bonaire.
Region: Southern Caribbean Sea
Island Group: Leeward Antilles (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Approximate Distance from Venezuela: 15 to 18 miles (24 to 29 km)
Latitude / Longitude: 12.5° N, 69.97° W
Capital City: Oranjestad
Area: 70 square miles (180 km²)
Language: Papiamento and Dutch (English and Spanish widely spoken)
Aruba lies just south of the hurricane belt, near the coast of Venezuela, in the southern Caribbean Sea. Its position gives the island warm, dry weather year-round and steady trade winds that keep temperatures comfortable.
When you look at a map of the Caribbean, you’ll find Aruba near the western edge of the island chain, below the Caribbean Sea and above South America. The closest major mainland point is Venezuela, and just west are the neighboring islands of Curaçao and Bonaire.
Aruba’s southern Caribbean position shapes nearly everything about the island.
Year-round sunshine: Being outside the hurricane belt means consistent, sunny weather.
Easy access: Its proximity to South America and major North American airports makes it one of the most connected islands in the region.
Unique mix of cultures: Dutch heritage, Caribbean spirit, and Latin American influences meet here, thanks to its location at a global crossroads.
Yes. Aruba is located in the southern Caribbean Sea and is one of the Leeward Antilles islands.
Aruba lies about 15 to 18 miles (24 to 29 kilometers) north of Venezuela’s Paraguaná peninsula.
Yes. Aruba’s southern Caribbean location keeps it well south of the main Atlantic hurricane belt, which is why hurricanes are extremely rare here.
Aruba is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and functions as an autonomous country within it.
You’ll find Aruba near the northern tip of South America, in the southern Caribbean Sea. It’s west of Curaçao and Bonaire and north of Venezuela.
Aruba is a small island in the southern Caribbean Sea, about 15 miles north of Venezuela.
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