This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Aruba Tourism Authority. All opinions are mine.
Aruba is known for its stunning blue-green water, its friendliness to Americans, and also for being windy. We spent a lot of time at the beach in Aruba, but when we needed to get out of the wind, shopping was high on my list.
Donkey Sanctuary
Oranjestaad is beloved by cruisers for its duty free shopping opportunites. When I’m in the Caribbean, I’m not interested in buying diamonds, emeralds, watches, or designer clothes. Instead, I’m on the hunt for locally handmade products. Aruba posed a challenge for me on this front. Even the concierge at our hotel shrugged her shoulders when I asked for some tips. That didn’t stop me from bringing home some great finds.
Our first stop was Karanky International, which sells mopamopa artwork. Located in Royal Plaza (within walking distance from the port) this little shop sells beautifully made boxes. I’d read about this in advance and had to get my hands on some. Mopamopa is wood covered with a special resin from the mopamopa tree in Columbia. Colorful and intricate designs are characteristic. I’m still not sure why this is a specialty of Aruba (if it is made in Columbia), but it’s worth seeking out.
My kooky local find was at the Donkey Sanctuary. You’ll need a car to get here. The sanctuary provides shelter to donkeys that were loose on the island (they used to be used as transportation and working animals). The donkeys are cute, but the place does not smell great. My find was soap made with donkey milk, which is actually a nice creamy soap with a pleasant smell. My daughter bought a t-shirt that listed all the donkey’s names.
My shopping finds
Don’t leave Aruba without buying some aloe from Aruba Aloe. It’s sold in many gift shops as well their own stores. The aloe is grown on Aruba and there are many wonderful products.
These finds will fill your suitcase and help you remember your Aruba travel.
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This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Aruba Tourism Authority. All opinions are mine. Aruba is known for its stunning blue-green water, its friendliness to Americans, and also for being windy. We spent a lot of time at the beach in Aruba, but when we needed to get out of the wind, … Read more
