Entertainment on the move – a plethora of exploration options awaits tourists
It is the middle of winter; it is 20 degrees outside; snow is falling and there is more to come. What could be better than a nice, relaxing trip to the beach?
Well, forget relaxing, your trip to the beach in Aruba just became an adventure. With so much to do, you might need a vacation when you get back.
De Palm Tours
Harold Malmberg, Chairmen of the Board of the De Palm Corporation Aruba, was one of Aruba’s adventure tour pioneers. A self-made man, he started a transportation company over 45 years ago that has grown into a small empire that employs 300 people.
De Palm Tours offers some 60 kinds of tours of the island, some of which include: jeep tours, ATV tours, horseback riding, snorkeling, hiking, bus tours, deep sea fishing and De Palm Island.
De Palm Island is a man-made island complete with all the modern conveniences. It is especially popular for snorkeling. This year, the island will debut the Blue Parrotfish Water Park, complete with slides and 70 water attractions. "Hotels don’t want cruise tourists on their beaches. De Palm Island is an alternative," he stated.
Kukoo Kunuku – The original party bus
What can you do with an old bus? In Aruba, you can make a mobile party. The Kukoo Kunuku Party Bus was started by Marcus Wiggins. Since then, he and his partner and wife Cindy Cynowa, have become legends in the Caribbean. Their company also has a sailing adventure cruise, Mi Dushi; a party cruise, Tattoo; and will be introducing a new adventure tourism product this year.
Wiggins took old school buses and painted them bright, cheerful colors with sassy phrases, put massive blaring speakers in them, hired the best tour guides on the island and created a night-time bar tour that will tire even the most energetic partygoer.
The tours are so successful that other islands have solicited Wiggins’ advice to start their own fleet of mobile parties. In Aruba, some of his ex-employees have started similar companies to meet the growing demand.
Kukoo Kunuku party buses pick up their guests at hotels before sundown. The entire fleet then meets at the California lighthouse for a sunset Champagne toast. Then it is off to the Residencia Sylvia for a traditional meal served with warm Aruban hospitality, after which, with music blaring, the party buses zip from one local bar to the next.
Treasure of the Seas
There are buses and then there are, well, not buses. Venezuelan businessman Javier Parra has taken bus tours to the next level, into the sea.
Investing $500,000, he has started a fleet of amphibian buses, "Treasure of the Seas". It can speed across the land, then expand its floats and wing stabilizers and drive into the sea. It is really quite a sight and very shocking to unprepared onlookers.
Parra explained, that because the amphibious bus has easy entry and exit, that it "will be the first kind of activity for all family members, from children to grandparents, to get to know the different attractions on the island." It is sure to quickly become a favorite.
While the route details are still being worked out, "Treasure of the Seas" will offer daytime tours that will incorporate land tours, sight-seeing, a local meal, and snorkeling. An evening tour will offer a sunset land tour and cruise and, if you’re lucky, it will include a scrumptious meal at Eleonora’s Crazy Open Grill.
