Lying just 15 miles off Venezuela’s coast, Aruba’s southerly location is well below the hurricane belt. The most recent storms to graze Aruba were Hurricane Felix in 2007, passing 60 miles away and causing only caused minor damage to the Dutch territory, and Hurricane Matthew in 2016, causing minimal damage mostly contained to coastal erosion. Summer in Aruba sees temperatures in the mid-80s, though reliable winds provide a refreshing breeze. Aruba’s capital, Oranjestad, is characterized by picturesque Dutch architecture and brightly-hued facades housing local eateries and shops. The surrounding west coast beaches are best for swimming in the calm turquoise sea, including the resort-lined golden strand of Eagle Beach and Hadicurari Beach. For smaller crowds, make the trek to Aruba’s southern tip for Baby Beach – a stunning horseshoe-shaped bay lined with powdery white sand. Swimming on the more rugged east coast is restricted on many beaches. However, the region is a hiker’s paradise, especially in Arikok National Park. A network of trails leads through desert landscapes of cacti to extraordinary coastal scenes of craggy cliffs and deserted beaches. The six-mile roundtrip trek to Conchi is worth the effort to swim in a natural pool protected from the crashing waves by a ring of weathered rocks. here