The Best Sunsets in Aruba: Twilight & the Caribbean
When I was a college student I won a scholarship for a summer tip to Greece where I witnessed my first truly jaw-dropping, almost Homeric sunset. As I stood at the tip of Attica, at a point called Sounion where the stately Temple of Poseidon looks over the Aegean Sea, I witnessed the sun sink down in epic fashion into the briny expanse of the ocean. Every wave was awash with a spectrum of colors from purple to pink to salmon.
A repeat performance occurred in Aruba this past February. The island provides an excellent backdrop from which to snap sunsets. The beaches are totally pristine, and the quality of the sand is like confectioner's sugar. There are no seashells, and the color of the ocean manages to radiate shades of blue, from the pale robin's egg color to a deeper, darker Atlantic shade.
Add to this an inviting landscape, silhouettes of lean cruise ships, petite lobster boats and the iconic, gnarly and almost poetic Divi Divi trees that are one part bonsai, one part temperate shrub… voila, the recipe for a poster.
The first sunset we loved just happened on our first day there when we took a boat out to Renaissance Island (this is the island where we saw the flamingos..there are a few sunset photos in that post as well). This was a gentle sunset, no fiery-blazed skies or streaks of orange across the horizon. A quiet chamomile tea of a sunset.
The next sunset we witnessed that was photo worthy produced these two shots (above) that were taken from the balcony of the Marriott Stellaris Casino in Aruba. First, I saw a stronge blaze of yellow-orange color, and in a few minutes, the ocean was painted completely blood red. I have NEVER before in my life seen anything quite like this (apart from that one instance in Sounion).
The above photo was taken on our second day of our visit to Renaissance Island. There's something so calming about this picture…the gentle bay and the curving ocean feel like a lullaby.
The final sunset we loved happened on the sixth day or our visit, on our way back from a visit to the famed Aruba Lighthouse. Pale as amber, the sun lit the sky almost as though it was getting ready to burn it, but then decidedly took a softer turn. We were speeding down the road in our rented car, and as soon as I saw this "frame" of the Divi Divi tree, cruise ship in the distance and the water, I knew I had to have this shot.
Please excuse the lens flare.
- Charu Suri
I love these sunset pictures. So warm and peaceful. Colors are so vivid.
Thanks Sarah– they were a joy to take!
Lovely photos full of great color….each one is special! How awesome that you got to see/experience this!
Thanks Lisa…so special, truly. That second sunset was just a coup!
Oh how wondrously gorgeous! Just tonight my friends and I were discussing our favorite sunsets.
They would love this!
The photo with the ships and the almost blood red sunset is amazing. Great shots.
Thank you dear Ted. It was totally unexpected too! xx
"chamomile tea of a sunset" – I LOVE that description.
Your photos are lovely, so wonderful, and that fiery red one looks like the setting for a pirate yarn. 
Thanks so much Krista. I love your blog too…your pictures are AMAZE.
I think I need to make reservations at that Marriott someday. What color. And I can recall some amazing sunsets from Greece, I may have to dig up one of those soon.
stay adventurous, Craig
Totally true Craig. You must go to Aruba and stay there– also at the Hyatt, which has some beautiful sunsets.