Lonely Planet names Aruba one of the world’s top countries for travel in 2020

The country receives the accolade in Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2020, the highly anticipated annual collection of the best travel destinations, trends, journeys and experiences to have in the year ahead.

Aruba is an exciting choice for 2020, Lonely Planet says, “The cultural hub of San Nicolas, known as Sunrise City, in Aruba’s south is relishing a colourful and creative revival, with international and local artists adorning street walls and pop-up carnival experiences extending the happy vibes beyond the annual festivities.”

This edition of Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel places particular emphasis on the best sustainable travel experiences for 2020 — ensuring travellers will have a positive impact wherever they choose to go. Aruba’s ambitious sustainability efforts are more than worth celebrating. As Lonely Planet writer Daniel James Clarke explains, “The island has offered to be a testing hub for other countries’ renewable solutions and is working to implement a ban on all single-use plastics and reef-destroying sunscreens in 2020. With a flurry of new home-sharing accommodation and experiences on offer, an authentic, more affordable and sustainable Aruba awaits among its palm-fringed and pristine beaches.”

Following announcement of the distinction, Ronella Tjin Asjoe-Croes, CEO of the Aruba Tourism Authority, had this to say: “We’re thrilled to have been given this honour! Within the Sustainable Tourism space, Aruba takes pride in being an innovative leader and is aware that people are traveling to destinations that are investing in eco-friendly programming and where they can ultimately make a difference while visiting. Along with our ambitious sustainability goals such as the working bans on single use plastic and reef-destroying sunscreen and opening the Island as a testing hub for renewable solutions for our planet, we are excited to be rolling out a human-centric action plan for 2020 and beyond to ensure the protection of the environment for generations to come.”

Aruba features fourth in the list of top countries for 2020. Unmissable experiences recommended by Lonely Planet’s experts include:

• Celebrating the kaleidoscopic spirit of the island during the Aruba Carnival, the nation’s joyful jamboree held annually between January and February
• Hiking or biking through the craggy and cactus-consumed scenery of Arikok National Park to the wave-smashed east coast
• Scuba diving to the USS Antilla shipwreck

Best in Travel 2020 is Lonely Planet’s 15th annual collection of the world’s hottest destinations and journeys for the year ahead. Each year, Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel lists start with nominations from Lonely Planet’s vast community of staff, writers, bloggers, publishing partners and more. The nominations are then whittled down by our panel of travel experts to just 10 countries, 10 regions, 10 cities and 10 best value destinations. Each is chosen for its topicality, unique experiences and ‘wow’ factor.

For Best in Travel 2020, Lonely Planet’s experts have also selected the best New Openings, New Places to Stay, New Food Experiences, and Sustainable Trips for Families, as well as devoting an entire chapter to the best ways to Travel Well.