At one time this tiny island was the world's largest aloe exporter. The fierce southern Caribbean sun and Aruba's desert environment create the perfect climate for the cultivation of the plant which has been a blessing for sunburned people for centuries. The Aruba Aloe Museum and Factory offers a quick free tour of the museum tracing the 160-year-old history of aloe on Aruba. After watching a short video about the life span of the aloe vera plant and its healing powers, the tour continues in the small factory. If you're lucky, the staff will create the product before your eyes, but sometimes you might be greeted by machines and empty work tables behind a glass partition. A guide will show you how an aloe leaf should be properly cut and afterward you can touch the slimy substance for yourself. Naturally, the 20-minute tour ends in a large showroom where all of these natural healing products can be bought.
