Aruba

The climate is tropical marine, with little seasonal temperature variation. Because of its location south in the Caribbean there is very strong sun, but a constant light breeze keeps the temperature pleasant. (These persistent winds out of the east shape the island's distinctive, lop-sided divi-divi trees.) The divi-divi trees have become a signature tree to Aruba's landscape. The weather is almost always dry, with most rain showers coming at night and lasting only a little while. The yearly rainfall usually does not exceed 508 mm (20 inches). Temperatures in Aruba do not change dramatically. Between the months of January and March the temperatures stay around 24-29 °C (76-85 °F); this being their high season. However starting in April and through December this is considered off season and temperatures do not change much beyond 26 and 31 °C (79 and 88 °F). It lies outside the zone usually affected by hurricanes.

The island is flat with a few hills, arid with mostly desert vegetation (cacti) and negligible natural resources other than white sandy beaches. The highest point is Mount Jamanota (188 m). There are no tropical rainforests on the island. Palm trees are generally found only in landscaped areas around the resorts and tourist areas.

Discovered and claimed for Spain in 1499, Aruba was acquired by the Dutch in 1636. The island's economy has been dominated by three main industries. A 19th century gold rush starting in 1824 was followed by prosperity brought on by the opening in 1924 of an oil transshipment facility, which became one of the world's largest oil refineries by the 1940s. Aruba was of value at the time to Americans due to its proximity to the nearby oilfields at Maracaibo, and because facilities built on Dutch territory were less vulnerable to being expropriated by Venezuela. The massive number of workers and executives required by the oil refinery led to massive development of the island's infrastructure, which greatly improved living standards and became the foundation for Aruba's modern tourism industry.

In the last decades of the 20th century, the local oil industry gradually declined due to automation and competition from Venezuelan refineries, but tourism boomed. Aruba seceded from the Netherlands Antilles in 1986 and became a separate, autonomous member of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Movement toward full independence was halted at Aruba's request in 1990.

Tourism is the mainstay of the small, open Aruban economy, with offshore banking and oil refining and storage also important (both ended in 2009). The rapid growth of the tourism sector over the last decade has resulted in a substantial expansion of other activities. Construction has boomed, with hotel capacity five times the 1985 level.

Papiamento, the anthem, the national flag and coat of arms are the most important national symbols. They stress the inhabitants' love for the island, the close connection to the Caribbean Sea, and the multi-cultural composition of the population. The national anthem is played and sung on many occasions. The Dutch flag represents the Kingdom of the Netherlands of which Aruba is a part.

Local electricity is officially 120 V 60 Hz, which is identical to the U.S. and Canadian standard. Outlets are North American grounded outlets, identical to the NEMA 5-15 standard wall outlets found in the United States and Canada. Occasionally non-grounded outlets may be found, which do not accept the third, round pin present on grounded plugs, and require an adapter. Older North American outlets may not be polarized (with one slot wider than the other). Otherwise, adapters are available which can accept a polarized plug and adapt it for use with a non-polarized outlet.

• Aruba Tourism website

Countries eligible for a visa-free entry are shown in cyan on image to the right.

Other countries require obtaining a visa, which is valid for Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten and the Caribbean Netherlands and allows multiple entry for a maximum period of 90 days within 180 days. The maximum uninterrupted stay in one of the individual countries is 30 days. The visa is not valid for the European part of the Netherlands.

Travelers are not allowed to work during their stay in Aruba. To enter Aruba, one should be able to present the following at time of entry:

• a passport that is valid upon entry and for the duration of stay in Aruba. If the tourist holds a passport from a visa required country (list A), he must have a valid visa sticker in his passport;
• a completely filled-in and signed Embarkation and Disembarkation card (ED-card); The Online ED-Card Aruba helps verify that all the necessary steps were taken in order to board an inbound plane to Aruba. You can fill in the ED-Card as early as 7 days before you travel to Aruba. https://edcardaruba.aw/
• a valid return- or onward ticket;
• the necessary documents for returning to the country of origin or to a country that he has the right to enter, for example a valid residence permit (temporary or permanent), a re-entry permit or a (entry) visa;
• if so requested, the tourist has to be able to prove to the satisfaction of the migration officer that he has a valid reservation for an accommodation in Aruba (e.g. hotel or apartment) or that he owns property in Aruba (a residence, condominium, apartment, timeshare apartment or a pleasure yacht moored in Aruba with a length of at least 14 meters measured on the water line);
• if so requested, the tourist has to be able to prove to the satisfaction of the migration officer to dispose of adequate financial means to provide for hotel expenses (if applicable) and living expenses during his stay or that he has a declaration of guarantee from a legal resident of Aruba.

The final authorization for admission to Aruba remains with migration officer at the border-crossing/port of entry. The migration authorities at the border-crossing/port of entry have the authority to grant or refuse admission. Admission can be refused if not all admission requirements are fulfilled by the time of entering Aruba of if the tourist has been blacklisted.

🌍 Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA ^IATA) (on the western side of the island). This is the only airport that sees regular commercial traffic on the island. 

Usually you get the best fares arriving from Colombia, Florida or New York.

Aruba Airlines is the island's national airline. American Airlines schedules flights from Charlotte, Miami, and Philadelphia. Other major carriers from the US include Southwest (Baltimore, Orlando), United (Chicago, Newark, Houston Intercontinental, Washington/Dulles), Delta (Atlanta, New York JFK), and JetBlue Airways (New York JFK, Boston).

TUI flies charter flights from London Gatwick in the UK, and KLM flights to Amsterdam connect to most of the rest of Europe. Avianca and Aires connect Aruba to Colombia.

Daily connections to Venezuela (before service was suspended in 2019) included Caracas, Maracaibo, Las Piedras and Valencia, by Aeropostal, Aserca, Santa Barbara Airlines and Avior.

The highest-volume airlines at AUA (primarily US airlines) use gates equipped with jetways, while airlines with less frequent service must use remote stands and buses (which can result in significant delays).

Aruba offers US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) preclearance facilities for those traveling to the United States. However, the process is slow and confusing.

Passengers must first check baggage in the USA Departures terminal, then pass through a primary airport security checkpoint and Aruba's outbound customs inspection checkpoint, followed by the secure area of the terminal for the "Non-USA Gates." US-bound passengers must turn right and follow the signs to the "USA Gates", where airport staff will check for boarding passes for US flights, and then enter a baggage claim area to reclaim the baggage they just checked. Global Entry kiosks are positioned in this area. Members may photograph themselves and are automatically recognized by the kiosks from their photographs on file with CBP. Members who are recognized are simply told to proceed (no receipts are issued).

Next, all passengers go through CBP preclearance immigration and customs inspection. In lieu of having to fill out declarations forms, passengers are orally questioned by CBP officers. Global Entry members get their own reserved line to the right, where the kiosks will already have sent ahead their profiles to the CBP officer covering that line. (This is the only part of the process where Global Entry membership actually helps; the two security checkpoints do not support TSA PreCheck.)

Upon finishing preclearance, passengers must recheck baggage onto the appropriate conveyor belt for their airline, then pass through a secondary security checkpoint because they just touched their checked baggage. Finally, passengers enter the US preclearance waiting area, which offers several American restaurants not found elsewhere on the island, such as Auntie Anne's and Panda Express.

Cruise ships can dock quite close to the downtown area, offering their passengers an easy walk to many stores and services.

Like most Caribbean islands, Aruba's transportation network consists primarily of two-lane paved roads.

Oranjestad is often jammed with traffic when Aruba is full of tourists. For much of Aruba's history, Oranjestad lacked an inland bypass; the island road network was so disorganized that any attempt to bypass Oranjestad by detouring inland took as long as sitting in Oranjestad traffic. On November 5, 2019, the Aruba government opened Watty Vos Boulevard, a modern four-lane arterial road which provides a high-speed inland bypass route for travelers bound from the airport for points north of Oranjestad.

Although the island has a half-decent transport system, you can take life on this laid-back island at a pace that suits you by using a car hire vehicle. Take a map with you to determine what road signs mean because they are not immediately obvious. This is one of the easier holiday destinations to negotiate your own car around so keep the pace easy and book ahead online.

Because Aruba is small, consider not renting a car until you know what you want to do. Many activities are central to the resort area of the island and are within walking distance. Renting cars/jeeps is easy, and many rental companies provide pickup service from area hotels.

If you do decide to rent a car, be aware that the local rental car companies often rent older, higher mileage cars. It's especially important to recognize that even the big brand rental car agencies will rent you a vehicle in mediocre condition.

Rental car companies at the Aruba airport do not give you the keys and tell you where to find the car (as in the US). They will bring the car to the alley that runs behind the rental car offices directly facing the airport terminal, and you are expected to return the car there.

The most important thing U.S. drivers need to remember is that there are no turns on red. Also, there are several roundabouts (circles), which can be frustrating to some drivers but are quickly gotten used to. Aruba uses international road signs, which generally have no words or obvious relation to their meaning. Fortunately, tourist maps usually contain quick references to these road signs if you are unfamiliar.

The major road is LG Smith Blvd, on which people usually drive at about 40 mph, though that is a very rough guideline. Because the island is so small, everything of interest is close to everything else of interest, and it takes special talent to get lost—if you don't know where you're going, you can basically just keep driving, and statistically speaking you are likely to end up where you need to go eventually. Most of roads are identified by signage that is easily identifiable (look for a blue rectangle sign with white letters on a white pole).

Driving in downtown Oranjestad is quite easy. The best advice is to simply follow the road, but if it is your first experience in Aruba, it might be best to park near the Renaissance Mall and simply walk to your destination. A cab might also be easier than navigating the narrow unmarked streets.

You should also be cautious when driving, as there are certain "bus only" roads that are not marked but that feature large pits in the road designed to trap normal cars while letting buses drive through.

While driving in downtown be careful to avoid the tram tracks. Accidents often happen when tourists think that the tram will stop for them.

International road signs are used in Aruba. Foreign & international driver's licenses issued by a member country of the Vienna Convention, are valid. Car speedometers and road signs are in kilometers. The speed limit in urban areas is 40 km/h; out of town it's 60 km/h, unless a higher or lower speed is specifically indicated. Much of Oranjestad's traffic is one-way and at intersections, where there are no road signs, traffic from your right has the right of way.

Taxis are available at the airport and at hotels. The cost is about $31 from the airport to Palm Beach.

Arubus is a great way to see the island and to travel from Oranjestad to the tourist hotels all for about $2.60. You can take bus to the far end of the island, have lunch at St Nicholas, and see how the majority of the 116,000 islanders actually live. The bus stops at 9 pm.

You can find city/island buses at a main station right downtown. Outside of "rush hour", friendly drivers and some riders will help you choose routes and provide commentary on stops and sights. Fares are quite modest. The bus drivers will accept US currency as payment for bus fare, though they may give you change in Aruban florins. Buses are an economical way to get to the resort beaches.

• Historical Museum- It contains a large collection of artifacts and paintings from Aruba's earliest through those reminiscent of colonial times up to the present day.
• Archaeological Museum - The archaeological museum exhibits ceramic, shell and stone artifacts which portray the customs, beliefs and traditions of these first cultures.
• Numismatic Museum- The museum contains over 35.000 different pieces covering over 400 countries.
• Aruba Model Train Museum

• Baby Beach - Southern tip of the island. It's called Baby Beach because it is no more than five feet deep at any point - like a giant wading pool. This beach also has some of the best snorkeling on the island.
• Boca Prins - Secluded beach within Arikok National Park. Swimming not recommended. Restaurant a short walk away.
• San Nicolaas Beach
• Eagle Beach – Often called "1 of the 10 best beaches in the world"
• Hadikurari Beach a.k.a. Fisherman's Huts. This is where the High Winds Pro AM windsurfing world championship is held every June.
• Palm Beach White sand and excellent swimming conditions in calm water. Nearby hotels allow you to use public areas for changing. Accessible by bus, car or taxi.
• Malmok Beach
• Arashi Beach - Calm water, white sandy beaches with palapas and huts for shade.
• Boca Catalina- Shallow waters with plenty of fish, good place to snorkel. White sandy beaches with some pebbles and stone.
• Manchebo Beach- Gentle surf, long white beach. Hotels near by.
• Andicuri- Not advised for swimming,tough currents and big waves. This is a good beach for someone looking to go surfing.
• Druif Beach- Excellent for swimming with calm waters. Hotels near.
• Surfside Beach- White sandy beach with some pebbles and stones. Calm water good for swimming.
• Dos Playa- can get there by 4 wheeler, not good for swimming strong currents and big waves. A nice place to have a picnic to check out the view.
• De Palm Island- Waterpark for kids, great place to snorkel, with shallow waters.
• Mangel Halto - Shallow water. Can be reached by car or taxi.
• Santo Largo - Shallow waters, good place for picnic. Can be reached by car or taxi.
• Boca Grandi - Good for people who enjoy extreme sports, not good for swimming tough current.
• Bachelor's Beach - A good beach for windsurfing or snorkeling. Not really good for swimming.
• Rodgers Beach - Very calm water with white sandy beaches.

The currency used is the Aruban florin, denoted by the symbol "ƒ" or Afl (ISO currency code: AWG).

The official rate at which banks accept U.S. dollar banknotes is ƒ1,77 and checks at ƒ1.78. The rate of exchange granted by shops and hotels ranges from ƒ1.75 to ƒ1.80 per U.S. dollar. U.S. dollars are widely accepted in Aruba, and banks may exchange other foreign currency.

Coins in Aruba come in denominations of 5-, 10-, 25 and 50 cents, ƒ1-, ƒ2¹⁄₂, and ƒ5. Banknotes in Aruba come in denominations of ƒ10-, ƒ20-, ƒ50-, ƒ100 and ƒ200.

Traveler's checks are widely accepted and there is no charge for using them in hotels, restaurants and stores. Major credit cards are accepted at most establishments while personal checks are normally not accepted.

Cash may be obtained with MasterCard, Visa and American Express cards at credit card offices, banks, in some casinos and via Western Union. ATM cards and credit cards are accepted by ATMs of Aruba Bank, Banco di Caribe, RBTT Bank, and Caribbean Mercantile Bank. The card must have either a Cirrus or Visa Plus logo. ATM instructions are normally given in Dutch, English, Spanish and Papiamento. Cash is normally dispensed in local currency.

American dollars are accepted virtually everywhere at a decent exchange rate. If you have U.S. dollars, there is no need to change money into the local currency, the Aruban florin. The island is not a duty-free zone, but merchants respond well to competition on other islands, and duty free goods are offered by a few shops at the airport as visitors depart.

Most stores are open from 9AM to noon or 1PM and from 2PM to 6:30PM, although some remain open between noon and 2PM. Shops are open from Monday to Saturday. Hotel stores have varying business hours so check directly with your hotel for their hours.

Above all, it appears that Arubans are very aware that their economy is completely dependent on tourism - so Arubans are polite to tourists, and even street vendors don't generally seek to rip off their customers (though as in all traveling, don't let advice like this lull you into a sense of complacency). This may be helped by the fact that Aruba is a relatively expensive place to visit, so it tends to attract the reasonably well-off.

Oranjestad's waterfront has many vendors/stalls selling souvenirs. Many of these souvenirs are imported from the United States with island scenes/slogans, only to be purchased by Americans and brought back to America.

In Oranjestad, the Renaissance Mall contains various American and European major apparel brands (i.e., Polo Ralph Lauren, Gucci, Ermenegildo Zegna, Burberry) at essentially the same prices as in the United States.The mall and the rest of the downtown area are also home to numerous other types of stores catering to visitors, including jewelers, souvenir shops, apparel shops, and two modest grocers.

You'll find strip malls and grocers at modest (not easily walked) distances west of downtown and elsewhere. They offer most everything a visitor or resident might need for short stays or living there. Groceries and other supplies are all imported, so prices tend to be high. You can catch the bus from the hotel areas to the grocery shops which are about 10 min from Eagle Beach but before you get to Oranjestad.

With numerous cruise ships visiting, downtown stores offer jewelry and other goods typical of other Caribbean cruise ports, some at "duty free" prices. For cheese lovers, mild Dutch Gouda, in boxes or wheels, is a popular purchase in super markets, though not the great bargain it used to be. Do ensure the integrity of the package seal from the maker to avoid spoilage and difficulty at customs inspection.

If you've flown to the island and are returning home, the airport duty-free store offers some items at slightly better prices than downtown, e.g., a decent selection of rums.