Aruba

“One happy Island” is the slogan of this land of pristine beaches, stunning natural landscape and incredibly friendly locals. The allure of Aruba’s powdery white sand and vibrant azure sea attracts visitors from all over the world. As one of the safest destinations in the Caribbean, Aruba rates extremely low in both violent and petty crimes and is home to many top-rated resorts, hotels and an abundance of rental properties.

Still officially a territory of the Netherlands but home to 100 nationalities, there are many languages spoken in this Caribbean country. The official languages are Papiamento (a combination of Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese, and a few others) and Dutch, but most Arubans speak a minimum of four languages, including English and Spanish. The island is 21 miles (33 km) long, 6 miles (9 km) wide and has an area of about 75 square miles (193 square km) This little island paradise is LBGTQ friendly as it welcomes and celebrates diversity.

Aruba is the “A” in the ABC Islands. Sister islands are Bonaire, and Curaçao. All three are part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, although they remain outside the European Union. Located in the southern Caribbean, Aruba is situated outside the hurricane belt and is the recipient of constant Tradewinds leaving Aruba with average temperatures of 29–32 Celsius or 84-89 Fahrenheit with an abundance of sunshine and a constant breeze. Its famous Divi Divi trees shaped by the winds are a natural compass, always pointing southwesterly.

The cultural diversity is apparent in the island’s food scene.  Global fusion is evident with the influence of Dutch, Creole, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Indian and Chinese cuisine.

What to Know Before You Go

The water is drinkable.

Aruba has very good quality desalinated water. They strongly discourage the use of plastic on the island. Pack a refillable water bottle to bring along on your excursions.

Traffic circles are abundant on the island.

If you plan to drive, make sure you are aware of the rules of driving in a traffic circle.

Drive on right-hand side of the road. 

While you’re in Aruba, if you decide to drive, you will be required to drive on the right-hand side of the road, just as you would in North America and most western European cities.  Curiously, you will find some “right-hand drive” vehicles on the road, which are designed to be driven on the left side of the road.  Most of the traffic rules are very consistent with typical right-hand drive countries.

Aruba is windy.

Although some areas are more protected than others, there is always a breeze.  The breeze can be strongest along the coastlines, often exceeding 30 km/hour.

The sun is intense.

Be sure to bring plenty of sunscreen. Sunscreen is extremely expensive on the island. Most shops sell sunscreen for $20 US or more for a 6oz bottle.  You will go through a lot as you reapply throughout the day.

You can use US dollars.

The national currency on the island is the Aruban Florin, which is also known as the Aruban or Dutch Guilder, but US currency is widely used.  The Florin is pegged or fixed, to the US dollar at a rate of 1.79.  Use this link for current Florin exchange rates to other currencies.

Electricity – North American Standards.

While in Aruba you will find that the electrical grid and the commonly used household and commercial outlets largely adhere to typical North American standards using Type A and Type B outlets.  These outlets are also commonly used across Central America, Japan, and China.  The electrical grid provides 120V, 60 Hz power.   Less commonly you may also see the use of some Type F outlets, which require a different adapter but still supply 120V at 60 Hz.  As always, be sure to check the compatibility of your devices and small appliances that you plan to use while you’re in Aruba.  It would be a bummer to damage your gear!  For more information on planning for electrical compatibility while traveling see our post titled “Shedding Some Light on Electricity“.

ATM’s are readily available.

There are many banks in the cities and towns of Aruba. US or Aruban currency can be retrieved from them.

Food and other goods are quite expensive.

Being a desert island, Aruba is not able to grow any of its own produce. Goods are imported from the US, South America and Europe resulting in higher bills at the cash register.

Look for a service charge on your bill.

Tipping is customary for services in Aruba including restaurant and bar staff, taxis and tour guides. Check your bill to see if a service charge has already been included before adding your tip.

Arrive at the airport 3 hours before your scheduled departure.

The process of exiting the country by air is extensive. After checking in at your airline and checking your bag(s), you are directed back outside to line up to go through an initial passport and security check including shoe and belt removal as well as laptop and electronics from your carry on as you go through a metal detector– even if you have TSA precheck. If you are traveling to the US, you are then instructed to a room where you pick up your luggage and stand in line for US Customs and Immigration. Once cleared, you again stand in line for a second security checkpoint, again removing your shoes and belt and going through metal detectors. If no additional screening is requested, you will then be allowed to enter the terminal. This whole process can take two hours or more on busy travel days – specifically Friday – Sunday.

Ride-sharing services are not available

Ride-sharing services such as Uber and Lyft are not available on the island.  Government-regulated taxis are available to help you get around if you need transportation.  While Aruba is not a large island it is large enough to make walking to see the sights impractical.  Consider renting a car while on the island, which will make it much more convenient to get where you’re going.