Aruba is the Caribbean island for sunshine you can count on. It's dry, breezy and warm all year, with soft white-sand beaches, calm turquoise water and a wild, desert-like interior to explore. Here's what to know before you go, whether you're planning a honeymoon, a family trip or an all-inclusive escape.
Key takeaways: Aruba sits in the southern Caribbean, about 15 miles north of Venezuela, and its tourism authority says it lies outside the main hurricane belt. Eagle Beach and Palm Beach are the two main resort areas. Every traveler, including infants, needs an approved online ED card before arrival. The Atlantic hurricane season still runs from June 1 to November 30.
Where Is Aruba?
Aruba is a small island in the southern Caribbean Sea, about 15 to 18 miles north of Venezuela's Paraguaná peninsula. It's one of the "ABC islands" with Bonaire and Curaçao, and an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The island covers about 70 square miles.
Aruba at a Glance
- Best known for: Eagle Beach, Palm Beach, sunshine and trade winds.
- Getting there: Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA), near the capital, Oranjestad.
- Language: Dutch and Papiamento are the official languages, and English and Spanish are widely spoken.
- Money: the Aruban florin, and U.S. dollars are widely accepted. You may get florins back as change.
- Driving: on the right.
- Time: Atlantic Standard Time all year, with no daylight saving time. That matches U.S. Eastern time in summer and is one hour ahead of it in winter.
Sunshine, Trade Winds and the Hurricane Belt
The Aruba Tourism Authority says the island averages about 82°F and gets more sunny days than any other Caribbean island. Steady trade winds keep the heat comfortable, and they pick up from about May to October, which windsurfers and kitesurfers love.
Is Aruba outside the hurricane belt? The tourism authority says it lies well south of the main Atlantic hurricane belt, and hurricanes are extremely rare. Aruba's own Meteorological Department describes the island as sitting on the "southern fringes" of the belt. Passing storms can still bring rain, rough seas or a break in the wind.
Eagle Beach
Eagle Beach is the widest beach in Aruba, famous for its soft white sand and clear water. It's home to two of the island's most photographed fofoti trees, bent by the wind toward the sea. The nearby hotels are mostly low-rise, so the beach feels open and relaxed. Most of Aruba's sea turtle nests are found here, so give marked nesting areas plenty of room.
Palm Beach
Palm Beach is a two-mile strip of white sand lined with Aruba's high-rise resorts. Its calm water suits swimmers and snorkelers, and the beach is dotted with piers, beach bars and water sports. After sunset, the area just off the beach comes alive with restaurants, casinos and shopping malls.
Eagle Beach or Palm Beach: Where to Stay
Both beaches share the same calm west coast and sunsets. The choice comes down to the feel you want:
- Eagle Beach for low-rise hotels, a wide, quiet beach and a laid-back pace, a natural fit for couples.
- Palm Beach for high-rise resorts, nightlife, shopping and water sports right outside your door, which families and groups often like.
- Oranjestad for a city stay near the cruise terminal, shops and restaurants.
All-Inclusive Resorts in Aruba
Aruba has a strong choice of all-inclusive resorts, mostly near Palm Beach and Eagle Beach. The tourism authority says most are family-friendly, with adults-only options too. Here's the honest part: many of Aruba's hotels aren't all-inclusive, and some offer an all-inclusive plan as an option, so inclusions vary a lot.
That's where a travel advisor helps. Ashley can compare resorts and explain what each plan really covers. Our Caribbean all-inclusive vacations guide explains what's usually included, and if you're weighing other destinations, see our St. Lucia vacation guide and Riviera Maya vs. Cancún comparison.
The North: California Lighthouse
Past the resorts, near Aruba's northwestern tip, the stone California Lighthouse stands on a high point in an area called Hudishibana. It's named for the S.S. California, a ship that sank before the lighthouse was built, and its hilltop views are especially good at sunset.
Arikok National Park and the Natural Pool
Nearly 20 percent of Aruba is protected as Arikok National Park, a rugged landscape of cactus, rock and dry hills. It has caves, ancient Amerindian rock drawings, lava and limestone formations, and secluded bays like Boca Prins and Dos Playa. A small entrance fee supports the park, and ranger-led tours are a great way to see it.
The park's most famous sight is Conchi, also called the Natural Pool, a calm basin ringed by volcanic rock on the rough northeast coast. A regular car can't reach it, so visitors go by 4x4 tour, on horseback or on a long hike. Swimming is safe only when the sea is calm, so follow ranger advice and wear water shoes.
Snorkeling: Mangel Halto and the Antilla Wreck
Mangel Halto is a quiet beach with calm, shallow water and mangroves, and one of the island's best spots for snorkeling and kayaking. Off the northwest coast near Malmok, the Antilla is a German cargo ship that its own crew sank during World War II. At about 400 feet long, it's one of the Caribbean's largest wrecks, and snorkel tours can see it from the surface. Don't touch coral or marine life.
Baby Beach and San Nicolas
At the island's southern end, Baby Beach is a half-moon of sand around a calm, shallow lagoon, which makes it ideal for families with small kids. It's about a 45-minute drive from the Palm Beach hotels, and snorkelers should stay inside the marked area. Nearby San Nicolas, Aruba's "Sunrise City," is known for steel bands and Carnival.
Oranjestad, Culture and Food
Oranjestad, the capital, is a colorful harbor city with Dutch-style buildings, shops and restaurants. A tram connects the cruise terminal with Main Street, and Fort Zoutman, Aruba's oldest building, dates to 1798. Aruba is also a regular cruise stop, so if you're weighing a cruise against a resort stay, our family Caribbean cruises post shows what visiting several islands in one trip is like.
For local flavor, try keshi yena, a baked cheese dish often called the national dish, plus pastechi (fried pastries), funchi fries and stobas, or stews.
Aruba for Couples and Honeymoons
Aruba's dependable weather makes romance easy to plan: sunset dinners on the sand, a catamaran sail or a quiet morning on Eagle Beach. Our Caribbean honeymoons guide has more ideas. Comparing romantic islands? Read about our Antigua honeymoon and anniversary trips and why Jamaica and Couples Resorts are our favorite escape.
Aruba for Families
Families will find calm, shallow water at Baby Beach and Palm Beach, plus many family-friendly all-inclusive resorts. Prefer to skip the passport? Our St. John vacation guide covers a U.S. island. Our group and family vacations page explains how Ashley plans trips for families and groups of every size.
Getting There and Getting Around
Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA) is in Oranjestad. Flying home, you clear U.S. Customs and Border Protection preclearance in Aruba before you board, so you skip those lines when you land in the U.S. Allow extra time for it.
Taxis, buses and rental cars are all available.
When to Go
Aruba is warm and sunny all year. The tourism authority says the most popular time to visit is December to April, the peak season, with sunny, dry weather. The short rainy season falls late in the year, with mostly brief showers. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, according to NOAA's National Hurricane Center, with most activity between mid-August and mid-October. Travel insurance is still worth considering.
Travel Documents
The U.S. State Department says U.S. citizens need a passport that's valid for the length of their stay, a return or onward ticket and proof of enough funds for the trip, and no visa is needed for stays of 30 days or less. Every traveler, including infants, must complete Aruba's online Embarkation and Disembarkation (ED) card, within 7 days before travel, and get it approved before arrival. Air travelers also pay a sustainability fee through it. Use the official ED card site, since some other websites charge extra. Always confirm current requirements with official sources before you travel.
Is Aruba Right for You?
Choose Aruba for reliable sunshine, easy beaches and plenty of resorts. At Simply Travel by Ashley, Ashley Muhlenkamp can help you choose the right area and resort, and her planning services are completely free to you, with no hidden fees. Tell us about your trip to get started.
Aruba FAQ
Is Aruba outside the hurricane belt?
The Aruba Tourism Authority says Aruba lies well south of the main Atlantic hurricane belt, and hurricanes are extremely rare. Passing storms can still bring rain or rough seas from June to November.
Where is Aruba?
Aruba is in the southern Caribbean Sea, about 15 to 18 miles north of Venezuela. It's one of the ABC islands with Bonaire and Curaçao and part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Do U.S. citizens need a passport to visit Aruba?
Yes. The U.S. State Department says your passport must be valid for your stay, and no visa is needed for stays of 30 days or less. Every traveler must also complete Aruba's online ED card before arrival.
What is the Aruba ED card?
It's Aruba's required online Embarkation and Disembarkation form. Every traveler, including infants, must complete it within 7 days before travel and get approval before arrival.
Should I stay at Eagle Beach or Palm Beach?
Eagle Beach has low-rise hotels and a wide, quiet beach that suits couples. Palm Beach has high-rise resorts, nightlife and water sports that suit families and groups.
Are there all-inclusive resorts in Aruba?
Yes, mostly near Palm Beach and Eagle Beach, including family-friendly and adults-only options. Many hotels aren't all-inclusive, though, and inclusions vary.
Can I use U.S. dollars in Aruba?
Yes. The official currency is the Aruban florin, but U.S. dollars are widely accepted. You may receive florins as change.
What is the Natural Pool in Aruba?
Conchi, the Natural Pool, is a calm basin ringed by volcanic rock in Arikok National Park. It's reached by 4x4, horseback or a long hike, and swimming is safe only in calm seas.
Let's Plan Your Aruba Vacation
Ready for Aruba's sunshine? Fill out the "Let's Plan Your Vacation!" form on our homepage, call (419) 852-4445, or email simplytravelbyashley@gmail.com. Ashley's planning services are free, and she's available Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Eastern.