Aruba is one of All Travel Beasts favorite islands to visit and made our list of popular destinations for All-Inclusive Resorts. It is a beautiful island known for its picture-perfect white beaches and amazing people with their warm and friendly personalities. The island is located in the Southern Caribbean Sea, miles off the coast of Venezuela. 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). Aruba is mainly flat with a few hills. The best time to visit is from April to August, but really there is no bad time to go. Aruba has plenty of things to do with many different adventures to explore and has plenty of all-inclusive resorts with some being adult-only, which makes it perfect for families, couples, friends, and solo travelers.
The official local currency is the Aruban Guilder (AWG), but you can pay almost anywhere with USD$. Aruba is an expensive island to travel to. The average one-week vacation cost is a little over $2,000 per person. The legal drinking age is 18 years old.
It is illegal to take out any conch shells, sea stars, turtle eggs and/or any form of coral and there is a hefty fine, if caught. It is prohibited to smoke on terraces due to their proximity to buildings. There are some exceptions, such as parking lots, palapas, the beach, or areas without walls and/ or roofs.
Aruba’s airport
The international airport is located in Oranjestad, Aruba. Aruba’s International Airport normally receives over 150 flights per week from various cities in the USA, Canada, several countries in South America, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and other Caribbean islands. Serving more than 2.5M passengers annually. Some major airlines that travel here are American, Delta, United, JetBlue, Southwest, Spirit, KLM, TUI Netherlands, Avianca, Wingo, Copa Airlines and others offer flights to Aruba as well.
Amenities at this airport include, information desk, restrooms, ATMs, meditation rooms, shops, restaurants, lounges, public telephones, smoking areas. Access to the upper level by stairs, escalators and lifts. There are also transportation options like a taxi, bus, and car rental counters.
entry requirements
The maximum period of time that a person can be admitted to Aruba as a tourist is 30 days. The total amount of days a person can stay in Aruba, as a tourist who applies for an extension of stay, cannot exceed 180 days per year.
- A passport that is valid upon entry and for the duration of stay in Aruba
- A completely filled-in and signed Embarkation and Disembarkation card (ED-card);
- A valid return- or onward ticket
- The necessary documents for returning to the country of origin or to a country that he/she has the right to enter
- If so requested, the tourist has to be able to prove to the satisfaction of the migration officer that he/she has a valid reservation for an accommodation in Aruba
- 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/her stay or that he/she has a declaration of guarantee from a legal resident of Aruba.
- Required vaccinations and certificate of proof for required countries
Persons who want to live and work on Aruba must have a valid residence permit from the Directorate of Alien Integration, Policy and Admission (DIMAS).
Things to do in aruba
Aruba has excellent snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities, but every kind of watersport is represented on the island. There are plenty of places to visit like the beaches, casinos, and restaurants. There are iconic places for views, guided tours, and even hiking. This island has an animal sanctuary and petting zoo. Adventure off-roading, equestrian, and nature. You will never get board when visiting with so many opportunities for new adventures.
- Quadirikiri Caves
- Bushiribana Ruins
- Museo Historico Aruba
- Aruba Ostrich Farm
- Philip’s Animal Garden
- Conchi Natural Pool
- Arikok National Park
- Aruba Aloe Factory Museum and Store
- Donkey Sanctuary Aruba
- Butterfly Farm
- California Lighthouse
- Casibari Rock Formations
- Skydive Aruba
- Bubali Bird Sanctuary, and more.
Top 10 beaches in aruba
There are over 40 beaches in in Aruba. We listed the top 10 and most visited. Most of these beaches do not attract a crowd, which makes it perfect for you to relax and enjoy the scenery.
- Eagle Beach.
- Flamingo Beach.
- Palm Beach.
- Andicuri Beach.
- Manchebo Beach.
- Boca Catalina Beach.
- Boca Ketu.
- Druif Beach.
- Arashi Beach
- Baby Beach
national park In ARUBA
Arikok National Park compromises almost 20% of the island. The total area of the park is around 7900 acres. Admission into the National Park cost $11 USD. It is home to hiking trails, covering all kinds of terrain from hills to gold mines, and even plantation ruins. It should be noted that the drive is super bumpy and rocky. The park is really designed for driving and any type of car is fine, but you need a Jeep or 4×4 to get to the Natural Pool. The several places to hike, caves, dunes and beaches, are somewhat far. You can also do a horseback riding tour. The national park is home to many animal like rattlesnakes, parakeets and whiptail lizards, iguanas, goats, donkeys and migratory birds.
10 things you might not have known about aruba
- Aruba had the biggest Oil Refinery in the world during the second World War
- Arubans have Dutch nationality
- Aruba brews their own beer at a local plant
- The locally produced water can be enjoyed right from the tap is its amongst the best in the world
- Aruba has the lowest crime rate in the Caribbean
- Most Arubans speak at least 4 languages
- In Aruba they drink Coecoei and is exclusively made and consumed on the island, and comes from the agave plant. It’s a mixture of the agave sap, rum, anisette, and cane sugar.
- Usually the Southside of the island is to swim and the North side of the island is the scenic views
- Aruba has a lower cost of living than many other countries, which means that prices for luxury goods are often lower as well.
- You need a passport, but you don’t need a visa to enter Aruba
conclusion
Believe it or not, Aruba is one of the safest vacation spots in the Caribbean. Violent crime rates are low compared to other islands in the Caribbean, making nonviolent theft the biggest concern. Unfortunately we can not over look the fact that Natalee Holloway did go missing on the island in 2005, which struck national news. Always be aware and cautious of any place that you visit. Don’t let this detour you and your family from visiting this luxury island. These are some things that are needed to know that All Travel Beasts has put together. Check out our other traveling blogs for more information on traveling!