We Love Aruba
Aruba Travel Resources
Whether you're planning your first trip or coming back for the fifth time, having the right links saves time and avoids confusion. This page collects the official government sites, practical travel tools, and local spots we personally recommend — organized by what you'll need and when you'll need it.
Before You Go
ED Card (Embarkation/Disembarkation)
Aruba requires every visitor to complete a free digital Embarkation/Disembarkation card before arrival. You'll fill in basic travel and health information online — it takes about five minutes. Without it, you'll be sent to a separate line at immigration to fill it out on the spot, which can add a significant wait to your arrival.
Immigration & Entry Requirements
DIMAS is Aruba's immigration authority. U.S. and Canadian citizens don't need a visa for stays up to 30 days — just a valid passport. Citizens of EU and Schengen countries can stay up to 90 days. For other nationalities, DIMAS lists specific visa requirements, permitted lengths of stay, and the documents you'll need.
Aruba Tourism Authority
The official destination site for Aruba — run by the Aruba Tourism Authority (ATA). Useful for browsing events, seasonal festivals, hotel options, and general trip-planning info. Their transportation section has a brief overview of taxis, buses, and car rentals.
Arriving by Air
Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA)
Aruba's only commercial airport handles all international flights. The official site has live arrival and departure boards, a terminal map, and details on services like ATMs, car rental desks, and duty-free shops. Particularly useful for checking your return flight status before heading to the airport.
The airport is small and easy to navigate, but there are a few things first-timers should know about immigration, luggage, and how taxi pickup works. Our Airport Taxi Guide walks through the full arrival experience.
Arriving by Cruise
Aruba Ports Authority
Cruise ships dock at the port in downtown Oranjestad, within walking distance of shops and restaurants. The Aruba Ports Authority site publishes the full cruise ship schedule — including which ships are arriving on which days, their berth assignments, and arrival and departure times. Helpful for planning shore time or avoiding the busiest days if you're staying on the island.
Taxis line up at the cruise terminal and use the same fixed-fare system as the rest of the island. For specific fares to beaches, hotel areas, and popular stops, see our Cruise Port Taxi Guide .
Getting Around the Island
Taxi Fares
Aruba uses a government-regulated fixed-fare taxi system — no meters, no surge pricing. Fares are set by zone and published on an official rate sheet. That's what we built this site around: type in where you're going and see what it should cost. Use the Fare Finder to look up any route on the island, or read our guide on how the fixed-fare system works for the full breakdown.
Public Buses (Arubus)
Arubus is the island's public bus system, operated by the government. It's the most affordable way to get around — a one-way fare is around US$2.60 (AWG 4.50), and day passes are available. The main route for visitors is the L10 line, which runs between Oranjestad and the high-rise hotel area along Palm Beach. Service is frequent during the day but drops off in the evening, and buses don't reach every part of the island — places like Baby Beach, Arikok, and the north coast aren't on a bus route.
Department of Public Transportation (DTP)
The DTP is the government agency that licenses taxi drivers, sets official fares, and publishes the rate sheet. If you ever need to verify a fare directly from the source, or if you want to see the full official price table, this is it.
Things to Do
Arikok National Park
Arikok covers roughly 20% of the island — the entire rugged eastern coastline, including the Natural Pool (Conchi), Fontein Cave, and some of the most dramatic landscape in the Caribbean. You'll need a conservation pass to enter, which you can buy at the visitor center in Santa Cruz. The park is open daily and takes at least half a day to explore properly, longer if you want to hike to the Natural Pool. A 4x4 or guided tour is recommended for most trails — regular rental cars can't handle the terrain.
Guided Tours
If you don't want to rent a car or navigate dirt roads on your own, guided tours are a practical way to see Arikok, the Natural Pool, the California Lighthouse area, and the north coast. Most tours include hotel pickup and run half-day or full-day itineraries. UTV and Jeep tours are popular for off-road routes.
Weather & Conditions
Departamento Meteorologico Aruba
Aruba sits outside the hurricane belt, so severe weather is rare — but that doesn't mean every day is identical. The official weather service publishes current conditions, three-day forecasts, marine conditions for boating and diving, and UV index readings. The UV in Aruba is consistently high year-round, even on overcast days. Worth checking the marine forecast if you're planning a snorkel or dive trip.
Health & Safety
Dr. Horacio E. Oduber Hospital (HOH)
Aruba's main hospital is located in Oranjestad and has a 24-hour emergency department. It handles everything from minor injuries to serious medical situations. If you need urgent care, this is where you'll go — most hotels can arrange transport, or call the hospital directly. Travel insurance is strongly recommended, as medical care for visitors is not free.
- Aruba Hospital — Official Site
- Emergency: +297 527 4000
U.S. Consular Services
There is no permanent U.S. consulate on Aruba. The U.S. Consulate General in Curacao covers the entire Dutch Caribbean and sends a consular officer to Aruba periodically for citizen services like emergency passports and notarizations. If you lose your passport or need emergency assistance, contact the consulate in Curacao — they can coordinate help remotely.
Emergency Numbers
- Police, Fire, Ambulance — 911
- Hospital (HOH) — +297 527 4000
- Tourist Police — +297 583 4832
- Coast Guard — +297 527 3010
Our Favorites
No affiliations, no sponsorships. Just the stuff we actually like.
Getting Around
- ArubaTaxiFares.com Fare Finder — we built an entire site so you can look up any taxi fare on the island in seconds. You're already here. Use it.
Eat
- Bingo Cafe & Restaurant — hard to pin down, and that's part of the charm. The menu jumps from pub classics to dishes you'd expect at a high-end restaurant, the portions are generous, and the service is over the top — in the best way. Get the carpaccio — go for the large one. In Noord.
- Casa Tua — the best pizza on the island and it's not even close. Thin crust, proper ingredients, no nonsense. We've tried a lot of pizza in Aruba. This is the one. We prefer the one at Renaissance Marketplace (easy to combine with West Deck ), but the location in Arawak Garden near the high-rise hotels works too. Don't go for the ambiance — go for the pizza.
- Diana's Pancakes — Dutch pancakes at a windmill that was built in the Netherlands in 1815, shipped to Aruba in 1960, and reconstructed near the high-rise hotels by 1962. Sounds like a tourist trap, absolutely isn't. The pancakes are really good, everything is made fresh, and Diana makes you feel like you've been friends for years. Don't skip this one.
- Yemanja Woodfired Grill — creative dishes, bold flavors, and they nail it every time. Serious about gluten-free, too — if that matters to you, this place is perfect. One of the best dinners you'll have on the island.
Drink & Chill
- The West Deck — right at the water in Oranjestad. We end up here all the time. Go in the afternoon — totally different vibe than dinner. Great drinks, great food, and you will not want to leave.
- Surfside Beach Bar — beach bar right under the airport flight path. You sit with a drink and watch planes land directly over your head. Sounds ridiculous, absolutely is. You have to go.
- Reflexions Beach Club — beach club right in Oranjestad. Great setup, easy to get to.
- Barefoot Restaurant — dinner with your feet in the sand. That's it. That's the sell.
Night Out
- Apotek Speakeasy — hidden cocktail bar in downtown Oranjestad with an apothecary theme. Ring the bell to get in. Great cocktails, cool atmosphere, and unlike anything else on the island.
Casino
- Wind Creek Casino — the main casino in Oranjestad, right at the Renaissance. Table games, slots, the works. Walking distance from downtown.
- Casino Alhambra — near the low-rise hotels on Eagle Beach. Smaller, more relaxed vibe. Good spot if you want to play without the full production.
Beach
- Arashi Beach — great snorkeling, no crowds, no scene. Just water, sand, sun, and locals.
Explore
- George Cycle — rent an off-road bike or motorcycle and discover the island on your own. Natural Bridge , Baby Beach , the California Lighthouse , the Donkey Sanctuary — way more fun than a tour bus.
- More4Less Car Rental — forget the big chains. Small local company, real personal service. Ask for Gregory — the man knows his stuff and will set you up right.
Stay
- E Cas di Zoe — we've stayed here multiple times and keep coming back. Bettina is an amazing host, the place is spotless, and the location is hard to beat — Renaissance Mall , West Deck , Casa Tua , Reflexions , Barefoot , and Wind Creek Casino are all within walking distance. Honestly one of the best-kept secrets on the island.
Our Taxi Driver
We have a favorite taxi driver. We're not telling you his name because we need him to be available when we call. He's that good. Knows the island inside out, always on time, always friendly, and somehow always knows a shortcut we haven't seen before. If you build a site about taxi fares in Aruba, you end up with a guy — and we ended up with the best one.
You know who you are.
Know a resource that belongs here?
If there's an official source or trusted service we're missing — or a place we need to try — let us know . We review every suggestion — especially if you serve cocktails.
