Aruba 365
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One Happy Island
Aruba, where steady trade winds keep it cool and the beaches stay white all year
Plan around Eagle Beach's wide white sand, the divi-divi coast, Arikok's wild interior, and dry, breezy weather in every month of the year.
Essential Reading
Travel guides that help you decide faster
The hardest part of planning Aruba is rarely finding a hotel. It is choosing the right base, the right beach style, and the right trip pace before you start comparing listings.
Guide
First-Time Visitor Guide to Aruba
Everything a first-time visitor needs to land confident on One Happy Island: how Aruba is laid out, why you should rent a car, what to do about money and language, the calm beaches versus the wild windward coast, and which sights to hit first.
Open guide ->Guide
Aruba with Kids: Family Guide
Open guide ->Guide
Aruba on a Budget
Open guide ->Guide
The Best Beaches in Aruba
Open guide ->Guide
Best Time to Visit Aruba
Open guide ->Guide
Things to Do in Aruba
Open guide ->Aruba 365 by the numbers
14+
Beaches to Explore
7+
Destinations
14+
Activities & Experiences
4+
National Parks
Where to go
View all →Top destinations
Eagle Beach
Eagle Beach is Aruba's broad, low-rise stretch of powder-soft sand, framed by the island's iconic windswept divi-divi trees. Spacious, calm and consistently rated among the world's best beaches.
Noord
Noord is the bustling northwest district behind the resort beaches, home to Alto Vista Chapel, the California Lighthouse, dining and nightlife, and the gateway to the quiet northern coves.
Oranjestad
Oranjestad pairs Dutch colonial facades, the free streetcar and Fort Zoutman with cruise-port shopping and harbour dining. The island's culture, history and capital base.
Palm Beach
Palm Beach is Aruba's liveliest resort strip: a calm white-sand bay backed by high-rise hotels, beach bars and watersports, with restaurants, a pier and nightlife steps from the sand.
San Nicolas
San Nicolas, Aruba's second city, is the colourful Sunrise City: a sprawling open-air street-art gallery, lively local culture, and the calm shallow lagoon of Baby Beach nearby.
Featured beaches
View all beaches →The coastlines worth planning around
98/100
West Coast
Eagle Beach
Aruba's most celebrated stretch of powder-white sand, famous for its wide-open space, gentle turquoise water and the two windswept divi-divi trees that have become the island's signature postcard.
96/100
West Coast
Palm Beach
Aruba's lively high-rise strip, a long ribbon of white sand lined with resorts, palapas, watersports and beach bars, where the action runs from morning swims to sunset cocktails.
90/100
San Nicolas & South
Baby Beach
A shallow, near-enclosed lagoon at Aruba's southeastern tip, with bath-warm, knee-deep water that makes it the island's safest beach for small children and beginner snorkelers.
84/100
North & Noord
Arashi Beach
A calm, white-sand cove near the island's northwestern tip, popular for easy snorkeling over a shallow reef and for sunsets beneath the nearby California Lighthouse.
83/100
North & Noord
Boca Catalina
A tiny, sheltered snorkeling cove on the calm northwest coast, with clear shallow water full of reef fish and an easy entry that suits beginners and families alike.
82/100
West Coast
Manchebo Beach
The widest, most tranquil stretch of Aruba's low-rise coast, a vast sweep of soft sand prized for its calm, low-key atmosphere and gentle, uncrowded swimming.
Why Aruba
Why Choose Aruba?
01
Sunshine Year-Round
Sitting south of the hurricane belt, Aruba stays warm, dry, and sunny all year with constant trade winds. Wide white-sand beaches like Eagle Beach and Palm Beach are made for easy swimming and snorkeling.
02
History & Heritage
Wander the candy-colored Dutch-colonial streets of Oranjestad, from Fort Zoutman and Wilhelmina Park to the harbor-side tram, the cafes of the capital, and the vibrant street-art murals of San Nicolas.
03
Nature & Adventure
From the desert trails and Natural Pool of Arikok National Park to the Casibari and Ayo rock formations, the Antilla shipwreck dive, and snorkeling at Boca Catalina, the island has adventures for every traveler.
Things to do
View all →Experiences worth the trip
Free from shore; boat tours $40-70beginner
Snorkeling at Boca Catalina
Snorkel a sheltered cove on Aruba's calm northwest coast, where shallow, glass-clear water sits over reef alive with parrotfish, sergeant majors, and the occasional sea turtle.
$70-120 two-tank dive with gearbeginner_to_advanced
Antilla Shipwreck Dive
Dive the Antilla, a 120-metre WWII German freighter scuttled off Malmok in 1940. One of the Caribbean's largest wrecks, draped in coral and swarming with fish in clear, shallow water.
$90-160 per personmoderate
Arikok National Park Jeep Safari
Ride a 4x4 deep into Arikok National Park, which covers about 18% of Aruba, to reach the Natural Pool (Conchi), wild windward beaches, desert cactus, caves, and rugged volcanic coast.
$55-95 per personbeginner
Sunset Catamaran Cruise
Sail Aruba's calm west coast as the sky turns gold, with an open bar, music, and the sun dropping into the Caribbean off Palm Beach. The classic way to end an island day.
$60-120 lesson; $40-70/day rentalbeginner_to_advanced
Windsurfing at Fisherman's Huts
Learn or rip across flat, shallow water at Fisherman's Huts (Hadicurari), Aruba's premier windsurf beach. Steady side-shore trade winds and a sandy bottom make it ideal for all levels.
$50-80/day rental; bring own gearadvanced
Kitesurfing at Boca Grandi
Ride strong, steady trade winds at Boca Grandi on Aruba's wild southeast tip. An advanced kite spot with reliable power and open water for fast riding and freestyle.
Events & festivals
View all →Don't Miss These Events
JanMayJunDec
Aruba Carnival
January to February, climaxing in the days before Ash Wednesday; exact parade dates announced each year · carnival · Oranjestad, San Nicolas, and across Aruba
Aruba's biggest celebration: weeks of calypso and roadmarch music, dazzling feathered costumes, jump-ups, and grand parades that fill Oranjestad and San Nicolas with colour before Ash Wednesday.
Soul Beach Music Festival
Late May, over the United States Memorial Day weekend; exact dates and line-up announced each year · music · Palm Beach resort strip, Aruba
Aruba's flagship music event over the late-May Memorial Day weekend: R&B, soul, and hip-hop headliners alongside top comedians, beach parties, and pool events on the Palm Beach strip.
Aruba Hi-Winds
Several days, usually late June or early July; exact dates announced each year · sports · Fishermen's Huts (Hadicurari), northwest coast, Aruba
A long-running watersports competition on the windswept northwest coast, where windsurfers and kitesurfers race in Aruba's famously steady trade winds off Fishermen's Huts at Hadicurari.
Dande Festival
Around New Year's Eve and New Year's Day (late December into early January) · cultural · Across Aruba, with a national contest near Oranjestad
Aruba's New Year tradition, when dande groups travel house to house singing improvised good-fortune verses, and a national contest crowns the year's best singers and musicians.
Food & cuisine
All dishes →Taste of Aruba
Main
Keshi Yena
Aruba's signature stuffed-cheese dish: a round of melted Gouda or Edam filled with spiced stewed chicken, olives, capers, raisins, and prunes, then baked until golden.
Main
Kabritu Stoba
A slow-cooked goat stew, a beloved Aruban classic. Bone-in goat simmered until tender in a rich tomato-and-pepper sauce, served with funchi or pan bati.
Snack
Pastechi
Aruba's golden deep-fried turnover, with a crisp pastry shell wrapped around cheese, spiced meat, or fish. The island's beloved breakfast and snack, eaten on the go.
Side
Pan Bati
A slightly sweet cornmeal flatbread, soft inside with a golden griddled crust. Aruba's cross between a pancake and a bread, served to soak up stews and sauces.
Side
Funchi
Aruba's everyday cornmeal polenta, stirred firm and shaped into a block, or pan-fried into crisp golden sticks. The island's go-to starch with stews and fish.
Snack
Cala
Golden deep-fried fritters of seasoned black-eyed pea batter, crisp outside and fluffy within. A traditional Aruban snack sold warm from bakeries and street stalls.
Soup
Sopi Mondongo
A hearty Aruban tripe soup, slow-simmered with vegetables and island seasoning into a rich, warming bowl. A traditional weekend and special-occasion dish.
Main
Fresh Catch of the Day
Aruba's fresh-landed fish, grilled or fried and served Caribbean style. Mahi-mahi, wahoo, snapper, or grouper from the calm leeward waters, with funchi or fried plantain.
Hungry now? Browse the island's best restaurants →
Travel essentials
Plan Your Perfect Trip
Everything you need to know for a smooth and enjoyable Aruba vacation.
01
Visa & Entry Requirements
Verify visa eligibility, passport validity, and the onward-ticket rule before you fly.
Read more ->02
Travel Insurance & Safety
Check current safety guidance and compare travel medical coverage before departure.
Read more ->03
Transportation
Navigate the island with ease using our transportation guide.
Read more ->04
Local Tips
Insider knowledge to enhance your Aruba experience.
Read more ->05
Emergency Contacts
Immediate emergency numbers plus refreshed safety resources for travelers.
Read more ->Newsletter waitlist
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Good to know
Practical Travel Questions
We only publish practical planning answers here after they have been reviewed. Use the planning guides below while this section is being updated.
Reviewed FAQ answers are being prepared
Instead of showing stale fallback travel advice, we are linking you directly to the planning pages that are currently maintained.
Booking
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