Aruba in December: Weather, Prices, Christmas and New Year's Eve

December in Aruba is warm, breezy and a little wetter than the rest of the year: the official climate normal is a 30.7°C daytime high, 80 mm of rain and about 11 days with at least 1 mm of rain. The first half of the month is quiet and good value; from mid-December prices jump and the island fills for Christmas and New Year. This guide covers the weather, the holiday dates, what Aruban Christmas and New Year's Eve actually look like, and the events confirmed for December 2026 and early January 2027, checked on 13 November 2026.

What Is the Weather Like in Aruba in December?

The figures below are the 1991 to 2020 climate normals from the Departamento Meteorologico Aruba, the island's weather service.

Read the rain numbers together. Eleven rainy days sounds like a lot, but 52 hours of rain across a 744-hour month means showers are short. Most pass in minutes and the trade wind dries everything quickly.

December sits inside Aruba's short rainy season, which the tourism authority gives as October to December. The Atlantic hurricane season ends on 30 November, and Aruba lies far enough south that direct hits are rare in any month. For the other eleven months, see our best time to visit Aruba guide.

Is Early or Late December Better?

They are two different trips. Until about mid-December, hotels are still on low-season rates and beaches have room. Then the holiday period starts.

One published example shows the size of the jump: Arena Condos lists its basic unit at US$121 a night through 15 December 2026 and US$220 from 16 December 2026 to 5 January 2027, before extra charges. Dates and amounts vary by property, but a clear step up around the middle of the month is common.

The crowds are real too. The Aruba Tourism Authority counted 146,515 stayover visitors in December 2025, 14.3 percent more than a year earlier. If you can travel between 1 and 15 December you get similar weather at much lower room rates. If you are coming for the holidays, book flights, the room and your key dinners now. Our where to stay guide and budget guide help with the choice.

Which Days Are Public Holidays, and What Closes?

The government's official holiday list for this season:

• Friday 25 December 2026: Christmas Day.
• Saturday 26 December 2026: the day after Christmas (Boxing Day).
• Friday 1 January 2027: New Year's Day.

Resorts, hotel restaurants and most of the Palm Beach strip keep running through all three. Away from the hotels, expect less: supermarkets often close for the whole day or shut early on the holidays, and banks have traditionally closed at noon on 24 and 31 December. Some stores post their holiday closures in advance and others only days before, so do your grocery run by the morning of the 24th and again by the morning of the 31st.

Cruise ships still call. The Aruba Ports Authority's provisional schedule lists Norwegian Sun on Christmas Day (11:00 to 19:00) and Nieuw Amsterdam on New Year's Eve (08:00 to 17:00), so downtown Oranjestad should have some life on both days, though not every shop opens for a ship.

What Does Christmas Look Like in Aruba?

The season starts early and it is loud, in a good way.

• Sinterklaas. The Dutch Saint Nicholas arrives by boat in Oranjestad harbour in mid-November (local press announced Sunday 15 November 2026 at 3 PM), and the Department of Culture's calendar lists Pakjes Avond, the gift evening, on 5 December.
• Gaita. Bands playing this Venezuelan-rooted Christmas music perform at supermarkets, small venues and community events through December. You do not need a ticket; you will hear them while shopping.
• Food. The holiday favourite is ayaca, a filled cornmeal parcel steamed in banana leaf. Tables also carry a glazed, spiced Christmas ham and ponche crema, Aruba's rum eggnog. Our local food guide explains where to try Aruban cooking.
• Lights. Traffic circles across the island are decorated, each by a local company or organisation, and San Nicolas has a community lights tradition, Cas di Luz, that normally runs through December. Its 2026 opening date had not been published when we checked.

What Happens on New Year's Eve?

New Year's Eve in Aruba is about noise first and fireworks second.

During the last days of the year, businesses set off pagara: long strings of Chinese firecrackers unrolled along the street and lit to close out the year. They are extremely loud, leave a carpet of red paper, and draw a crowd each time. If you are sensitive to noise, or travelling with small children or a nervous dog, keep your distance and bring ear protection.

At midnight the sky goes off across the island. The hotel strip at Palm Beach is the easiest place to watch from the sand; at least one beachfront venue there advertises a countdown with fireworks over the beach to welcome 2027. We found no confirmed public fireworks programme for Eagle Beach, although fireworks are visible from much of the west coast.

After midnight comes Dande, Aruba's own New Year tradition. Groups of musicians go from house to house singing blessings for health, luck and prosperity for the year ahead. It is a home tradition, so visitors mostly meet it at the annual Dande Festival; the 2026 festival date was not confirmed on the official page when we checked.

Then, at noon on 1 January 2027, there is the Nieuwjaarsduik, a New Year's plunge into the sea at MooMba Beach on Palm Beach. Taking part is free.

What Is On in December 2026 and Early January 2027?

The Christmas Fair's music line-up was still to be announced. If you are on the island on 9 January, the Torch Parade is an easy first taste of Carnival, with the main parades following from late January into February.

Practical Tips for a Holiday Trip

• Reserve the big dinners early. MooMba's five-course New Year's Eve dinner was already sold out by mid-November, although its bar seating stays free with no reservation. Book any popular beachfront restaurant for 24, 25 and 31 December as early as you can.
• Taxis cost a little more. Aruba's fixed taxi tariff adds a US$5 (Afl. 9) surcharge from 24 December through 1 January. It can be charged only once per trip. Fares are otherwise set by zone; see getting around Aruba.
• Buses run on reduced timetables. Arubus has separate weekend schedules on the hotel-area route between Oranjestad and the Marriott, and it had not published a holiday timetable when we checked. Do not count on a late bus after the fireworks.
• Pack for sun and wind. Hat, sunglasses and light clothing, as the public health department recommends, plus a light layer for breezy evenings. The tourism authority asks visitors to bring mineral-based sunscreen and a reusable bottle; the tap water is safe to drink.
• Plan calm-water days. December's steady east wind makes the sheltered west-coast beaches the comfortable ones. Our best beaches guide sorts them by conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is December a good time to visit Aruba?

Yes. It is warm, with a 30.7°C average high, and rain comes in short showers. The first two weeks are the best value; Christmas and New Year are the most expensive and crowded time of the year.

Does it rain a lot in Aruba in December?

Not by Caribbean standards. The official normal is 80.1 mm across about 11 days with at least 1 mm of rain, but only around 52 hours of rain in the whole month, so showers are usually brief.

Is Aruba at risk of hurricanes in December?

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from 1 June to 30 November, so December is outside it, and direct hits on Aruba are rare even in season.

Are restaurants and shops open on Christmas Day in Aruba?

Resort and hotel-strip restaurants are generally open, often with set menus, and it is wise to reserve. Supermarkets and local shops often close or keep short hours on 25 and 26 December and on 1 January.

What is a pagara?

A long string of Chinese firecrackers that Aruban businesses light at the end of the year. It is a loud, smoky street tradition in the last days of December.

When does Aruba Carnival 2027 start?

The first official parade, the Torch Parade, is listed for Saturday 9 January 2027. The grand parades take place in early February.