Travel insurance & safety
Use this page to prepare, then confirm the latest safety and health guidance with official sources before departure.
Check the current safety advisory before you fly
In its advisory issued 20 August 2026, the U.S. State Department lists Aruba at Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions, its lowest level. US travel guidance also notes an increased risk of crime in the San Nicolas district, especially at night. The Aruba Tourism Authority says travel insurance is not required but strongly recommended, while Dutch government entry guidance (NetherlandsWorldwide) calls for medical or travel insurance covering at least US$15,000.
Official safety & health sources
U.S. State Department: Aruba Travel Advisory
The US advisory for Aruba: Level 1, Exercise normal precautions, issued 20 August 2026, with travel guidance that notes an increased risk of crime in the San Nicolas district at night.
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UK Government: Aruba Travel Advice
UK Foreign Office advice for Aruba: petty theft and occasional street crime, the driving documents British license holders need, and the emergency numbers.
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CDC: Getting Health Care During Travel
General CDC advice on arranging medical care and evacuation cover before a trip abroad. It is not specific to Aruba.
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Why travel insurance matters
Buying the Aruba Visitors Insurance product stopped being mandatory for arrivals on or after 8 July 2022, but insurance still matters here. Dutch government entry guidance (NetherlandsWorldwide) calls for medical or travel insurance covering at least US$15,000, including hospital care, emergency treatment and repatriation, and Aruba's immigration authority, DIMAS, requires private insurance for certain extended tourist stays. If you plan to dive the Antilla shipwreck, windsurf or sail, check that the policy covers those activities, ideally including hyperbaric (decompression) treatment.
Medical Coverage
Hospital visits, medications, emergency evacuation
Trip Protection
Cancellations, delays, missed connections
Belongings
Lost luggage, stolen items, electronics
Insurers to compare
These are examples to compare, not an official ranking. Read the policy wording carefully for medical treatment, emergency evacuation, water activities, pre-existing conditions, and cancellation rules.
World Nomads
Travel insurance sold online. Which plans and which activities are covered depends on your country of residence, so check the list for your own policy.
Single trips, with activity cover to check
SafetyWing
Travel medical insurance sold as a rolling subscription, aimed at long stays and remote workers. Read what it excludes before relying on it.
Long stays on a subscription
Allianz Travel Insurance
Single-trip and annual plans from a large insurer. Benefits and prices differ by the country you buy in.
Single-trip or annual plans
Health tips
- Tap water is safe to drink, says WEB Aruba, the utility that makes it by desalinating seawater. WEB says the water is chemically tested daily and complies with WHO guidelines, so you can refill a bottle from the tap
- Check your sunscreen label: a 2019 Aruba ordinance bans the import, sale and free distribution of sunscreen containing oxybenzone. The sun is strong in every month, so cover up around midday
- Pack mosquito repellent, most useful in the rainy season, which Aruba's meteorological service puts from September to January
- Check the vaccine guidance for this destination: requirements can depend on where you are arriving from, not only on your nationality
Safety tips
🏖️ At the Beach
Eagle Beach and Palm Beach are on the sheltered leeward side of the island. The windward north-east coast, including the beaches inside Arikok National Park, has heavy surf and strong currents and is not for swimming. At the Natural Pool, the Aruba Tourism Authority says swimming is only safe when ocean conditions are calm. UK travel advice warns of petty theft, so do not leave bags in a parked car.
🚗 Transportation
Taxis are not metered. Fares follow the government tariff published at taxi.aw, in effect since 20 May 2026, with a US$10 minimum fare, so confirm the fare before you set off. Uber and Lyft do not operate in Aruba, according to the operator of ArubaTaxiApp, which advertises app booking of licensed taxis. If you rent a car, traffic keeps to the right.
Emergency numbers
| Ambulance & Fire | 911 |
| Police | 100 |
| Coast Guard (sea rescue) | 913 |
| Dr. Horacio Oduber Hospital (Oranjestad) | (+297) 527-4000 |
| US Consulate General Curaçao (serves Aruba) | (+5999) 433-2200 |
| US Consulate after-hours line (from the United States) | (+1) 301-985-8733 |
Explore more travel essentials
Next: how the Arubus buses and the government taxi tariff work, then money, language and packing basics.