Aruba is 32km long and 9km wide — small enough to drive end-to-end in under an hour. Here’s how the island is laid out and where everything is.
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Island Layout
North coast (Caribbean/western side): This is where everything is — Palm Beach, Eagle Beach, Manchebo Beach, Oranjestad, the hotels, restaurants, and most tours. Calm water, white sand, trade winds. South coast (Atlantic/eastern side): Rugged, windswept, dramatic. Baby Beach and Boca Grandi are here, as is Arikok National Park and the Natural Pool. Very few tourists, very few facilities.
Key Distances
Airport to Palm Beach: 20 minutes. Airport to Eagle Beach: 15 minutes. Palm Beach to Oranjestad: 15 minutes. Palm Beach to Baby Beach (south): 35 minutes. Palm Beach to Natural Pool (Conchi): 50 minutes (4×4 required). Palm Beach to San Nicolas: 30 minutes. California Lighthouse (northern tip) to Baby Beach (southern tip): 55 minutes.
Areas at a Glance
Palm Beach: The main tourist strip — hotels, beach bars, catamaran departures, restaurants, casinos. Eagle Beach: Quieter, more beautiful, fewer tourists. Best beach on the island. Manchebo/Druif Beach: Widest beach, quietest area. Oranjestad: The capital — Dutch Colonial architecture, duty-free shopping, Renaissance flamingos, harbour. Noord: Residential area between Palm Beach and the lighthouse. San Nicolas: Second city, street art murals, local food, Carnival history. Savaneta: Fishing village with the best local seafood (Zeerovers).
Do You Need a Car?
Not necessarily — Palm Beach is walkable and taxis are fixed-rate. But to visit Baby Beach, San Nicolas, the Natural Pool, or Arikok, you need either a rental car or to join a guided tour. A 4×4 is required for the Natural Pool specifically. See the car rental guide and getting around guide.
Getting around Aruba | Car rental | Complete travel guide
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Aruba map: Complete Aruba Guide for 2026
Aruba is one of the Caribbean’s most visitor-friendly destinations. The island has excellent infrastructure — well-maintained roads, reliable utilities, fast internet and a highly professional tourism industry. English is widely spoken across the island alongside Dutch, Papiamento and Spanish. Crime rates are very low and the island consistently ranks as one of the safest Caribbean destinations. The currency is the Aruban Florin (AWF) but US dollars are accepted universally. Queen Beatrix International Airport handles flights from across North America, Europe and South America, making Aruba easily accessible. The island is small enough to explore fully in a week — just 32km long and 10km wide — but has enough variety in beaches, activities and food to keep visitors busy for two weeks or more.
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Practical tips for 2026: Book tours and activities at least 24-48 hours in advance. Hotel rates are lowest in May through early December. Direct flights from the US East Coast typically run 3.5-4.5 hours. The island uses the US dollar — no currency exchange needed for American travellers. Aruba has no sales tax on most tourist services. For the best Aruba experience, combine beach time with at least one boat tour and one land-based excursion.
Working out where to base yourself?
The map answers “where” — these answer “where should I actually stay”.
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