The things no generic travel guide will tell you β specific knowledge that makes the difference between a good Aruba trip and a great one.
25 Aruba Travel Tips From People Who Live Here
Before You Go
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Complete the ED Card before you fly. edcardaruba.aw β mandatory, $20, takes 5 minutes. Your airline may check it at boarding. Don’t leave this to the airport.
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Book restaurants before you leave home. Screaming Eagle, Flying Fishbone, Passions on the Beach β all fill up weeks ahead in peak season. Book before you pack.
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Bring reef-safe sunscreen from home. Thinksport, Raw Elements, All Good. Options on the island are limited and expensive. Non-reef-safe sunscreen is harmful to the coral.
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Notify your bank. Caribbean charges trigger fraud alerts. A 30-second phone call prevents your card being blocked on arrival.
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Download offline Google Maps for Aruba. Works reliably across the island including Arikok. Essential if you’re renting a car.
Money
π΅ USD is accepted everywhere at 1.79 AWG fixed rate. You don’t need to exchange currency.
π΅ Bring $40β60 in small bills. $1s and $5s for tips, Zeerovers (cash only), local bakeries, and the Dushi Bus.
π΅ Always check the bill for service charge before tipping. Many restaurants add 10β15% automatically. Double-tipping is common mistake #1 for US visitors. Full tipping guide
Getting Around
π Rent a car for at least 2 days. Without one, you miss Baby Beach, Zeerovers, San Nicolas, Arikok, Arashi, and Malmok β essentially all the best parts of the island beyond Palm Beach.
π You need a 4×4 specifically for the Natural Pool. Not a crossover SUV β a proper Jeep Wrangler or equivalent. Regular cars get stuck on the Conchi track.
π The Dushi Bus runs Palm Beach β Oranjestad for a few dollars. Reliable and air-conditioned. Not useful for the northern beaches or south coast.
Beaches
ποΈ Go to Eagle Beach, not just Palm Beach. Eagle Beach is wider, quieter, and more beautiful. 10 minutes from Palm Beach by taxi ($10β15).
ποΈ Arrive at Boca Catalina by 9 AM for sea turtles. The turtles are more active in the morning before other swimmers arrive.
ποΈ The Atlantic (northern and eastern) coast is not safe for swimming. Strong rip currents and waves. Red flags mean do not enter the water.
Food
π½οΈ Eat at Zeerovers at least once. Fresh fried fish at the dock in Savaneta for $10β15. Cash only, weekday lunches. The most authentic food experience on the island. Guide
π½οΈ Try pastechi for breakfast. Fried pastry with cheese or meat from local bakeries, $1β2 each. The local breakfast.
π½οΈ Hotel strip restaurants are the most expensive. 10 minutes into Oranjestad or Noord consistently gives better value for the same quality.
Tours and Activities
ποΈ Book catamaran tours by Day 1. Popular departures sell out in peak season β book before or immediately on arrival.
ποΈ Don’t try the Natural Pool without a guide or proper 4×4. The track is extremely rough. Vehicles get stuck regularly. Tour operators know the route and handle recovery.
ποΈ Closed-toe shoes are required for ATV/UTV tours. Sandals will get you turned away.
Practical
π‘οΈ Reef-safe sunscreen AND a rash guard. Snorkelers float face-down and burn their backs faster than anyone. A UV rash guard fixes this.
π¬οΈ It’s always windy. The trade winds blow 15β25 knots year-round. Bring a windproof layer for catamaran evenings and early mornings.
π Aruba is UTC-4 year-round β no daylight saving. When the US is on EDT (MarchβNovember), Aruba is the same time as the East Coast.
π Same plugs as the US (Type A/B, 110V) β no adapter needed for American electronics.
Key things: complete the ED Card at edcardaruba.aw before flying ($20). USD is accepted everywhere β no currency exchange needed. Book popular restaurants (Screaming Eagle, Flying Fishbone) before you leave home. Rent a car for at least 2 days to reach Baby Beach, Zeerovers, and San Nicolas. Use reef-safe sunscreen only.
Top 5: (1) Complete the ED Card online before your flight. (2) Book Screaming Eagle and Flying Fishbone before you pack. (3) Rent a car for 2β3 days β you’ll miss too much without one. (4) Go to Eagle Beach, not just Palm Beach. (5) Eat at Zeerovers β $10β15 for the best local lunch in Aruba.
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