The things no generic travel guide will tell you — specific knowledge that makes the difference between a good Aruba trip and a great one.
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25 Aruba Travel Tips From People Who Live Here
Before You Go
✅ Complete the ED Card before you fly. edcardaruba.aw — mandatory, $20, takes 5 minutes. Your airline may check it at boarding. Don’t leave this to the airport.
✅ Book restaurants before you leave home. Screaming Eagle, Flying Fishbone, Passions on the Beach — all fill up weeks ahead in peak season. Book before you pack.
✅ 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.
✅ Notify your bank. Caribbean charges trigger fraud alerts. A 30-second phone call prevents your card being blocked on arrival.
✅ Download offline Google Maps for Aruba. Works reliably across the island including Arikok. Essential if you’re renting a car.
If you are still mapping things out, see where Aruba is located before you book flights.
Money
💵 USD is accepted everywhere at 1.79 AWG fixed rate. You don’t need to exchange currency.
💵 Bring $40–60 in small bills. $1s and $5s for tips, Zeerovers (cash only), local bakeries, and the Dushi Bus.
💵 Always check the bill for service charge before tipping. Many restaurants add 10–15% automatically. Double-tipping is common mistake #1 for US visitors. Full tipping guide
Getting Around
🚗 Rent a car for at least 2 days. Without one, you miss Baby Beach, Zeerovers, San Nicolas, Arikok, Arashi, and Malmok — essentially all the best parts of the island beyond Palm Beach.
🚗 You need a 4×4 specifically for the Natural Pool. Not a crossover SUV — a proper Jeep Wrangler or equivalent. Regular cars get stuck on the Conchi track.
🚌 The Dushi Bus runs Palm Beach ↔ Oranjestad for a few dollars. Reliable and air-conditioned. Not useful for the northern beaches or south coast.
Before the good slots go
Peak-season departures fill 3–5 days ahead.
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Beaches
🏖️ Go to Eagle Beach, not just Palm Beach. Eagle Beach is wider, quieter, and more beautiful. 10 minutes from Palm Beach by taxi ($10–15).
🏖️ Arrive at Boca Catalina by 9 AM for sea turtles. The turtles are more active in the morning before other swimmers arrive.
🏖️ 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
🍽️ Eat at Zeerovers at least once. Fresh fried fish at the dock in Savaneta for $10–15. Cash only, weekday lunches. The most authentic food experience on the island. Guide
🍽️ Try pastechi for breakfast. Fried pastry with cheese or meat from local bakeries, $1–2 each. The local breakfast.
🍽️ Hotel strip restaurants are the most expensive. 10 minutes into Oranjestad or Noord consistently gives better value for the same quality.
Tours and Activities
🎟️ Book catamaran tours by Day 1. Popular departures sell out in peak season — book before or immediately on arrival.
🎟️ 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.
🎟️ Closed-toe shoes are required for ATV/UTV tours. Sandals will get you turned away.
Practical
🌡️ Reef-safe sunscreen AND a rash guard. Snorkelers float face-down and burn their backs faster than anyone. A UV rash guard fixes this.
🌬️ It’s always windy. The trade winds blow 15–25 knots year-round. Bring a windproof layer for catamaran evenings and early mornings.
🕐 Aruba is UTC-4 year-round — no daylight saving. When the US is on EDT (March–November), Aruba is the same time as the East Coast.
🔌 Same plugs as the US (Type A/B, 110V) — no adapter needed for American electronics.
Key things: complete the ED Card at edcardaruba.aw before flying ($20). USD is accepted everywhere — 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 2–3 days — you’ll miss too much without one. (4) Go to Eagle Beach, not just Palm Beach. (5) Eat at Zeerovers — $10–15 for the best local lunch in Aruba.
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