Check in and Check Out
Apartments and Amenities
Rules
Getting Around
Shopping and Restaurants
Palm Beach
Miscellaneous
Aruba Fitness
Things To Do
Getting Around Aruba
When you visit Aruba, you have the opportunity to explore and get to know a new country as opposed to just staying confined to your resort. Aruba is safe, friendly, and it’s easy to get around the island.
Driving and Rental Cars
The best way to explore the island is by rental car. There are several rental car companies including the familiar multinational brands. The best deals can be obtained from local rental companies such as Jay’s or Tropic. Keep in mind that some of the cheapest rentals may not have the safety or convinience features that are standard in your home country.
Roads in Aruba are in good condition and most drivers are competent. There is a surprising variety of cars in Aruba, you’ll see everything from luxury SUVs to sub-compact Chinese cars. You will even see a few right-hand drive vehicles that have been imported from Japan or other Caribbean countries that drive on the left hand side of the road.
The main highway in Aruba is Route 1 which goes from Noord in the North to San Nicolas in the south. Route 1 is twinned in many parts and the speed limit is 80 kmph / 50 mph. The other 4-lane road in Aruba is called Watty Vos Boulevard and serves as a ring road around the capital city of Oranjestad.
There are very few traffic lights in Aruba, most intersections are roundabouts. For some North Americans, 2-lane roundabouts will seem a bit daunting at first. After a getting used to them, you’ll wish these were more used back home.
There can be traffic jams in Aruba, especially around Orangestad. Google Maps works well in Aruba and will help you navigate around traffic.
Parking
Parking in Aruba is generally easy. Most beaches have free parking lots or roadside parking. Supermarkets, restaurants and stores also tend to have ample parking.
The more difficult spots are in Palm Beach and downtown Oranjestad. In Orjangestad, some parking spots are metered and payment can be made using US or Aruban coins or a pre-paid parking card. The meters to not accept credit cards.
In the Palm Beach area, there are a few paid lots and the hotels have their own parking for guests. There are a few places to park for free in Palm Beach (all subject to change): at Signature Park, the street that leads to the beach between the Barcelo and the Hyatt, behind the Moomba restaurant, and on JE Irausquin Blvd across from the Plaza Mall.
Gas Stations
Gas stations are not hard to find in Aruba. At most places, you pay inside and then pump your gas. There is a full-serve station on Lloyd G Smith Blvd (Route 1) near the cruise ship terminal. The price on the pump is in Florins.
UTVs
A popular excursion in Aruba is to rent a UTV and drive around and go off-roading on the undeveloped eastern side of the island. Tourists are asked to stay on the trails. Even though some parts of Aruba might look barren, there are animals and birds that can be harmed or killed by UTVs.
Taxis
If you don’t rent a car, taxis are a safe and reliable altermative. Taxis can be ordered by phone or you might find one at a taxi stand in popular places such as the airport, the cruise terminal, at hotels, or the SuperFood grocery store. Taxi rates are set by the government and are published here. For example, the fare from the airport to Palm Beach is $35.
Public Buses
Aruba has a public bus system called Arubus. Most routes terminate in Oranjestad near the cruise ship terminal. Bus fares are published here and route schedules can be found here. If you are staying in the Palm Beach area, routes 7 and 10 go from the Mariott hotel to Oranjestad.
Cycling
Despite the island’s Dutch heritage, cycling as a means of transportation is not very popular in Aruba. In recent years, more multi-use pathways have been built and hopefully this will change. For visitors, you can rent a bike from one of the Green Bike stations and ride on the path that goes mostly uninterrupted from the airport all the way to Palm Beach.
Walking
Downtown Oranjestad and the areas around Palm Beach and Eable Beach are very wakable with sidewalks, paths and cross walks. Drivers are very courteous and will stop for pedestrians in these areas. If you are staying off the beaten path in a residential area, there likely won’t be sidewalks or many places to go that are within walking distance. Many residential streets lead to a major road that will probably have a convenience store, locally referred to as a ‘Chinese grocery stores’.
Happy exploring!