Aruba’s pastel capital has Spanish-Caribbean-Dutch architecture. Here you can marvel at luxury cruisers that dock, giggle at American tourists in Hawaiian shirts, shop for diamonds – or have a refreshing lime drink at Iguana Joe’s bar. However, it is the beaches that attract the most and here most people spend most of their stay. Warm soft sand, the Caribbean Sea in shades of blue, pelicans surfing in the winds.
On this page you will find practical information and facts about Aruba.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION ABOUT TRAVELING IN ARUBA
Climate and best travel time
You can travel to Aruba all year round as the island is outside the hurricane belt. Visit healthvv.com for Aruba as a destination.
Visa
No visa is required for Swedish citizens.
NOTE! Visa rules are subject to change at short notice, so We recommend that you check the current conditions with Aruba’s embassy – read on Sweden Abroad.
If you travel via the USA, you must remember to do one ESTA application and Secure Flight Information shall be entered in the flight booking.
Departure tax of USD 36 is paid at the airport
Tips
In most countries, tips are part of the salaries of employees in the service industry. Therefore, it is good practice (and sometimes directly necessary) to give tips to, for example, cleaning staff, waiters, guides, drivers, etc. depending on the country you are visiting. Therefore, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with how much is normally given in tips and to whom before you embark on your journey. Find information about tips in, for example, Lonely Planet’s guidebooks.
FACTS
CAPITAL: ORANJESTAD
LANGUAGE: PAPIAMENTO AND DUTCH
CURRENCY: FLORINS (USD ACTS AS A MEANS OF PAYMENT PRETTY MUCH EVERYWHERE)
RELIGION: MOST ARE CATHOLICS BUT MANY RELIGIONS ARE PRACTICED AND COEXIST ON THE ISLAND
INFORMATION ARUBA
Aruba is very much about beach life – there are lots of beautiful beaches and you can find them mainly on the west coast. Eagle Beach was recently named one of the world’s best beaches by the prestigious travel magazine Condé Nast Traveler. If you do not just want to sunbathe and swim, you can have fun with one of all the water sports on offer.
If you want to surf, you go to Andieuri Beach or Bachelors Beach. At Hadicurari Beach, wind or kite surfing is the best. Boca Catalina and Baby Beach are some of the finest beaches to snorkel at. There are also many great places for scuba diving. You can also rent a car and explore on your own – there are several national parks here and despite the barren nature, Aruba offers a lot to see.
You should also not miss an excursion to Renaissance Island with the whitest sand and lots of fearless flamingos and iguanas!
There is an 18-hole golf course – Tierra del Sol – designed by Robert Trent Jones II and then there are two 9-hole courses; Aruba Golf Club and The Links at Divi Aruba. Green fees for 18 holes are around 100 USD.
Shopping is a must and there is plenty to choose from. Inside Oranjestad, the luxury shops are crowded with each other and genuine goods are offered here – for those who prefer to visit some of the island’s markets, there are lots of fun souvenirs to find and at much lower prices!
