Aruba lies off the coast of Venezuela, the westernmost of the ABC islands, and its visitors come for the long white beaches of Eagle Beach and Palm Beach, the shops of Oranjestad and the dry, rocky landscapes of Arikok National Park. The island is one of the countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, but it is not part of the EU and it is outside the Roam Like at Home area, so a European SIM, Dutch ones included, roams there at its operator's own rates.
Key facts for Aruba
- EU roaming: not covered by Roam Like at Home
- Local networks: Digicel (depending on the plan)
- Emergency numbers: police 100; ambulance and fire 911
- Embassies: none; the Netherlands has a representation in Oranjestad and the US a consulate general in Curaçao
Before you fly: the ED card
Every visitor must complete Aruba's online embarkation and disembarkation card, the ED card, up to seven days before arriving, and airlines ask to see the approval before boarding; passengers in transit need one too. A sustainability fee for visitors arriving by air is collected through the same card. Use the official site, because some websites charge a fee to fill in the form for you. Your passport must be valid for the whole stay, and the permitted length of a visit depends on your nationality, so check the rules that apply to you.
Safety on the island
Aruba is generally calm, but petty theft and occasional street crime do happen: avoid remote areas at night, leave valuables at the hotel rather than on the beach and never leave bags in a parked car. The island is used as a route for drug smuggling between South America and Europe and North America, and there is some drug-related violent crime. Taxis have no meters, so agree the fare in local currency before you set off, and use licensed taxis only.
The hurricane season runs from June to November, but most hurricanes pass to the north of Aruba, which has no record of a recent major hurricane; tropical storms are occasional.
Laws, health and money
You are legally required to carry identification, so keep a copy of your passport with you. Penalties for drug offences are severe, and the drink-driving limit is much lower than in England. The EHIC and the UK's GHIC are not valid in Aruba, and there is a risk of dengue, so pack insect repellent and travel insurance.
The Aruban florin is pegged to the US dollar, and US dollars are widely accepted, as are the major cards; cash machines are easy to find.
Getting around
Traffic drives on the right. Hire cars are available at Queen Beatrix International Airport, and the Arubus public buses, taxis and limousines cover the rest. There are no ferries between the ABC islands, so Curaçao and Bonaire are reached by plane.
Getting connected
A travel eSIM installed at home works as soon as you land. A Caribbean plan covers Aruba, Curaçao, Bonaire and many other islands, which suits a cruise or island hopping; an Aruba plan is enough for a stay on the island. Keep your usual SIM for texts and bank codes, with data roaming switched off.
Local SIMs: Digicel and Setar are the two operators. Setar's tourist SIM, sold at the airport and in its shops, needs a passport, a foreign ID card or a driving licence, and lasts 45 days from activation.
Consular protection: who to call in Aruba
- Call 100 for the police and 911 for an ambulance or the fire service. The coastguard answers on 913.
- There are no embassies in Aruba. The Representation of the Netherlands in Oranjestad assists Dutch nationals who do not live on the island, the US consulate general in Willemstad, Curaçao, covers Aruba, and the UK covers it from its embassy in The Hague.
- Many countries have no office on the island, so check before you travel which of your country's embassies or consulates covers Aruba.
- Dutch and Papiamento are the official languages, and English and Spanish are widely spoken.
Questions travellers ask about Aruba
Does my Dutch phone plan work in Aruba?
Not under EU rules. Aruba belongs to the Kingdom of the Netherlands but is outside the EU and Roam Like at Home, so your operator charges its own rates unless your plan says otherwise.
Do I need the ED card?
Yes. Every visitor completes it online before flying, and airlines check the approval at check-in.
Which network does a Telcomia eSIM use in Aruba?
Digicel, with 4G where available.
Can I take a ferry to Curaçao?
No. There are no ferries between the ABC islands, so you have to fly.
The short version
Install the eSIM before you travel, fill in the ED card on the official site, carry a copy of your passport, agree taxi fares before getting in, keep valuables off the beach, and save 100 and 911.
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