Do- Learn a few words of Papiamentu. Papiamentu is the native language of Aruba, and is a curious blending of Dutch, Spanish, and Portuguese. While English is widely spoken, particularly in the tourist areas, your efforts will delight your Aruba hosts. Good morning is "bon dia."
Don't - Expect a lush tropical island with rainforests and an abundance of greenery. While Aruba offers stunningly beautiful beaches, the interior is quite arid. However, the surreal desert landscape has a unique beauty of its own.
Entry
Requirements
Aruba typically requires either a passport or photo id and certified birth certificate for entry in the country by American and Canadian citizens. For more detailed information, contact the Aruba Tourism Authority in your area.
New Passport Requirements for US Residents The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 requires that by January 1, 2008, travelers to and from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Panama, Mexico and Canada have a passport or other secure, accepted document to enter or re-enter the United States.
In the proposed implementation plan, which is subject to a period of initial public comment, the Initiative will be rolled out in phases, providing as much advance notice as possible to the affected public to enable them to meet the terms of the new guidelines. The proposed timeline will be as follows:
December 31, 2006 – Requirement applied to all air and sea travel to or from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. December 31, 2007 – Requirement extended to all land border crossings as well as air and sea travel.
The official currency of Aruba is the Aruban florin, which is divided into
100 cents. Silver coins are in denominations of 5, 10, 25 and 50 cents, one
florin, 2 1/2 florins and 5 florins. The square shaped 50-cent "yotin" coin is
probably Aruba's best-known coin.
The florin fluctuates with the dollar on the world market. Current exchange
rates are Af. 1.77 to the U.S. Dollar and Af. 1.34 to the Canadian Dollar. U.S.
dollars are widely accepted in Aruba, and banks may exchange other foreign
currency.
Weather
Aruba is outside the hurricane belt! The average temperature is 82ºF with an annual rainfall of less than 20 inches.
Transportation
Aruba is not a large island, and it’s very easy to get around. Most visitors will arrive at Queen Beatrix International Airport via charter and scheduled flights. Cruise ships do dock at the island, often used as a starting point for Caribbean cruising.
Although many tourists opt to get around to restaurants and nightclubs by taxi, others have discovered that Aruba’s bus system is efficient, easy to use and quite affordable. The bus runs frequently between the main bus station in downtown Oranjestad and the entire hotel strip.
If you’d like to explore the whole island, you can rent a scooter, or a motorcycle (even a Harley!) Car rentals are available, but most people prefer to rent a 4-wheel drive jeep because Aruba's terrain can be rugged in remote areas. Luxurious motorcoach tours are also available that will pick you up at your hotel.
