Things to Do in Aruba: Prices, Rules and Areas

October 30, 2026

Aruba at a Glance

Think of Aruba as a long, narrow strip of desert scrub with two very different coastlines. On the sheltered south and west side you get calm, clear water and soft white sand. The exposed north and east side takes the full force of the Atlantic, with jagged rock, strong surf and currents. The island is roughly 32 km by 10 km, and the highest point, Mount Jamanota, reaches 188 m. Costs here are quoted in US dollars. Shops take dollars and cards everywhere, and change often comes back in Aruban florins.

Arriving: The ED Card

All air travelers fill in the ED Card online at edcardaruba.aw . It costs nothing and opens 7 days before your flight. Travelers aged 8 or over pay a US$20 Sustainability Fee during the same process, by Visa, Mastercard or Discover. Children under 8, residents, anyone who visited within the last year and same-day arrivals are exempt. Most cruise passengers skip the card entirely.

Arikok National Park

Arikok is the island’s only national park and a good fit for a half day. Adults pay $22 for the conservation pass and under-17s go free. Opening hours are 8:00 to 16:00 every day. Guided hikes with a ranger cost $25 per hike, for up to 10 people, and have to be booked through the Aruba Conservation Foundation . The day pass does not include them.

Rules to know: no ATVs, UTVs or motorbikes in protected areas, while Jeeps and 4x4s are fine. To reach the Natural Pool, go by 4x4, guided Jeep, horseback, or walk the roughly 7.7 km round trip from the visitor center. Waves can wash over the pool’s rim, and rangers sometimes shut it for swimming, so ask first and pack water shoes.

Snorkeling and Wind Sports

Antilla wreck (Malmok). A German cargo ship that went down in May 1940. Its hull lies on one side in water up to about 18 m deep and can be seen from the surface. Divers should not go inside.
Tres Trapi. A small rocky cove with cushion sea stars and turtles that graze nearby. Visit early, leave the sea stars underwater and give turtles space.
Hadicurari. Constant trade winds make this the island’s wind-sport beach. Vela Sports Aruba and Aruba Active Vacations offer lessons and rentals.
Mangel Halto. A shore snorkel spot at Pos Chiquito. Current runs in the outer reef channel, so stay close to shore.

Swimming Safety

Stick to the leeward beaches on the south and west. Dos Playa, Boca Prins and Andicuri on the windward side are not for swimming because of rip currents. Please never handle turtles, which is illegal; report problems to the Turtugaruba hotline on +297 592 9393.

Transport Costs

A single bus fare on Arubus is $2.60, a return card is $5 and an all-day pass is $15. Taxis charge fixed government rates instead of using meters, starting at $10, and add $5 on Sundays, holidays and overnight (23:00 to 07:00).

Good to Know

Tap water is desalinated and safe, so refill a bottle. Lock valuables out of sight rather than leaving them in a car or on the sand. The Atlantic hurricane season runs June to November.

Snorkel cruises and jeep tours can be compared on GetYourGuide .