ARUBA | ORANJESTAD | Map | Cruise Ship Schedule

ARUBA : Its History, and Topography

Aruba is 19.6 miles long and 6 miles across, totaling 77 square miles of land mass. It’s climate has little variation from the yearly average of a sunny 81 degrees tempered by northeasterly trade winds. Its time zone is Standard Time year round (equivalent to Eastern Daylight Savings time). Aruba’s population in 2008 was around 105,600 persons. The island is located in the deep south Caribbean just 15 miles off the coast of Venezuela and outside the hurricane belt. Like its sister isles of Bonaire and Curacao (the ABC Islands) it has a character and architecture defined by the Dutch.

Five hundred years after the Spaniards discovered Aruba, the rest of the world continues to discover this small island of hospitable people, elegant beaches and the cuisines of many settlers who followed the Indians, Spaniards-- and later --the Dutch. The official language is Dutch, Native language: Papiamenta (a mixture of all the island languages), but English and Spanish are widely spoken by practically all Arubans.

GEOGRAPHY
On the south and west coasts are miles of pristine white beaches that rank among the most beautiful in the world, rimmed by calm blue seas with visibility in some areas to a depth of a hundred feet. The northeast coast, along the Atlantic shore, is rugged and wild. On this side, the waves crash against cliffs, carving coral bridges and deep, dark limestone grottoes. It's desolate here, compared to beachside with its soft, white sand and a shoreline fringed with palm trees. The interior is desert-like, with a variety of cacti and dramatic rock formations. When traveling through the interior of Aruba, you’d swear you were in Arizona, not the Caribbean. Aruba is a desert island full of enormous cacti, fields of aloe, and palm and coconut trees. As you venture around you will notice the characteristic divi-divi trees are always pointing westward because they grow in the direction the wind bends them (so you will always be able to get your directions when you travel on your own!). Desert flora proliferate from the otherwise rugged, rocky terrain. After a rare rain, the desert blooms briefly with wildflowers--quite a visual experience. Lizards, iguana, and other reptiles are everywhere. And wild sheep, goats and donkeys roam the landscape.

DOCKING

Oranjestad, the old Dutch capital city, is located on the southern coast. You dock in the heart of Oranjestad, a bustling little town of around 30,600 inhabitants; just a five-minute walk to downtown. Tall multicolored houses on the main street, Wilheminastraat, are endowed with carved wooden doors, traditional Dutch tiles, airy open galleries and sloping, Aruban-style roofs. The Dutch architecture alone, makes for a perfect walking tour close to the pier. Oranjestad isn't a huge city but it offers a variety of exclusive shops and local crafts--quite charming in a picture postcard kind of way. Walking around downtown you will find a lot of beautiful monuments. These date from the time that Aruba was a Dutch colony to even earlier. Most of the 27 luxury hotels and casinos are lined up neatly along the northwestern shore some miles away. Taxis are readily available at the dock.

By far, the best thing to see downtown is the town itself. The Royal Plaza, a grand shopping mall that faces the waterfront, looks just like a giant cake with pink and white icing. It's a three-story, open-air building with spiraling staircases and a courtyard between the two main structures. The day we were there, the open-air second floor was completely filled with diners.

GETTING AROUND

WHEELCHAIR & SCOOTER USERS: Docking: Terminal buildings 6 and 7 have easy access from the cruise ship to the building and two ramps outside for wheelchairs and scooters. Restrooms in #6 is not designed to accommodate people on wheelchairs. Building number 7 (the newest) has easy access from the cruise ship to the building, special restrooms for wheelchair guests, ramp outside the building and is 10 minutes away from from shopping, museum, restaurants and 2 casinos. The city of Oranjestad is wheelchair and scooter friendly. From the pier into the town the sidewalks are wide enough for wheelchairs and pedestrians. There are also curb cuts for the wheelchairs and scooters so you should not have much trouble getting around visiting the shops and casino. There is also a non-emergency taxi service Lite Life Medicab (Email: info@litelifemedicab.com). While wheelchairs are not available at the hotels there is a list HERE of the hotels and resorts with special facilities and amenities for the disabled.

A program called Adapted Happy Wheels (AHW) (Email: adaptedhappywheels@hotmail.com) offers products that can be bought or leased short term, such as the Mobi-Chair, an amphibious beach wheelchair that provides the disabled user with a seamless transition from boardwalk to beach and water. Roll-A-Ramp is an aluminum ramp that assembles easily for persons with limited physical mobility. Mobi-Mat is designed for foot traffic in sensitive areas such as beach sand.

Please contact Jonathan Boekhoudt, Aruba's Trade Relations Liaison ( j.boekhoudt@aruba.com) for any other questions you may have regarding information on assistance for the mobility disabled in Aruba.

TAXIS:
In Aruba, visitors often use taxi services. Aruba's taxis are reliable and also less expensive than they are on some other islands. Fares are set by the government, and drivers should each carry a rate card. To find a taxi, your best bet is to call ahead. These aren't the hail-on-a-street-corner kind of ride. The Aruba Department of Public Traffic has regulated the price of taxi fares. Because of this, travelers can expect to pay a set rate to particular locations. Remember that a maximum of five passengers is allowed at the set rate, so traveling with other passengers heading to the same location can save money.

Sample Fares (US$): From airport: to downtown - $9; high-rise hotels - $16; Marriott Hotel - $18. From Oranjestad: to high-rise hotels $6 - $8; Eagle Beach - $5; Palm Beach - $10

Also remember that after midnight, and on official holidays, rates are higher. After midnight, add $2; on Sundays, add $1 and on holidays, add $3 to the fare. The minimum fare for a ride is $4. The cost for a taxi to wait for you is $8 for every 15 minutes. Island tours lasting one hour cost about $30 to $35 for four people

Other Concerns

Passengers should keep small U.S. bills or Aruban Florins on them when taking a taxi ride. The largest U.S. currency accepted is a $20 bill.
Passengers should also keep in mind that shirtless, wet or damp passengers are not allowed. Aruba taxi companies will charge $50 for seat damage due to wet clothing or sharp objects.
Tipping is done at the discretion of the passenger. Approximately 10 percent to 15 percent is the usual tip but is not mandatory.
It is against the law to ride with a child under the age of five if they are not properly restrained in a child safety device. Taxis will not provide these for you, so if you are traveling with a small child, make sure you bring your car seat or booster seat from home

Rental Cars and Jeeps: For some activities, having your own wheels is crucial. If you would like to explore the center of Aruba or its northern windward coast, you will almost definitely need a car. Visitors to Aruba can rent cars without a problem. There are a variety of car rental agencies on the island of Aruba, however none of the companies have wheelchair accessible rental vans with a ramp or lift.

Roads conditions are good, and traffic, while heavy in downtown Oranjestad, is not as difficult to navigate as it is in other island getaways. Four-wheel-drive Jeeps and Suzukis are excellent for taking trips off-road. However, always remember to carry a spare tire, and make sure it's full of air before you set off on your journey. If you have a sunroof, wear sun block to avoid burning under the Aruban sun. Jeeps are often used in sightseeing day trips. To travel with air conditioning and on the main roads, other cars are available. Rental cars can often pick you up from your hotel, or you can pick one up at the airport. Aruba has a few rules for drivers to keep in mind:

Drive on the right-hand side of the road, like in the United States.
Generally minimum and maximum rental ages are 21-25 and 65-70 years old.
International driving licenses held for more than two years are accepted.
Deposit (usually $500USD) or credit card are required.
Insurance is recommended but does not cover charges of driving while intoxicated.
Windsurf racks, towing and pick-up services are often available upon request.
Watch for traffic signs. Outside Oranjestad they may be rare.
Beware of goats and iguanas, both of which make unusual driving hazards.
Speed limits are rarely posted, but are usually 40 kmph (25 mph) in town, 60 kmph (37 mph) outside town, and 80 kmph (50 mph) in the countryside.
Aruba's drivers, though cautious, often speed.
In Oranjestad streets are often one-way.

High season rates are generally between $40 and $65 per day for a compact car or $75 to $80 per day for a four-wheel-drive vehicle. In the low season, drivers can expect to pay $30 to $45 for a compact car or $60 to $85 for a four-wheel-drive auto. Budget-conscious travelers may want to check into renting a car online for deals, or look into reputable local agencies.

Buses: Aruba's bus system is easily the island's most budget-friendly form of transportation and is also very reliable. Although they have always been more popular among local residents, tourists are beginning to realize that Aruba bus fares are inexpensive and routes are efficient. Buses run across the island, especially along the hotel-strip. Travelers will find Aruba's main bus station in downtown Oranjestad across from waterfront shops and restaurants. To catch a bus from a cruise ship, simply exit the terminal, turn right, and cross the street to the Bus Terminal --- an orange building with white columns and benches. Take the #10 "Hotels" bus. The largest bus operator is Arubus, Aruba's government-owned bus company with 29 buses. Arubus offers six lines including one that runs from San Nicolas to Oranjestad and the further end of the hotel zone. There are other routes that transport passengers from smaller areas to Oranjestad. During peak hours, Arubus uses 14 buses for line services. Also, approximately 40 mini buses supply regular transport on the road from San Nicolas to Oranjestad. However, these buses are all privately owned.

Fares: A same-day, round-trip fare on the public buses is $2 between the beach hotels and Oranjestad. The one-way fare is $1.30 and you will need to have exact change.

Monday through Saturday Aruba buses run each half hour from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. and each hour between 6 p.m. and midnight. On Sundays and holidays, services are less frequent, doubling the usual amount of time between routes.

Airport terminals also have frequent bus service. Between the airport and hotels, buses run approximately every 15 minutes until 8 p.m. and once per hour between 8:40 p.m. and 12:40 PM.

Bikes & Moped Rentals: Bikes and mopeds can provide excellent opportunities for vacationers to get off the beaten path and explore the more remote areas of Aruba and a great opportunity to enjoy the fresh air and famous scenery. Due to the island's relatively flat terrain and cool trade winds, these are some of the most popular forms of personal transportation on the island. Reasonable rates make two-wheeling adventures available to almost everyone. However, because Aruba's bikes and mopeds are so popular, it is a good idea to make reservations, particularly during the heavily-traveled peak season

Aruba is a busy island, it is generally not recommended that vacationers rent bikes or mopeds as a primary mode of transportation in the towns and cities. While they are an ideal form of leisure transportation, traffic and street conditions can be very confusing for foreigners and it is not unusual to have heavy traffic on the roads during rush hour.

Ferries: There are no off-island ferry services for those visiting Aruba. The one ferry service available travels from Aruba to a tourist attraction, De Palm Island which is a popular spot just 5 miles from Aruba's shores for snorkeling. Also popular among vacationers are glass-bottom boats, dinner and sunset cruises and fishing and dive adventures. Although transportation is not the primary objective of water crafts circling Aruba, many kinds of activities are available from the deck of a boat.