Geos
Take a Left at Aruba: How Do Animals Navigate the Underwater World?
Dive Service Providers
Coming soon!
Facts and Figures
- Location: Aruba is in the southwestern Caribbean about 42 miles (67 km) west of sister island Curaçao and just 18 miles (29 km) north of the Venezuelan coastline. It’s about a 2.5-hour flight from Miami.
- Language: Most locals speak Papiamento, a Creole language garnished with Spanish, Dutch, French, English and African words. The official language is Dutch, but English and Spanish are also widely spoken.
- Time: Aruba is on Atlantic Standard Time year-round. Daylight-saving time is not observed.
- Climate: Cooled by eastern trade winds year-round, the average daytime temperature is in the mid-80s F (high 20s C). At night, it cools down to the high 70s F (mid-20s C). The rainy season, which ushers in an occasional brief shower, extends from October through February. Aruba is outside of the hurricane belt.
- Travel: United States and Canadian citizens are required to show proof of citizenship, such as a valid passport or birth certificate and photo identification. Visitors must also have either a return or connecting ticket. An Aruban departure tax of $36.75, which is often included in the price of an airline ticket, is otherwise paid at the airport upon leaving the country.
- Medical: Vaccinations aren’t required for entry into Aruba. Drinking water is distilled from the sea and is safe to drink straight from the tap.
- Currency: The Aruba guilder is the medium of exchange. It’s also called the florin; $US1=NAFl. 1.77. The exchange is set at a fixed rate; however, rates may vary slightly at stores and hotels.
- Electricity: Current is 110 volts/60 cycles, the same as in the United States and Canada. Converters aren’t necessary for operating small appliances like razors and hair dryers.
- Getting There: Most major carriers provide service to Aruba.