Best Travel Time and Climate for Aruba
When the Spanish colonists settled on Aruba and the sister islands of Bonaire and Curaçao in 1513, they called the islands “Islas Inútiles” or “Useless Islands”. You couldn’t have been more wrong.
Centuries later, the southern Caribbean islands took advantage of the arid climate and minimal rainfall. Aruba in particular attracts tourists with its gleaming white beaches and rugged limestone landscape. With clear underwater visibility, Aruba is a popular destination for divers looking to get up close and personal with sunken shipwrecks or some of the beautiful coral reefs.
Best travel time
In Aruba, according to ZIPCODESEXPLORER, you can almost always count on the sun to shine and the sea to be calm. The best time to visit the island depends on the type of vacation you want to go on. If you’re looking for the cheapest hotel rooms and the best travel deals, go when the trade winds stop blowing. If you’re planning the trip around your children’s schedule, consider traveling to Aruba in the summer. While traveling to the rest of the Caribbean can be a bold undertaking at times, Aruba is still an ideal destination as it is part of the Netherlands Antilles and is therefore outside the hurricane belt.
The best time to travel to Aruba is from April to August – during this time the otherwise very high prices on the island are lower. And since the island is well outside the hurricane belt, there is very little risk of tropical storms during this time. January through March offer pleasant weather, but room rates can go up significantly. You can also find discounts if you travel in early fall. Whenever you visit Aruba, keep in mind that Aruba is prone to strong trade winds and is therefore very suitable for windsurfers.
The bad news: January through March could pay up to € 600 a night to stay in some of the posh hotels along Palm and Eagle Beach. The good news: if you start your search several months to a year in advance, you can find something much more reasonable and cheaper. At the beginning of the year the temperatures are constantly between 24 and 28 ° C and there is very little rain.
The April to August low season is a great time in Aruba to find cheap travel deals. Another plus is that Aruba is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and is outside the hurricane belt. Temperatures are a bit higher (it can be around 30 ° C in midsummer), but the dry climate and frequent strong winds still don’t make the weather too uncomfortable.
If you are planning a vacation between September and December, try to get a room during the first few months before the winter vacationers arrive. September is also the month when Aruba’s notorious trade winds die down.
Cheapest travel time
If you’re looking for a bargain and hate crowds, September and October are the best months to vacation in Aruba. Many travelers avoid the island during these months because the trade winds flatten and it can be very humid with average daytime temperatures above 30 ° C. If you don’t mind heat, it’s the perfect time to visit the island. During these months the beaches are almost empty, there is enough space for diving boats and you can make reservations for the same day even in the most popular restaurants – this is almost impossible in the high season. You can also book rooms in the hotels on the popular Palm and Eagle Beaches for around 50% less than in the high season.
Climate in Oranjestad
The maximum temperature in Aruba is 33 ° C in August and September. In January, February and December the thermometer rises to a maximum of 30 ° C and therefore only slightly lower. Both the summer and winter months are very hot. At night it cools down only a little, the nighttime temperature is an average of 25.3 ° C throughout the year.
The water temperature is up to 28 ° C, in February the sea has a maximum of 25 ° C. In the summer months from June to September the water is very warm with an average of 28 ° C. Between November and March the values are a very warm 26 ° C. Over the year, the sea has an average temperature of 26.9 ° C.
With 9 rainy days, December is the rainiest month of the year. March, April and May are the driest months of the year with 2 rainy days each. From June to September, Aruba is very dry with an average of only around 3 rainy days, the winter (November to March) is quite dry with 6 rainy days. On an annual average, rain falls on only 4.3 days per month.
Best activities
Days in Aruba are full of scuba diving at Hadicurari Beach, see the natural wonders of Arikok National Park or shop for Dutch cheese in Oranjestad. You can take your kids to the calm waters of Baby Beach and slightly older kids to the Donkey Sanctuary or the ostrich farm. But save some energy for the evenings when the lights of a Palm Beach casino or the live music of an Oranjestad pub encourage it.
- Eagle Beach
Northwest Eagle Beach, known for its cheap hotels and accommodations, is considered one of the best beaches on the island and an ideal place for your vacation. The beach has wonderful white sand and wonderful blue water. However, you have to expect strong winds at times.
If your hotel is nearby, you can ask reception about water sports equipment rentals or a sunset cruise on a catamaran. And if you get hungry there are restaurants nearby. Like many Caribbean beaches, Eagle Beach is great for relaxing. And when you come at the right time in the year, you can interact with the wildlife. Eagle Beach is open to the public 24/7 and access to the beach is free. If you’re not staying on the beach, it’s also a stop on a handful of Arubus routes.
to eat and drink
Aruba is known for both the quantity and the quality of its restaurants. The Palm Beach area offers excellent Caribbean, French, Argentine, Japanese, Italian, Mexican, and even Indian cuisine. There are also excellent restaurants in the Dutch-influenced Oranjestad in the south of the island. The high quality comes from the strong competition for wealthy customers.
Be sure to try some of the local specialties like giambo , a thick stew made with fresh seafood and delicious meat. Also Kesio , a rich caramel pudding, corn bread pancakes Pan Bati or Keshi Yena , a meat-filled cheese, are regarded as local specialties.
Language
Aruba’s motto is “One Happy Island” and the residents underline this motto at all times, are considered friendly and helpful. The official languages are Dutch and the Creole language Papiamentu, but most people also speak English. You should therefore not have any problems with communication anywhere on the Caribbean island.
Money
Aruba’s official currency is the Aruban Florin (AWG). However, the US dollar is very prevalent across the island and most items and services are offered in both currencies. One euro is equivalent to two Aruba florins, which makes the conversion very easy.
Safety
Aruba is generally considered to be a very safe travel destination. Nevertheless, it is best to stay in well-lit areas, especially at night. With Aruba being outside the hurricane belt, a natural disaster is unlikely to ruin your trip.
