Practical information for visiting Aruba

Money & payments

The currency is the Aruban florin, AWG, introduced in 1986 at par with the old Antillean guilder and pegged at or very near 1.79 to the US dollar, which the Canadian advisory says is widely accepted; the buses quote both, US$2.60 or 4.50 florins a ride. Taxis are agreed in local currency. Card acceptance, ATMs and tipping are not summarised here because no authority page opened for this page spoke to them.

Verified against Arubus N.V., September 2026.

Stay safe (2026 security update)

Canada advises normal security precautions and the crime that reaches visitors is petty: pickpocketing and bag-snatching, break-ins, theft from vehicles, hotel rooms and rentals, and more of it around Carnival. Both advisories note that Aruba is a drug passageway between South America and the north and that drug-related violence exists; neither expects it to touch the tourist areas, but both say never to carry a package for anyone or leave luggage unattended. Avoid unpopulated and unpatrolled beaches after dark; women alone may meet harassment.

The sea: coastal waters can be dangerous and rescue may not meet the standards visitors expect; check equipment, life jackets and insurance before diving, jet-skiing or parasailing, and stay sober in the water.

Weather: hurricanes pass to the north and the island has no record of a recent major one, but tropical storms occur in the June-to-November season; the island is in an active seismic zone.

Health considerations

Call 911 for an ambulance. The advisories name no disease risks for Aruba beyond the general Caribbean cautions; the sun and the wind together burn faster than either alone, and the park closes nothing but common sense says walk early. Insurance should cover local treatment, evacuation and the water sports planned. Hospitals, pharmacies and tap water are not summarised here because no authority page opened for this page spoke to them.

Local laws & etiquette

Carry ID: a legal requirement, satisfied by a copy of the passport. Drugs: severe penalties for all offences, on an island that is a trafficking route. The ED card: filed within seven days before travel and shown to the airline. Overstaying or working without a permit is illegal. On the road: international permit plus licence, a drink-drive limit just over half England's, insurance on every rental with the liability in writing, and AruParking hours in the capital. Taxis: licensed only, fare agreed in florins first.

Manners are easy-going and courteous: greet in Papiamento, cover up away from the beach, and remember that Sunday is quiet on a Catholic island. Tipping, nudity and drone rules are not summarised here until they have been read on an authority's page.

Verified against UK Government (GOV.UK; FCDO travel advice abroad), September 2026.

Emergency information

Emergency numbers: police 100; ambulance 911; fire 911; coastguard 913.

Consular: no Canadian office on the island; Aruba is a country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, whose missions cover it. Natural hazards: tropical storms in the June-to-November season with hurricanes normally passing to the north, and an active seismic zone.

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Sources & verification Covers the sourced claims on this page.

Checked against UK Government (GOV.UK; FCDO travel advice abroad) — Aruba is a drug passageway from South America and there can be drug-related violent crime; carrying ID is a legal requirement, a copy of the passport suffices; all drug offences carry severe penalties, so never carry a package for anyone; drivers need an international permit as well as their licence and rental firms may require two years' experience; drink-driving at just over half England's limit brings fines and possible prison; taxis are unmetered, so agree the fare in local currency first and use licensed cabs only, Passport valid for the duration of the stay; up to three months without a visa; the embarkation card must be completed up to seven days before arrival and its approval shown to the airline, and also for transit; overstaying or working without a permit is illegal; declare anything dutiable, Call 911 for an ambulance, Call 911 for an ambulance, The hurricane season runs from June to November; most hurricanes pass north of Aruba, which has no record of a recent major one, and tropical storms are occasional, Aruba is a drug passageway from South America and there can be drug-related violent crime; carrying ID is a legal requirement, a copy of the passport suffices; all drug offences carry severe penalties, so never carry a package for anyone; drivers need an international permit as well as their licence and rental firms may require two years' experience; drink-driving at just over half England's limit brings fines and possible prison; taxis are unmetered, so agree the fare in local currency first and use licensed cabs only, The hurricane season runs from June to November; most hurricanes pass north of Aruba, which has no record of a recent major one, and tropical storms are occasional, Aruba is a drug passageway from South America and there can be drug-related violent crime; carrying ID is a legal requirement, a copy of the passport suffices; all drug offences carry severe penalties, so never carry a package for anyone; drivers need an international permit as well as their licence and rental firms may require two years' experience; drink-driving at just over half England's limit brings fines and possible prison; taxis are unmetered, so agree the fare in local currency first and use licensed cabs only (September 2026).
Checked against Global Affairs Canada — Major roads are in good condition but many drivers ignore traffic laws, animals stray onto roads and signs differ from Canada's; taxis must be registered; buy insurance when renting motorboats, jet skis and vehicles and get the liability terms in writing; the island is a drug-trafficking hub and drug penalties are severe; the currency is the Aruban florin and US dollars are widely accepted, Canada advises normal security precautions; pickpocketing and bag-snatching occur, as do break-ins and theft from vehicles, hotel rooms and rentals, rising around Carnival; avoid unpopulated and unpatrolled beaches after dark; women alone may face harassment; coastal waters can be dangerous and rescue may not meet Canadian standards, so check equipment and insurance for water sports, Emergency numbers: police 100, ambulance 911, firefighters 911, coastguard 913; there is no Canadian government office in Aruba; the island is in an active seismic zone, Emergency numbers: police 100, ambulance 911, firefighters 911, coastguard 913; there is no Canadian government office in Aruba; the island is in an active seismic zone, Canada advises normal security precautions; pickpocketing and bag-snatching occur, as do break-ins and theft from vehicles, hotel rooms and rentals, rising around Carnival; avoid unpopulated and unpatrolled beaches after dark; women alone may face harassment; coastal waters can be dangerous and rescue may not meet Canadian standards, so check equipment and insurance for water sports, Emergency numbers: police 100, ambulance 911, firefighters 911, coastguard 913; there is no Canadian government office in Aruba; the island is in an active seismic zone, Major roads are in good condition but many drivers ignore traffic laws, animals stray onto roads and signs differ from Canada's; taxis must be registered; buy insurance when renting motorboats, jet skis and vehicles and get the liability terms in writing; the island is a drug-trafficking hub and drug penalties are severe; the currency is the Aruban florin and US dollars are widely accepted (September 2026).
Checked against Arubus N.V. — Arubus fares: single trip US$2.60 or AWG 4.50, return card US$5 or AWG 8.75, day pass US$15 or AWG 26.25; passes sold at resort gift shops (September 2026).