Aruba is an island and is considered to be a constituent country of the Netherlands located in the Southern part of the Caribbean Sea which together with other islands are known as the ABC islands or the Dutch Caribbean.
Even if located in the western part of Lasser Antilles and in the north region of Venezuela, all the citizens of the island are of Dutch nationality.
Due to its dry climate unlike other Corrabian countries, it has positively affected the increasing traveling rates as you can there surely enjoy sunny and very pleasant weather without hurricanes as it is situated outside its belt.
Warnings & Dangers in Aruba
OVERALL RISK: LOW
It is known that this island is one of the safest islands in the Caribbean region, but still, there are some registered cases of crime. This means that even if it claimed to be safe, you should be very attentive with your belongings as well as with yourself.
TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
Regarding the taxis, one thing should be kept in mind and this is that they are regulated by the government, which considerably reduces the risk, but also all the precaution measures should be taken in order to avoid any unpleasant cases. There are bus routes that can easily substitute the expensive taxi fees and get you where you want to.
PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW
As in all touristic destinations, things can happen, and pickpockets however low in number they do operate, but these can be easily avoided through keeping an eye on your belongings and not leaving them in insecure places.
NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
Even if no recent hurricane records exist the season normally runs from June to November and normally affects the north part of the island. Just for you to be sure that everything is going to be fine, keep an eye on all the updates made by the National Hurricane Center.
MUGGING RISK: LOW
A small level of crime does not mean that there is no crime at all, so as a result, you should kind of be prudent, do not walk alone in really dark places, and do not put the most expensive that you have on you.
TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM
Even though there are no records of terrorist attacks happening on the island, the chances of this happening are never null. This is why you should always be prepared for events beyond our control.
SCAMS RISK: LOW
As all over the world there are scammers on the islands but these could be easily avoided through using your common sense and not being easily influenced.
WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
From some perspectives, Aruba is considered to be for traveling women safe, but this does not mean that being alone is really nice. Just wisely choose your accommodation and let people know about your plans, do not be afraid to walk alone and enjoy all the female-oriented activities provided on the island.
So... How Safe Is Aruba Really?
At first sight, it really seems that Aruba is not the safest place to travel when realizing its position relative to Venezuela, but we can assure you that this is not like this.
Taking all prospects into account, it can be claimed that it is one of the safest Caribbean islands, but low levels of crime do not mean any crime at all.
One piece of advice would be to forget about doing some activities in the north part of the island as there is a place where three currents meet and as a result, it is considered to be dangerous.
Another one will be to take care of your belongings and as a result, you will for sure enjoy the safe journey to Aruba.
How Does Aruba Compare?
| Country | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Aruba | 90 |
| Morocco | 54 |
| Austria | 92 |
| Croatia | 83 |
| Italy | 77 |
| Malaysia | 69 |
| Finland | 86 |
| Spain | 83 |
| Botswana | 77 |
Useful Information
Visas
It depends on your nationality whether you need a visa or not, but all the required information is clearly provided by the website of the public authorities.
Currency
The locally used currency is considered to be Aruban Guilder (AWG), but the US dollar is widely accepted as well on the islands. There is a fixed exchange rate set between these two currencies and mainly that $1.00 US dollar is equal to $1.80 AWG dollar.
Weather
The climate is tropical, which means that Aruba has registered high temperatures all year round and is more than pleasant for all tourists to come in each season you will prefer to.
Airports
Queen Beatrix International Airport is an international airport located in the Oranjestad and has flights to the United States, some Carrabian islands as well as European destinations such as the Netherlands.
Travel Insurance
As it is always recommended to have travel insurance while traveling, no matter the destination Aruba is not an exception as this will not only cover your health-related expenditures but also all other costs incurred in case of emergency.
Aruba Weather Averages (Temperatures)
Average High/Low Temperature
| Temperature / Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 29 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 29 |
| Low °C | 24 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 25 |
| High °F | 84 | 84 | 86 | 86 | 88 | 88 | 88 | 88 | 88 | 88 | 86 | 84 |
| Low °F | 75 | 75 | 77 | 77 | 79 | 79 | 79 | 79 | 79 | 79 | 79 | 77 |
Delightful
My husband and I went to Aruba for our 10 year anniversary. I did not want to leave. The service where we stayed was wonderful. Everyone was friendly and always greeted you with a smile. The food and drinks were something else. I didn’t want to come home! I think this place is very safe, one of the safest islands to travel to in the world.
I am interested in visiting Aruba, could you recommend a nice hotel?
hyatt regency aruba resort spa and casino is a good one
Amazing
yoyita suites arube is a great one i would give a 5 out of 5 ive been to aruba its great
I went to aruba in June of 2021, it is the most beautiful, and friendly place I have visited. The weather is perfect every day and you are guaranteed to have a rain-free vacation.
Rainy Season
We went in February & March 2022. Our vacation was not rain free. It rained maybe 2-3 times per week, but only 5-15 mins per day, so we just waited it out on the beach under a palapa. Only a couple of thunder storms. This happened throughout February & first 2 weeks of March. No rain the last 2 weeks of March. Residents kept mentioning, “It’s still the rainy season”. Not sure when that officially begins & ends.
Aruba was fun to visit
I LOVE Aruba. It’s so peaceful.
It can get expensive, more than you’d think, so keep that in mind before you plan to travel there. but all in all, I haven’t felt safer anywhere else other than my own hometown.
The ocean is beautiful there and the sands are a wonder, you have to be there to experience it, it’s not something you can explain in words or show in a picture. just go there!
Gigi D.
I went to Aruba last year and hoped to see wild Flamingos everywhere but was disappointed, it appears they are not native to the island and you can only see them if you stay at the Renaissance Hotel. I definitely recommend it! it’s beautiful with the Flamingos there.
Do yourself a favor and visit Aruba, everyone should at least once in their lifetime if you ask me, safe travels!
I had the same thing happen to me! I fully expected to see them all over because I saw so many videos and pictures on Instagram that showed these beautiful birds everywhere! Still though, it did not ruin my trip. My husband and I are planning to go back next year. We had just been for Christmas and loved it!
Renaissance Hotel and flamingos
My wife and I went to Oranjestad for our anniversary in September, 2019, and stayed at the Renaissance. It was amazing! The flamingos were on a separate island, about a ten minute ride to from the hotel. That island (part of the Renaissance) was divided into Flamingo Beach and Iguana Beach, both were awesome but we preferred the flamingos! At Iguana Beach the iguanas would sometimes walk around looking for handouts, which is frowned upon, but they are harmless and fun to watch! Worth checking out, as the hotel itself was great as well.
A++++++
Usually, I don’t comment on articles I read online because I just don’t bother, you know?
But I had such a great experience in Aruba and came across this page and just wanted to share.
I visited Aruba and stayed there for about 3 months, as you can imagine for a long stay as a tourist, there are comes with costs…
I spent there a total of $4,700 a month on average for accommodation, food, clothes shopping.
It’s more than I can afford to for sure, but, I totally had a blast, I stayed at the Eagle Aruba Resort which is surprisingly cheaper than most other upscale hotels but is seriously amazing.
I have felt safe the entire time I was there.
The best views in the world.
Heaven on earth
Aruba has been our go-to destination for several years now. We’ve been there as a couple, with our kids, with our friends, in all scenarios we had absolutely zero problems. We’ve stayed both in hotels and airbnbs, we had no problems with pickpocketing or any other unpleasant event.
I would flag up San Nicolas due to their red light district which is a buzz place for a scandal waiting to happen. We just passed through it several times and it was a huge no for us. When we’re sunbathing we either take turns when we go into the water – if we’re with a larger crowd – or we keep just the bare essentials with us.
They’re super serious when it comes to preserving the natural habitat so littering, picking flowers or god knows what plants catch your eye will get you in serious trouble. The same goes for going off path. Respect the signs, they will keep you away from an encounter with local police or with any unwanted characters.
Money-wise we’re careful not to flaunt our wallet or phones, no matter where we’re at. A simple black money belt will save you the trouble of worrying about this. Safety aside, I always make sure to pack a lot of sunscreens both lotions and sprays, the heat is something else here. Our first time we spent two weeks here with me staying the first day almost exclusively on the beach, which, for a Norwegian not that used to extreme heat, translated into a very unpleasant heatstroke.
One huge downside was local transportation, more precisely taxis; if you’re not the talkative type and avoid contact you might have a very unpleasant surprise at the end of your trip as these guys like to overcharge and they’re not always upfront regarding the fare.
This place is touted to be one of the safest islands in the Caribbean and I couldn’t find something to prove otherwise.
Paradise
I have been to Aruba 7 times so far.
I have stayed at 3 different resorts and 1 Airbnb. There are only good things to say about this beautiful island.
It is my go-to place for all my upcoming trips. Once you’ve been to paradise, where else would you go?
The weather, the beaches, the people, all of it is appealing. 5-hour flight from Toronto.
Beautiful island
Been going for 35 years. Absolutely love it.
Terrorism medium??
Great review
I’m an Aruban and i find it insulting that you put terrorism on medium, like what even?
Agree 100%! With Beachlife!! Thats like setting a meteor strike on high because it might happen. ??
Aruba was the best place I have ever been. Is the Tammeran still in operation?
Best Island, Best People, Safest Island.
Came here on our Honeymoon in 1995. At some point during the week we were in a group and rhe host asked how many repeat visitors. So one person saif this was their 15th trip, then one said their 10rh, one lady said it was her 31st. I looked at my new wife and said these people must be off their rocker, who goes to the same place over and over. Well, it is November 2022 and we are here on our 22nd trip.
Safety is over hyped -- was mugged / assaulted less than 1000 ft from Hilton entrance
I was travelling with my wife, mom and mother-in-law early Sept 2022 and was robbed and assaulted by 3 men at South Beach bar across from Sopranos (less than 1000 feet from Hilton entrance). Inside type job at the bar as one person posed as security and I got boxed in and dropped. Made the mistake of going out alone but was right on the main drag across from the Hilton.
Police did absolutely nothing about the assault (cover up) after reporting immediately at Hilton desk with blood on my face/neck.
Also count the number of security at Hilton during the day and it is definitely higher. Being close to Venezuela there is definitely a criminal element in Aruba that nobody wants to talk about.
We have had folks try to sell drugs to us at the corner of Bugaloe coming back from dinner at the corner of Hilton property. Palm Beach is supposed to be relatively safe given all the expensive hotels but the key world is relatively.
If the police would have actually investigated and took action we would be more understanding but the cover up just encourages the criminal element to continue to assault and rob tourists.
After going to Aruba over a dozen times we have moved on and our vacation funds are going to better places now.
Nice place, but too expensive
Aruba is great, but these days it’s just for the super-rich, who can afford to stay there when most places charge $300+ a night? for a vacation on just a small island with not too much to see? there are many other places to enjoy a nice quiet vacation near a beach that will cost 1/3 of that.
Paradise
Amazing
Great stay
Beautiful island with interesting features and welcoming locals. It is also clean and safer than other Caribbean islands, and below the so-called hurricane belt. Would definitely recommend it.