Solo travel · Aruba
Solo travel in Aruba
How to enjoy Aruba at your own pace.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Dje9537459 assumed (based on copyright claims)., Public domain
Quick answer
Aruba is easy to travel alone: English is widely spoken, buses run along the hotel coast and group tours such as jeep trips and snorkel cruises make it simple to meet people. Many solo travellers base themselves in Oranjestad.
Key facts
- Base
- Oranjestad
- Getting around
- Bus
- Emergency number
- 911
- Language
- Papiamento, Dutch, English and Spanish
Solo travel tips
- Join a group jeep tour or catamaran snorkel cruise; they are sociable and avoid single supplements on rentals.
- Stay near Palm Beach for walkable restaurants and bars without needing a car.
- Use Arubus for daytime trips along the coast and taxis at night.
- Lock valuables in the hotel safe and do not leave bags unattended on the beach.
- Tell someone your plans before hiking in Arikok and carry plenty of water.
Where to stay
$$$ · Best for budget, shopping and culture
Oranjestad
Aruba's capital has the cruise port, the island's main bus terminal and a harbourfront of shops, marina restaurants and the pastel gabled buildings along Main Street (Caya G.F. Betico Croes). Fort Zoutman, built in 1798, houses the historical museum, and the National Archaeological Museum is a few blocks inland. Hotels here are fewer and better value, and the Renaissance hotel's private island is reached by boat from its lobby.
- Good
- Close to the airport; Shops, museums and harbour restaurants; Good bus links along the coast
- Watch out
- Busy when several cruise ships are in; Town beaches are smaller than Eagle or Palm Beach
- Nearby
- Fort Zoutman, National Archaeological Museum Aruba, Renaissance Island, Surfside Beach
Great on your own
Nature · Arikok National Park
Fontein and Quadirikiri caves
Visit Quadirikiri late in the morning, when light beams through the roof openings are strongest.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- History
- Nature
- Photo spot
Landmark · Malmok and Arashi
California Lighthouse
Combine it with a swim at Arashi Beach just to the south.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- History
- Couples
- Photo spot
Experience · Malmok and Arashi
Antilla shipwreck
Catamaran snorkel cruises from Palm Beach often combine the Antilla with Boca Catalina; morning trips usually have calmer water.
- Time needed
- Half a day by boat
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Active
- History
- Nature
Religious site · Noord
Alto Vista Chapel
Combine it with the California Lighthouse and the Bushiribana ruins on a north-coast drive.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Views
Historic site · North coast
Bushiribana gold mill ruins
The north coast tracks are rough; a jeep or tour is easier than a small rental car.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Photo spot
Viewpoint · Central Aruba
Hooiberg
Climb early in the morning; the stairs are exposed and hot by midday.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Active
Meeting people
- Zeerovers fish fry — At this dockside spot in Savaneta, you order fish and shrimp by weight from the day's catch, then eat it fried at picnic tables over the water with a cold Balashi. Queues build on weekend afternoons.
- Sunset dinner on the sand — Several restaurants on Eagle Beach and Palm Beach set tables directly on the beach at sunset; book ahead in high season.
- Palm Beach strip — Beach bars, hotel lounges, casinos and late-opening restaurants within walking distance of the high-rise hotels.
- Oranjestad — Bars and clubs around the harbour and marina, busier with locals on weekends.
Sensible precautions
Do not swim on the north and east coasts, where strong surf and currents are dangerous; swim on the sheltered west and south coasts. Lock rental cars and keep valuables out of sight at remote beaches and viewpoints, where break-ins can occur.
- Emergency number
- 911
- Staying connected
- Hotels and most restaurants offer Wi-Fi; local SIM cards and eSIMs are available for visitors.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Aruba good for solo travellers?
Aruba is easy to travel alone: English is widely spoken, buses run along the hotel coast and group tours such as jeep trips and snorkel cruises make it simple to meet people.
+Where should solo travellers stay in Aruba?
Oranjestad: The capital's pastel Dutch-style buildings, cruise terminal and harbour-front shops.