Aruba: Getting There and Transport
How do you get to Aruba?
Aruba Airport is located south of Oranjestad – the name of the airport is “Queen Beatrix International”.
Most of the flights from here go to North and South America, some also to Europe. The airport is also used for military purposes by the US Air Force
From Amsterdam
With KLM: flight time approx. 9.5 hours, the flight goes on Mondays and Thursdays
With Martinair: flight time approx. 9.5 hours, every day except Wednesdays
With Arkefly: flight time approx. 9.5 hours four times a week
Via USA
Delta Air Lines via Atlanta from Muenchen, Stuttgart, Duesseldorf, Frankfurt
Continental via Newark and Houston
US Airways via Philadelphia, Charlotte and Boston
American Airlines via Miami
United via Washinton DC
Via South America
Lufthansa, Swiss, Iberia to Caracas and onward flight with Avior, Aserca, Venezuela
Travel on the island
Car traffic and rental vehicles
There are around 50,000 cars in Aruba.
If you want to explore the island on your own, it is best to rent a jeep or four-wheel drive vehicle, as other cars cannot drive on the roads in the Aruba hinterland. However, they are often already rented from the providers of the “Jeep Safari Tours”.
However, if you limit yourself to driving on the paved roads, there are numerous different cars to choose from. You can rent a car at the airport or arrange a handover at the hotel. The following must be observed:
- Traffic is on the right in Aruba.
- Depending on the rental company, the minimum age is between 21 and 25 years and the maximum age between 65 and 70 years.
- The driver’s license must be at least two years old.
- A $ 500 security deposit is required or a credit card authorization is required
Buses
The public bus system connects large parts of the island. The central bus station is in the center of Oranjestad. The largest operating company is the state-owned Arubus, which operates 29 buses on six lines. The main route is that from San Nicolas to Oranjestad and on to the hotel zone.
Mini buses:
There are around 40 mini buses from private operators, each with 12 seats.
Taxis
You can also explore the island by taxi, which has the advantage that a local guide is available. The island’s taxi office is at Pos Abou z/n in Oranjestad on Sasaki Road. The taxis do not have a meter. Although the state tariffs are fixed, you should still agree the price before each trip
Motorbike or scooter
An uncomplicated and inexpensive means of transport is without a doubt a motorcycle or scooter. There are even HARLEYs for rent here! Helmets are provided.
The following rentals offer motorcycles or scooters:
Donata
Tel: (297) 587-8300
Fax: (297) 587-0707
George
Tel: (297) 582-5975
Harley-Davidson Aruba
Tel: (297) 582-8660
Fax: (297) 583-9322
Melchor Cycle Rental
Tel: (297) 587-1787
Fax: (297) 587-2453
Nelson
Tel: (297) 586-6801
Pablito’s Bike & Locker Rentals
Tel: (297) 587-0047
Fax: (297) 587-8655
Ron’s
Tel: (297) 586-2090
Semver
Tel: (297) 586-6851
Embassies, consulates and tourist offices
Visit Countryaah for a full list of Aruba embassies and consulates in each country around the world.
Aruba agencies in Germany
Aruba is represented in Germany by the Dutch embassy in Berlin.
The embassy building of the Netherlands is located on the Spree near the Fischerinsel in Berlin-Mitte – not too far from Alexanderplatz. It was officially opened on March 2, 2004. The designs for the building come from the Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas, born in Rotterdam in 1944, and his office OMA/ AMO. In the middle of the picture you can see part of the Berlin TV tower on Alexanderplatz. There is usually a parking space near the embassy. The S- and U-Bahn (underground) station (U 8) Jannowitzbrücke is a few 100 m away.
Embassy of the Netherlands
Klosterstrasse 50
10179 Berlin
Tel: 0049 – (0) 30 – 20956-0
Fax: 0049 – (0) 30 – 20956-441
Email: bln@minbuza.nl
Web: www.niederlandeweb.de
Aruba agencies in Austria
Embassy
Aruba is represented in Austria by the Dutch embassy.
Royal Dutch Embassy Vienna
Opernring 5, 7th floor
A-1010 Vienna
Route
description Tel.: 0043 – (0) 1 – 58939
Fax: 0043 – (0) 1 – 58939-265
Aruba agencies in Switzerland
Embassy
Aruba is represented in Switzerland by the Dutch embassy.
Embassy of the Netherlands in Berne
Seftigenstrasse 7
3007 Berne
Switzerland
Tel.: 0041 – (0) 31 – 350 – 8700
Email: ben@minbuza.nl
www.nlembassy.ch/
Tourist offices
Aruba Tourism Authority
R.J. Schimmelpennincklaan 1
Netherlands
Represented by:
Humphrey Vrolijk, Area Director Europe
Tel: +31 – 70 – 3028040
Fax: +31 – 70 – 3604877
Email: info@aruba.de
German service number
02151 -7478939
The following agency takes care of (only) press representatives
noble kommunikation GmbH
Luisenstrasse 7
63263 Neu-Isenburg
Tel.: + 49- (0) 6102-3666-0
Fax: + 49- (0) 6102-3666-11 on behalf of the Aruba Tourist Association
E-mail: info@noblekom.de
www. noblekom.de
Aruba: entry and exit regulations
Formalities, visas
German, Swiss and Austrian citizens need a passport to enter Aruba, which is valid for at least six months after the date of entry. No visa is required for tourists for a period of up to 90 days, but an onward or return flight ticket is required.
Departamento di Integracion, Maneho y Admision di Stranhero (DIMAS)
The Directorate of Alien Integration, Policy and Admission
Wilhelminastraat 31-33
Oranjestad,
Aruba
Tel: +297 – 5221 500
Fax: + 297- 5221505
Email: dimas@aruba.gov.aw
Vaccination regulations
All persons who are older than 6 months and who come from a yellow fever infection area designated by the WHO are required to be vaccinated against a yellow fever disease.
Infectious diseases and vaccinations, venomous snake
Infectious diseases
The following infectious diseases can be expected in Aruba:
– Malaria, there is a certain risk of becoming infected with malaria
– AIDS, for people who come into contact with blood or non-sterilized syringes or who have unprotected sex, there is a risk an HIV infection
– schistosomiasis, an infection is to be expected nationwide in freshwater
– dengue fever
– intestinal infections caused by contaminated food or water, including amoebas, lamblia, salmonella, shigella and worm infestation as well as all kinds of viruses and bacteria
– Hepatitis A and B However, infection with hepatitis B is only to be expected in people who may come into contact with blood or those who seek sexual contact.
Vaccination recommendations
The following vaccinations are recommended when traveling to Aruba:
Cholera, but only for travelers who come into contact with polluted water or contaminated food
Diphtheria, a vaccination against diphtheria should always exist – also in the home country –
hepatitis A and B, a vaccination against hepatitis B is only for the people required that may come into contact with blood or those who seek sexual contact
polio, polio, vaccination against polio should always always – even in the home country – there are
tetanus, vaccination against tetanus should always always – even in the home country – there are
typhoid, but only for travelers who can come into contact with polluted water or contaminated food
Compulsory vaccination
For all persons older than 6 months who are arriving from a yellow fever infection area designated by the WHO, there is a compulsory vaccination against an illness with yellow fever.
Yellow fever vaccination for children
In most countries where a yellow fever vaccination is mandatory, this also applies to children over 1 year of age, in some countries – like here in Aruba – even from 6 months. It should be noted that
vaccination against yellow fever had a number of side effects, such as encephalitis. Around two thirds of those affected were children under 6 months. Therefore, under no circumstances should children under this age be vaccinated. But children under one year of age should also not be vaccinated if possible. If in doubt, yellow fever infection areas must then be avoided.
Any vaccination against yellow fever may only be carried out in specially authorized yellow fever vaccination centers!
Venomous snake
The “Aruba Island Rattlesnake” (Crotalus durissus unicolor), a subspecies of the extremely poisonous tropical rattlesnake (Crotalus durissus), occurs on Aruba.
A bite from this snake is always to be regarded as immediately life-threatening and requires the fastest possible specialist care.
