How do I get around Aruba?

A rental car is the right answer for Aruba. The island runs from the California Lighthouse in the northwest to San Nicolas in the southeast, and no drive covers more than 40 minutes. Compact cars from agencies along L.G. Smith Boulevard near Queen Beatrix Airport run $40-55/day, and most accept a valid US or EU license without an international permit. Drive on the right. Roads between Eagle Beach and Palm Beach are paved and well-signed. That changes once you pass the California Lighthouse toward the north coast, where unpaved tracks through Arikok National Park will scrape a sedan's undercarriage on exposed coral rock. If you plan to reach the Natural Pool or Boca Prins dunes, rent a high-clearance SUV or book a half-day UTV from one of the operators in Noord, typically $150-180 for 4 hours.

Taxis run on a government-published fixed-fare table. No meters. Queen Beatrix Airport to the high-rise hotels at Palm Beach costs around $25 USD. Oranjestad to Eagle Beach runs about $10. You will not find Uber, Lyft, or any ridehail app on the island. Taxi stands sit outside the airport arrivals hall, at the cruise terminal near L.G. Smith Boulevard, and at the larger resort lobbies. After 23:00, fares rise about 25%. Mind you, drivers quote in USD even though the local currency is the Aruban florin, pegged at 1.79 AWG to the dollar. Both are accepted everywhere. For groups of 3-4 heading to dinner, a taxi to Oranjestad's restaurant row on Wilhelminastraat often works out cheaper per person than a rental for the evening.

Arubus operates two main lines along the western coast. Line 10 connects Oranjestad's downtown terminal to San Nicolas in the south and passes near Baby Beach at the island's southern tip. Line 10A runs from Oranjestad north through the hotel corridor to the Marriott at Palm Beach. Fare is about 4.50 AWG one-way, paid in cash to the driver. Buses come every 15-30 minutes during the day and thin out after 19:00. The air conditioning is a relief when pavement heat pushes the feel above 30°C. Worth noting, the entire north coast and Arikok National Park sit off any bus route. Several Palm Beach resorts fill that gap with free shuttles to Oranjestad that depart on fixed loops, roughly every 90 minutes between 09:00 and 17:00.

Walking is pleasant along the resort corridor and impractical everywhere else. The 3 km stretch of J.E. Irausquin Boulevard between Eagle Beach and the high-rise strip at Palm Beach has a paved path, and the trade winds keep the 28°C air tolerable even midday. You'll hear the surf the entire way. Oranjestad's compact downtown, centered on the Renaissance Marina and Caya G.F. Betico Croes, takes about 45 minutes to cover on foot. The Linear Park, a converted railway corridor from the cruise terminal south along the waterfront, is flat and partly shaded. Beyond those pockets, sidewalks disappear. The 7 km gap between Oranjestad and Eagle Beach has a narrow road shoulder, fast traffic, and no shade. Take the bus or a $10 taxi.