The Aruba Guide
Getting Around Aruba: Car Rentals, Buses and Taxis

Getting Around Aruba: Car Rentals, Buses and Taxis

By The Aruba Guide

Aruba is small, but getting around still requires a plan. Here is how to decide between renting a car, taking buses, or relying on taxis for your trip.

Aruba is only about 20 miles long and 6 miles wide, which means you can drive from one end of the island to the other in roughly 45 minutes. That compact geography opens up several reasonable transportation options. Whether you should rent a car depends mostly on how much of the island you plan to explore beyond your resort.

Rental car: the most flexible option

If you want to see Arikok National Park, Baby Beach, Andicuri, or the north coast, a rental car is the simplest answer. Daily rates run $35 to $75 for a standard car, and $70 to $130 for a Jeep or 4x4. You will need a 4x4 only if you plan to drive into the rougher off-road parts of Arikok; for everything else, a standard car is fine.

Rental tips

  • All major rental companies operate from the airport: Hertz, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, plus local outfits
  • Book in advance during high season (December to April); inventory genuinely runs out
  • Driving is on the right side, US-style
  • Roads are paved and well-marked along the leeward (west) coast; rougher in the interior and north
  • Gas is sold in liters and priced in florins; expect roughly $5 to $6 per gallon equivalent
  • Aruban driver's license rules: a valid license from your home country is sufficient for stays under 6 months

Aruba public bus (Arubus)

Aruba operates a real public bus system called Arubus, which runs between Oranjestad and the resort areas. It is cheap (around $2.60 one-way, $5 round-trip) and surprisingly comfortable, but it does not reach Arikok National Park, Baby Beach, or most of the north coast. Use it for low-stakes runs into Oranjestad for shopping or dinner, not as your only transportation.

  • Bus L10 connects the high-rise hotel area on Palm Beach to Oranjestad, every 15 to 20 minutes during the day
  • Pay in cash to the driver; small US bills work
  • Service typically runs from around 5:30 AM to midnight
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Taxis

Taxis in Aruba are a regulated, fixed-rate system; there is no metering. Rates are set by destination and by time of day (after 9 PM, fares go up by about 25 percent). A standard taxi can hold up to 5 passengers for the same fare, so they are a good deal for groups.

  • Airport to Palm Beach: roughly $30 to $35
  • Airport to Eagle Beach: roughly $25 to $30
  • Palm Beach to Oranjestad: roughly $15 to $20
  • Confirm the fare with the driver before you get in
  • Taxis do not roam looking for fares; call your hotel concierge or use TaxiAruba ((+297) 588-2300)

Ride-share apps

Uber and Lyft are not available in Aruba. The closest analog is a local app called RideShare Aruba, which has uneven coverage. Most visitors stick with the official taxi system.

Guided tours and shuttles

If your trip is short and you only want to see specific highlights, consider a one-day guided tour instead of a rental car. The Aruba 6 Hours Private Island Tour hits the major north-coast sights, and a Private 4x4 Natural Pool, Caves & Baby Beach by Cross Aruba Tours covers the off-road interior in a single morning.

Walking and biking

Within the high-rise hotel strip on Palm Beach, walking is the easiest option. A wide pedestrian boardwalk connects most of the major resorts. Bike rentals are available from several outfits and a few resorts; the flat coastal road from Palm Beach to Eagle Beach is a beautiful 25-minute pedal.

Verdict

If you plan to stay at the resort and walk the strip, you do not need a car. If you want to see anything off the leeward coast (Arikok, Baby Beach, the north shore), rent a car for at least a couple of days, or book a guided tour for those specific outings. A blend, taxis or buses most days plus a 2-day car rental for exploring, often hits the sweet spot.