Aruba - Profile

• Aruba together with  Bonaire and Curacao form the ABC islands. They are the three western-most islands of the Leeward Antilles in the Caribbean and Aruba is the westernmost of the ABCs.

• Aruba lies just 18 miles off the coast of Venezuela. The island is 20 miles at its longest and 6 miles at its widest. The southern, leeward side of the island has long stretches of white sand beaches, while the northern coast has a more rugged and dramatic landscape.

• Aruba is a flat island, exposed to the ocean currents. Bonaire and Curaçao are surrounded by reefs, and so are much more sheltered from the weather.

• Aruba is an autonomous member of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The island has the same status as the Netherlands Antilles.
• The official language is Dutch, but English and Spanish as well as a local dialect called Papiamento are spoken.
• The island is a convenient last stop for yachts heading for Panama.
• The new Renaissance Marina in Oranjestad has improved the previously poor yachting facilities, however note that yachts must first clear at Barcadera harbour.

Based on reports to noonsite from cruisers, petty theft from yachts is on the rise in the Caribbean in general. Cruisers should take basic safety precautions and use common sense when leaving the boat or going ashore at night. Dinghy thieves operate throughout the Caribbean and best advice is to place your dinghy on deck and chain it overnight.

Free Cruising Guides have completed the Caribbean Security Index (CSI) review of 2013 and updated the country ratings. The latest update of the CSI contains new information that may be important to you to “route around crime.”
See this report at http://www.noonsite.com/General/Piracy/caribbean-crime-caribbean-security-index-csi-review-of-2013

Check the Noonsite Piracy Pages and the Caribbean Safety & Security Net for information on the current island situation.

The Caribbean Safety and Security Net (safetyandsecuritynet@gmail.com) gather information by anchorage or by island, so sailors can plan their cruising in the Caribbean with an eye to appropriate behaviour and precautions wherever they decide to go. Should you have suffered a boarding, robbery or attack on your yacht or have information about a yachting-related security incident, go to the CSSN homepage and click on the "Report an Incident" icon. The associated form is quick and simple to complete and ensures that all the necessary details are reported. The CSSN is the most comprehensive source of Caribbean security incidents against sailors on the net. Remember, it is every cruiser's responsibility to ensure that incidents are reported.

Last updated April 2014

Last updated February 2014.

Aruba lies outside the hurricane belt and has a dry climate. Temperatures are higher from August to October, although there is not a great difference to the cooler months, which are from December to February.

Aruba Weather Forecast

For links to free global weather information, forecast services and extreme weather information see the Noonsite Weather Page.

Oranjestad *

* indicates port of entry