Staying a Week in Aruba From One Base
No Overnight Circuits Here
Anyone looking for a multi-day trip on Aruba will not find one, and the reason is size. The island is about 32 km by 10 km, and a drive from one end to the other takes under an hour. Nothing requires an overnight stop away from your hotel. Camping is not allowed inside Arikok National Park, so even the wildest part of the island is a day outing. Curacao and Bonaire, the other two islands of the group, cannot be reached by boat from Aruba, because no passenger ferry runs between them. Travel to either is by plane.
What works is a single address and a plan that gives each day its own subject. The sections below show three ways to shape a stay.
Option 1: One Hotel for the Whole Stay
This is the easiest plan and the cheapest in time. Unpack once, rent a car or ride the bus, and head out each morning. Arubus charges $2.60 a ride, $5 for a return card and $15 for a day pass. Taxis run on fixed government fares with a $10 minimum.
Option 2: Two Bases
Longer visits can be split. Spend the first half on the Palm Beach and Eagle Beach side, where the resorts and long white beaches are, and the second near Oranjestad or Savaneta for a quieter, more local feel. Because distances are small, the move takes well under an hour.
Option 3: A Slow Week
Plan one outing a day at most, and leave the afternoons empty. Long breakfasts, a late swim and a sunset walk fill a week without any rushing.
Theme Days to Mix and Match
- Park day. The Arikok pass is $22 for adults, free for under-17s, and the gates are open from 8:00 to 16:00. Reach the Natural Pool by 4x4 or a guided Jeep. No quads or motorbikes are allowed in the park.
- Town day. Ride the free Oranjestad streetcar, which has 10 stops on a 1.9 km line and does not run on Sundays. Stroll Main Street and the old fort.
- Southeast day. San Nicolas for the murals, then the shallow Baby Beach lagoon.
- Sea day. Snorkel the Antilla wreck and the Malmok coves early in the morning.
- Island day. De Palm Island, with entry from $129 covering food, drinks and the water park.
- Spare day. Climb the Hooiberg stairs at sunrise, or book an evening sunset sail.
Money and Paperwork
Dollars are taken everywhere. The legal currency is the Aruban florin (AWG), at 1.79 to the dollar. Before you fly, complete the free ED Card at edcardaruba.aw . Visitors aged 8 and over pay a US$20 Sustainability Fee in the same process, by card.
Safety and Season
Keep valuables out of parked cars. Hurricane season runs from June to November, so favor rooms with flexible cancellation then.
Read more: Aruba day trips , the 5 day itinerary and the 7 day itinerary .
Rooms for either plan can be compared on Booking.com . Arikok’s current rules are on the conservation foundation page .