Geographical location
According to abbreviationfinder, Aruba in the Caribbean is the smallest of the so-called ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao) and is also part of the Netherlands Antilles. Only about 25 kilometers north of the coast of Venezuela, Aruba is politically an equal part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The island therefore has its own internal autonomy, its own government and its own currency. The Aruba Florin (AWG), also known as the Aruba Gulden, replaced the then Antilles Gulden in 1979 and is fixed at a fixed exchange rate of 1.79 AWG for 1 US dollar.
Much of Aruba is very flat and has a sandy or stony surface. The most striking mountain on Aruba is the volcanic Hooiberg, which at 165 meters is the second highest mountain on the island after the Jamanota. The island is around 30 kilometers long and 9 kilometers wide at its widest point, and around 110,000 inhabitants are native to Aruba.
The capital is Oranjestad, which is home to a popular cruise port and Queen Beatrix International Airport. The south and southwest of Aruba is protected and, with its long, white sandy beaches, is a true vacation paradise. The north coast of the island, on the other hand, is rather rough and has strong currents.
Climate in Aruba (ABC Islands)
The climate of the Antilles Leeward Islands (Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Isla Margarita) is characterized by the special geographical location in the protected area off the coast of Venezuela and the close proximity to the equator. In contrast to many other islands in the Caribbean, the northeast trade wind therefore has comparatively little influence on the weather in Aruba.
It therefore remains very dry over the course of the year, with regular rainfall only occurring between October and December.
But even in this travel time the rain remains very little. So it’s no wonder that Aruba is especially famous for the Divi-Divi tree and various types of cacti. Aruba is not in the endangered area of influence of the hurricanes, so the risk of tropical cyclones is extremely low. Rather, the Aruba climate is characterized by constant, sunny weather (7 to 10 hours of sunshine) and is therefore suitable for holidays all year round.
When is the best time to travel to Aruba?
As already described, the Aruba climate (ABC Islands) in the Antilles impresses with its constancy and predictability, bad weather is an absolute exception on the Caribbean island. The daytime temperatures are around 30 to 33 ° C all year round, and values of a mild 25 degrees (night) are also common after sunset.
A steady light breeze makes the climate very bearable, and there is no real rainy season in Aruba. In the period from mid- September to early December, there may be short showers, but these small refreshments are more of a welcome change and not at all comparable to the rainy season in other regions of the Caribbean (e.g. the Greater Antilles).
For our travel experts, the best time to travel to Aruba is from mid-December to early May, as the temperatures are minimally lower, especially at night, and there is almost exclusively sunshine. Virtually no rain at all falls in March and April, but numerous cruise ships also dock in the port at this time. Despite the recommendation for the best travel time to Aruba, we can keep it short: the ABC Islands are a real year-round destination!
Temperatures, precipitation in Oranjestad (Aruba)
| Jan | Feb | March | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Daytime temperature | 30 ° C | 30 ° C | 31 ° C | 32 ° C | 32 ° C | 32 ° C | 32 ° C | 33 ° C | 33 ° C | 32 ° C | 31 ° C | 30 ° C |
| Night temperature | 25 ° C | 25 ° C | 25 ° C | 26 ° C | 27 ° C | 27 ° C | 26 ° C | 27 ° C | 27 ° C | 26 ° C | 26 ° C | 25 ° C |
| Water temperature | 27 ° C | 26 ° C | 26 ° C | 27 ° C | 28 ° C | 28 ° C | 28 ° C | 28 ° C | 29 ° C | 29 ° C | 29 ° C | 27 ° C |
| Precipitation in mm | 39 | 21st | 9 | 12 | 16 | 19 | 32 | 26 | 46 | 78 | 94 | 82 |
| Rainy days | 8 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 11 |
| Sunrise | 7:05 | 7:00 | 6:50 | 6:30 | 6:15 | 6:15 | 6:20 | 6:30 | 6:30 | 6:30 | 6:40 | 6:55 |
| Sunset | 18:35 | 18:45 | 18:50 | 18:50 | 18:55 | 19:05 | 19:10 | 19:00 | 18:40 | 18:20 | 18:10 | 18:15 |
Temperatures
The annual average temperature in Oranjestad is 28.1 ° C. For comparison: Munich reaches an average of 8.6 ° C, in Berlin it is 9.6 ° C. The warmest month is September (29.2 ° C), coldest month of January with mean values of 26.7 ° C. The maximum water temperature in Oranjestad is 29 ° C. Comfortable bathing is possible at these temperatures. All months have a water temperature of at least 21 ° C and are therefore suitable for a beach holiday.
Precipitation
The annual precipitation is 471 mm on 64 days with precipitation. For comparison: In Munich, 967 mm, in Berlin 570 mm, precipitation is measured annually. There is no rainy season, i.e. months with more than 175 mm of precipitation. You cannot expect snow in any month in Oranjestad.
Sights & Beaches in Aruba
The Aruba Carnival has a long tradition and is a thrilling spectacle for tourists as well, in which the many peoples of the island transform into a large party community in a peaceful and colorful way. Aruba also has a lot to offer otherwise, one of the most important sights is of course the capital Oranjestad with its exciting mix of historical buildings as well as hip cafes, restaurants and boutiques.
In addition to various water sports (surfing, diving, snorkeling), Aruba naturally focuses on the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean. The fine, white sand delights at Eagle Beach and Palm Beach, the popular Arashi Beach, the gorgeous Malmok Beach, Druif Beach, Baby Beach, Roger’s Beach and Mangel Halto, among others.
