Aruba Hotels

10 ways to Enjoy Aruba

• Explore more than 20 dive sites, including nine shipwrecks.
• Visit the Archaeological Museum of Aruba containing Indian artifacts.
• Take a four-wheel drive tour to the California Lighthouse which sits amongst sand dunes and interesting rock formations.
• Visit Natural Bridge, a 100-foot coral structure that emerges from the sea.
• Check out Bushiribana Gold Mill ruins.
• Take in the Hi-Winds windsurfing competition in June.
• Shop,shop,shop in Oranjestad, the capital city.
• See cacti, the divi-divi tree and the arid landscape from horseback.
• Play 18 holes at Tierra del Sol, a course designed by Robert Trent Jones.
• Relax on the powder-white sand of Palm Beach or Eagle Beach.
  

Documents Needed for Travel

United States passport holders must have a valid passport, or other proof of citizenship, such as an original birth certificate and official photo ID (driver's license is acceptable), plus marriage certificate if your name has changed. A visa is not required for stays of up to 180 days, if holding a Tourist Card/FMT form issued free of charge by airlines.

Language

Papiamento (a mix of Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch and English) is the national language. English and Spanish are widely spoken.

Time Zone

Local time is GMT -4.

Beaches

Aruba is known for having the best beaches, all of which are public and free. Both sides of the island have great sandy beaches, although fewer on the eastern side, whose waters tend to me more rough.

Climate

Aruba’s climate is tropical, but not extreme, with median and almost constant temperature of 82degF. Rainfall averages about 18" a year, with October through January accounting for most of it. The rain tends to be erratic and to come in short bursts, and it is rare for the sun not to shine most of the day. Aruba is outside the hurricane belt and usually only experiences fringe effects of nearby heavy tropical storms, if any at all.

What to Wear

You will be comfortable in casual summer clothes plus some light evening attire for restaurants, nightclubs and casinos (men might need a light jacket for some of these places). Bathing suites are not permitted in shopping and business areas.

Currency and Credit Cards

Aruba's currency is the florin. U.S. currency and most major credit cards are widely accepted.

Electricity

110 volts. Same as the United States.

Marriage Requirements

Civil marriages are now possible in Aruba, but they must take place at the City Hall. Many couples arrange a religious blessing after they have been legally married or hold a romantic celebration beach side.

The following are the guidelines for the various ceremonies.

CIVIL Legal Requirements:

1.  Each person must submit copies of their birth certificate with a raised seal.
2. Couple must provide from their Country of Citizenship an “apostile” report (a statistics search from the Bureau of Vital Statistics) as Proof that they are both indeed single and eligible to marry.
3. If either party has been divorced, or widowed, they must submit a copy of their divorce decree or death certificate.
4. Couple must be holders of valid passports and submit with their application, copies of the pages showing all relevant details.
5. Copies of the passport pages of their witnesses must also be submitted (if couple does not have any witnesses, we will provide them at an additional fee).
6. All documents are to be faxed for review and then submitted by courier (i.e. FedEx) at least one (1) month prior to desired wedding date.

Office of Civil Registry
Attn: Mr. Betto Christiaans
Schoolstraat 2
Oranjestad, Aruba
Tel: 011 (297) 583-4400
Fax: 011 (297) 583-9160
pivaruba@setarnet.aw