Aruba packing list: What to bring to an island paradise
Get ready for your trip with our Aruba packing list and prepare your lugagge for a unique adventure in the Caribbean!
Aruba’s beautiful beaches and stunning scenery make it a relaxing destination, but planning a trip to the island requires preparation. Once you’ve secured your dream hotel reservation, you need to know what to take on your Aruba packing list.
So, whether you’re thinking about the ideal beachwear to take, what to wear at night in Aruba, or any additional items needed to handle your vacation logistics, we’ve got you covered with our complete packing list below.
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Downloadable Aruba travel checklist PDF
Want to tick off all your important items as you pack? Download and print off our PDF checklist to make sure all of your best clothes, valuables, and important documents are with you on your Aruba vacation.
Packing list for Aruba: What to wear
From high-end restaurants and white sand beaches to extraordinary nature trails, there is plenty to do in Aruba.
This makes choosing the right clothes to pack and which to leave at home even more important.
Ideal beachwear for Aruba
Golden Caribbean sands and crystal clear waters make beachwear a priority for any Aruba packing list.
Some of the most important beach-friendly items to add to your Aruba packing list include:
- Bathing suits: No trip to Aruba is complete without a dip in the Caribbean Sea, so be ready with a nice bathing suit or swim trunks, whatever you prefer.
- Shoes: Aruba’s white sand beaches are often located a stone’s throw from the island’s national park or more built up areas. . So, add some comfortable shoes, or maybe sandals, for walking around the island. If you plan to party or visit somewhere elegant, don’t forget to pack a nice pair of shoes!
- T-shirts: T-shirts are a great way to pack light clothing that you can combine and create a perfect outfit to walk along the beach and around the island.
- Dresses: Aruba is a hot place. During months like July, when it can reach up to 90°F (32°C), wearing a dress is a handy solution to avoid high temperatures. You can remain fresh while still looking great!
- Pants: The ideal option for the Aruba packing list includes pants and shorts. Swimming trunks also work, but if you prefer to cover your legs, try adding some light pants you will feel comfortable using!
- Bags: A small bag is essential for Aruba, as it can hold your water, save your sunglasses, and help you carry other belongings like lip balm and body spray. A beach bag is also a solution for this!
- Towels: You can’t forget about your towel if you plan to visit the beach! Consider a microfiber towel for quick drying and to save space in your suitcase.
What to wear in Aruba at night
Now that we’ve covered what you will take to the beach, it’s time to discuss the evening wear packing list.
Essentials for Aruba at night include:
- Light long-sleeve shirts: While T-shirts are still ideal for the evenings if you are visiting a restaurant, a casino, or going to a party, a long-sleeved shirt is what you need to rock that look!
- Skirts and dresses: Dresses are ideal for staying cool while looking the part when going out at night in Aruba. Skirts are also a great option to add to your luggage since these can help you with different outfits!
- Light jackets: Except for a few showers in November and December, Aruba stays warm and dry, so you can leave your heavy jacket at home! Temperatures at night can drop down a bit (75°F is nearly the lowest), so while it might not be extremely necessary, taking a light jacket can help you from colder weather!
- Pants: Wearing shorts at night in Aruba is still a thing. If you visit restaurants, casinos, or similar places, add some nice-looking pants to the list so you won’t feel out of place!
What not to wear in Aruba
You have an idea of what to pack for Aruba up to this point, but what should you avoid taking to the island?
- Heavy clothing: Forget about heavy clothing. Huge jackets, fluffy sweaters, mountain boots, and similar clothes are not essential to visiting the island.
- Too many beauty products: Remember, you will usually be out walking or on the beach, so it’s better to add the essentials, like sun protection and lip balm.
- Unnecessary items: Avoid adding too much to your Aruba packing list. Take what you need and save space for any purchases while on the island!
What to pack for Aruba: Health & beauty
Health and beauty essentials are among the most important elements of your Aruba packing list.
Falling ill abroad can be extremely expensive, especially in Aruba, where, according to statistics and local news sites, visiting a doctor can cost up to $300 USD without additional medical procedures.
As for beauty, remember that buying items such as suncare is more expensive if you decide to buy these while at the airport or even upon arriving at Aruba.
Here are some things you should consider adding to your packing list:
- Travel insurance: Valid travel insurance is the most important item when discussing health. Even though you might think this is unnecessary, you never know when you might need it! Also, check if your health insurance offers travel coverage; you could save some money!
- Makeup: Going to the beach and walking might not require a lot of makeup, but for those who plan to go out for dinner, walking at night, or visiting important places, you might like adding some make up to the packing list!
- Prescription drugs: If you are taking prescription drugs, you will likely need them during your trip, so don’t forget to add these to your packing list, and also don’t forget the prescription.
- Suncare: One of the most essential items for Aruba is suncare. Sunglasses and hats are common to take care of the sun, but what’s more important is proper sunscreen and balm for your lips!
- Mosquito repellent: A must-take on your Aruba packing list, and beach bags are mosquito repellent. Due to the conditions on the island, it’s better to be prepared with a repellent to avoid mosquitoes during your trip.
- Over-the-counter medicines and supplements: Remember your painkillers, diarrhea medicine, and similar medications, and add things like hand sanitizer or wipes and some bandaids just in case.
What to bring to Aruba: Mobile devices & internet
Whether checking directions in Google Maps, searching for a taxi number from the airport, or accessing social media at the beach, internet access makes traveling easier – and the best way you can get online is to take the Holafly eSIM for Aruba.
This will give you unlimited data for 5-20 days with up to LTE data speeds, which allows you to navigate quite easily around social media and other platforms, so you don’t have to worry about how to use your phone abroad since you can get as many eSIMs as you need!
Once set up with an eSIM, you can bring your phone on all your island adventures. So, be sure to include the following in your Aruba packing list:
- Waterproof phone case: Travelers should take one to protect their phones; since there are many underwater activities in Aruba, taking pictures near the water is surely part of the plan!
- Power banks: If you have power banks, you should also take them with you since they are handy for those long-day adventures where finding a place to charge your phone might be difficult.
- Cameras and personal devices: Lastly, take any additional devices you have, such as cameras, polaroids, and tablets, on your packing list! Just make sure there’s enough space among the essential things you need.
What to take to Aruba: Essential travel documents
The documents you need to visit Aruba from Europe and the USA are conveniently straightforward.
- Visas: The USA and Europe don’t require Visas to enter the country, but travelers from other countries might need them upon arrival, so don’t forget to take them with you.
- Personal ID and passport: Your passport is the most essential travel document for Aruba, but taking a personal ID is better as you can leave your passport and the hotel or resort for safety reasons. Also, an ID will surely be requested when using your credit or debit card.
- Insurance proof: As healthcare is expensive in Aruba (Up to $300 USD for a medical appointment), keep insurance proof at all times!
- Credit and debit cards: While these are not documents per se, you need to have a debit or credit card with you for your expenses.
Things to bring to Aruba: Other items & foods
Now that we have discussed the essential things to pack for Aruba, some additional items to consider include:
- Food: This is something you can pack for each flight, like snacks, cookies, or similar food. These are ideal to enjoy during your travel, but no need to pack food for the whole week.
- Money: Aruba uses the Aruba Florin as its currency, but you can take your local currency, EUR, AUD, USD, or any other, and exchange these at the airport or local exchange houses.
- Additional items: Lastly, you can add things like water shoes, snorkel equipment, a reusable water bottle, and flip-flops if you feel like you will need them. There are a lot of travel plans to do in Aruba, so chances are you would prefer to take other things!
What should I pack for a week in Aruba?
Now that we have an idea of what you can pack for your trip, it’s time to discuss what to pack for a week in Aruba. Some tips for packing for Aruba for a whole week are the following:
- Food: There are many restaurants and shops across the island, so snacks for your journey to Aruba will be enough.
- Beachwear: We recommend taking two to three clothes for the beach since this is where you will surely spend most of your time.
- Health and beauty products: If you take disposable items, such as medicines and similar, only take what you need for a week; it’s better to have a place to save these medicines to avoid leaving trash on the island.
- T-shirts: Take around seven T-shirts, one for each day on the trip, and include fewer pants; two to three will do.
- Skirts: For skirts, try taking two or three, too, and adding enough clothes for the upper part to create a great outfit.
- Dresses: If you prefer dresses, you can take one for each day of your trip, that depends on what you want to wear!
- Other clothes: Add only the necessary clothes, such as sunglasses, bags, and hats; one or two are more than enough.
- Shoes: Add two or three pairs of shoes or sandals to your suitcase, as those are enough for a whole week in Aruba.
7 travel tips for your Aruba adventure
Leaving packing aside, it’s time to discuss some general tips to make your stay in Aruba the trip of a lifetime:
- Make a travel itinerary so you know what you will do each day. This will make it easier to choose the clothes you are packing.
- Book your hotel enough time in advance; it will help you find better deals.
- Most resorts in Aruba include many items like towels, soap, and shampoo, so double-check what these have, as you might save some space on your luggage.
- Exploring is the best way to get to know Aruba, so make sure you have internet access to walk around and spend your time properly!
- If you are traveling from Europe, you may need to take different chargers for all your devices due to the electricity used in Aruba. Travelers will find North American plugs on the island, but some European-type adapters are less common.
- If you are traveling during the wet season, the weather is slightly different from October to January, so take proper clothes, such as light jackets, umbrellas, and shoes over sandals, as precipitation can reach up to 98 mm.
- To get an internet connection, a Holafly eSIM for Aruba is the best option, as it gives you unlimited data, great data speeds, and affordable prices.
FAQs about things to bring to Aruba
Try taking items that occupy lots of space in your suitcase, such as shoes and a jacket. But also, try to wear clothes that aren’t heavy, because as soon as you arrive in Aruba, the weather will be totally different.
$1,000 USD for a week should cover expenses and additional attractions and activity costs for seven days in Aruba.
However, if you plan to visit expensive restaurants or maybe participate in events on the island, consider adding more money to your budget.
Holafly is an excellent data provider in the Caribbean. Its multi-country plan, eSIM Caribbean, covers more than 15 destinations in the region. You can also buy other local plans, such as the Curacao eSIM, which has benefits similar to those of the Aruba eSIM.