Travelling to Aruba last year was one of my favourite experiences of 2024. Most people who travel to Aruba go back time and time again, with many becoming so loyal they refuse to go on holidays anywhere else. If you’re planning a trip to Aruba but want to make sure there will be sunshine and hopefully enough people around for a kicking atmosphere, read on about the best time to visit Aruba.
Best time to visit Aruba for nightlife
San Nicholas and Oranjestad are always hopping, offering a great time for anyone interested in partying. For anyone who wants to visit when the island has the most people around, giving them the best parties, yearly events, parades, and best nightclub experiences, January to March are the best times to visit. The price of rooms does increase a little bit around this time of the year, but so do the activities available, making it a better value if you like to party.
There are also local holidays and festivals in August, June, and early parts of April, all of which can be great times to plan a quick vacation. Each of these has around a week’s worth of partying associated with it and during these months the prices of rooms are lower, the temperatures are higher, and the winds that keep you cool and dry are still present.
Late June has an international film festival, wine festival, music festivals, and even a religious holiday. If you are going outside of the main tourist periods, visiting during June is going to be the best month for a party atmosphere.
Best time to visit Aruba for water sports
Temperatures on the island rarely dip below 70 degrees, and the island is well protected from most tropical storms. However, it is known for having extremely windy periods, which happen during the hottest parts of the year. These windy events actually help keep the temperature and humidity on the island at a refreshing level, and are a popular time to partake in many water sports, such as wind surfing.
June and July are the best months for wind on Aruba, with October also having some wind, but generally having storms that accompany it as well. During June and July, staying on the Northeast side of the island, or at least finding a hotel with transport to that side, is going to be the best bet for travellers.
Most of the hotels in the San Nicholas and Noord area are going to have transport to areas specifically designed for wind and water related sports.
During the peak months, locals offer rental of water equipment, lessons on how to do a number of different activities, such as windsurfing, and even host beach parties in popular areas after the sun has gone down. Buses back to the hotels tend to run late into the night, and taxis are also available for transport if you miss the last bus.
If you surf or like to go boating, this is also the best time of the year as the winds create rather favourable conditions. There are a number of different competitions and events during these months, all of which welcome foreigners and have a healthy presence online. The lack of people during this low season makes it easier to get around on a boat and find proper mooring if you decide to visit with your own boat. Likewise, surfers will find that they aren’t fighting for space as much as they would be during the high season.
Best time to visit Aruba for sunshine
If you really want to get the most out of the tropical atmosphere on your visit to Aruba, you want to visit the biggest city, Oranjestad, during the months of July, August, and September. Temperatures start in the low 80s and can reach the high 90s, while the weather is generally quite nice with very little humidity. During this period of time, the strong breezes from the coast still make being on the island enjoyable, and resorts all run their air conditioning during the day.
This is the best time to sit out in the sun and go swimming, but you will need to be careful and use sunscreen to make sure that you are safe. It tends to get hotter as the day goes on, with morning temperatures sitting in the high 70s to low 80s, making for great walks along the beach.
In the evening, the temperature doesn’t drop below the high 80s until almost midnight, with the island reaching the coolest temperatures around 4am.
This is also off peak, as most people come during winter in more western countries, seeking to get away from the cold. This means that rooms are cheaper, there are fewer people, and that you have a better chance to experience local culture.
This is also the period of time when the beaches are cleanest, with work crews taking time to improve upon public access areas around the island. This does mean you might run into some construction, but generally projects on the island are quite limited.
Does it ever rain?
While Aruba isn’t well known for too much rain, there is a rainy season where you can wake up to a clean and new smelling world. This runs from October to January each year and comes with a bit lower temperatures, usually from around 75 degrees up to 87 degrees, making it a little more humid, but also cooler overall.
This rainy season is a great time to see all of the animals and wildlife, as they are more likely to come out on dewy mornings. For year round wildlife viewing, check out the famous flamingo island! You can also enjoy all of the traditional outside activities during this time as you will still have clear days, nice beach breezes, and temperatures that allow you to wear shorts, comfortable dresses, and everything that you expect from time in Aruba.
The best places to visit in Aruba if you really want to hear rain overnight and take advantage of the more humid weather are Santa Cruz, Shiribana, and Noord, all places that are a bit more in from the beaches, but that still have great access to sightseeing attractions, restaurants, and shopping locations.
There are very few days during the year when it actually rains during daylight hours, but when it does happen, the sun is often shining at the same time. This is my favourite experience on the island as it seems almost magical. The rain creates little rainbows wherever it goes, dries up almost instantly, and makes the air around you smell amazing and very tropical.
Last updated on October 13th, 2023 at 01:01 pm
