Aruba’s borders are still closed for most of the world, except Bonaire and Curacao.
July 1, 2020, marks the date that visitors from Europe, Canada, and the rest of the Caribbean can visit Aruba (except Haiti & Dominican Republic). The USA can start to visit Aruba as of July 10, 2020.
The countdown is reaching its end, and Aruba is ready to kickstart tourism.
Are you ready to visit Aruba and enjoy the island life you’ve been dreaming about for a long time?
When & Where Airlines Resume Aruba Flights
The CEO of Aruba Tourism Authority shared a list of major airlines that confirmed their flights to Aruba as soon as the borders are officially open in July.
Here’s a list of airlines that confirmed their flight schedules to Aruba:
- JetBlue
- Spirit Airlines
- United Airlines
- TUI
- KLM
- Air Canada
- SouthWest (in November)
Here’s when the first flights are scheduled, and from which departure destination:
- Jet Blue (New York, JFK) – As of July 10, 2020
- Delta Airlines (New York, JFK) – As of July 10, 2020
- American Airlines (Miami) – As of July 10, 2020
- Delta Airlines (Atlanta) – As of July 10, 2020
- JetBlue (Boston) – As of July 10, 2020
- United Airlines (New Ark) – As of July 10, 2020
- American Airlines (Charlotte) – As of July 10, 2020
- Spirit Airlines (Fort Lauderdale) – As of July 10, 2020
- JetBlue (Fort Lauderdale) – As of August 2, 2020
- United Airlines (Houston) – As of August 8, 2020
- United Airlines (New York) – As of August 10, 2020
- American Airlines (Dallas) – As of October 10, 2020
- Southwest (Baltimore) – As of November 1, 2020
- American Airlines (Philadelphia) – As of December 17, 2020
- Delta Airlines (Minneapolis) – As of December 26, 2020
- Sun Country (Minneapolis) – As of December 26, 2020
- KLM (Netherlands) – As of July 5, 2020
- TUI (Netherlands) – As of July 11, 2020
- Air Canada (Toronto) – As of July 18, 2020
- WestJet (Toronto) – As of August 8, 2020
- Avianca (Bogota) – As of September 1, 2020
- Wingo (Bogota) – Date still pending
- Copa (Panama) – Date still pending
By now you have already booked your flights to Aruba, or you are waiting for the coronavirus situation to clear up even more before you book your first trip.
Here’s a glimpse of what Aruba has to offer as soon as you can travel again to this side of the Caribbean…
What’s New in Aruba
Aruba’s pristine beaches have been off-limits for international tourists since mid-March
The island is prepared and ready to welcome you, how are you planning to kickstart the grand opening?
There’s a myriad of things to do on the island, including but not limited to…
Visit Our Beloved Animals
Phillips’s animal garden is open again.
If you and your family are looking for something to do while on the island, check out some of our animals.
Reopened since May 15, 2020, with all the necessary precautions, the private animal sanctuary welcomes its visitors again.
Founded in 2009, it’s the only place on the island that rehabilitates and rescues exotic animals in Aruba.
Open every day from 9 AM – 6 PM, you’re welcome to see a variety of wild animals such as kangaroos, monkeys, alligators, peacocks, snakes, rabbits, alpacas, eagles, and many other species of creatures.
Social distance rules are in place and no large groups are allowed.
Check Out The Donkeys
Aruba has its own donkey sanctuary.
It’s one of the only places where visitors and locals can go to help the volunteers take care of these animals.
This includes feeding, cleaning, and taking care of donkeys.
Open from 9 AM – 4 PM, you are welcome to give a helping hand to one of the most beloved animals on the island for free.
This donkey is so cute.
New Hotel Experiences
Hotels and other accommodations in Aruba are reshaping guest experience.
They have come up with detailed operational plans on how they plan to welcome guests back to their properties and how they strive to secure their guest’s and employees’ well-being.
One of these plans is the health & happiness code implemented by the Aruba Tourism Authority.
A golden seal prominently displayed on a business’s doors to indicate they have done everything possible to keep their property coronavirus free.
Boardwalk Aruba
One of many boutique hotels in Aruba, Boardwalk Small Hotel, is offering its guests a new experience.
The boutique hotel recently revamped and expanded its capacity to 46 rooms on the property.
What can you expect when staying at the boardwalk?
- Health & Safety Procedures
- Mobile check-in
- Touch-free services
- Clean sealed pool chairs
- Flexible cancellation policy
There’s a lot more to experience at the newly renovated boutique hotel…
The New Boardwalk Aruba Hotel
Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort
The island’s adults-only resort is also ready to welcome couples to enjoy a romantic stay on Aruba.
Bucuti has added new health and safety protocols to its operation as a response to coronavirus.
This includes a four week mandatory and documented training for all staff members.
Guests can now pre-register at the hotel online from home.
The rooms will be completely sterilized using advanced technology, including an ultraviolet portable area sanitizer.
Seating at the resort’s food & beverage area is expanded and spaced for safety.
All other additional guidelines and safety measures at Bucuti rely on social distance, sanitation, single-use, and touchless guest experience.
Penthouse Suite at Bucuti
Pelican Adventures
One of Aruba’s boat trip experiences, also known as catamarans, is ready to welcome you aboard.
Pelican Adventures sails again as of June 19, 2020, with new safety protocols advised by the public health department and tourism authority.
To celebrate the grand opening, the adventure boat is offering special prices on sailing & snorkeling cruises, and sunset cruises.
Restaurants & Bars
The best food and drinks are waiting to be prepared and enjoyed at Aruba’s finest restaurants and bars.
Recently open again, with new social distance and health guidelines, including but not limited to:
- 2 meter spaced seating between tables
- New menus on walls or apps
- Smaller diner crowds
Although coronavirus has introduced new rules for eating out, the food & beverage industry in Aruba plans to wow its guests again with spectacular dishes and the best drinks.
Here’s a list of restaurants and bars that are already open (not a complete list, but only a few recommendations):
- OAK
- Perla D’Italia
- West Deck
- Cafe the Plaza
- Lucy’s
- Zeerover
- Local Store
- Bugaloe
- Moomba Beach
- Gusto
- Craft
- Hamaka
- Oxygen Lounge
Single-Use Plastics Officially Banned As of July 1, 2020
As of July 1, 2020, the Government ordinance will go into effect to ban single-use plastic in Aruba.
The Government made the decision to ban the use of plastic bags in 2019 but has now also included a ban on single-use plastic.
Here’s a list of single-use plastic products that will be prohibited to use on the island:
- Styrofoam containers
- Cutlery, styrofoam cups, plates, stirrers, and straws
- Bags to pack fruits and vegetables.
- Bags with handles used for carrying
- Releasing balloons & plastic confetti into the sky
It’s banned to import, manufacture, sell, offer and use the list of plastic products above.
Not all single-use plastics will be banned immediately, there’s a list of plastic products that are exempt of the ban until further notice, including but not limited to:
- Plastic products in medical use
- Package wrappings for cold cuts and raw meat
- Plastic food packaging used by local food manufacturers
Banning the use of plastic bags and single-use plastic is important to the island and the environment. It will also benefit the island’s marine life, especially the sea turtles that visit Aruba every year to nest.
Restoring The Staircase To Hooiberg
One of the highest landforms in Aruba, known as Hooiberg (Haystack) is set to receive an upgrade.
A local construction company will renovate a part of the existing staircase used by visitors to climb the 165-meter formation.
It takes about 550 steps to get to the top of Hooiberg. Climbing this mountain is a good exercise and the view from the top is rewarding.
Did you already climb Hooiberg?
You can see a 360 view from the entire island.
Hooiberg is not the highest point in Aruba, the highest elevation on the island is Jamanota at 188 meters.
Construction works at Hooiberg will start June 22, 2020, and will take a week to complete.
The New Pier at Rodger’s Beach
Rodgers beach is getting it’s old pier back, with new moderns add-ons.
The new pier is part of the beach beautification project in San Nicolas announced in 2019 by the Government.
According to the Tourism Minister, the size of the new pier is 29 square meters, including a large platform next to it that can be used to jump in the water or simply to sunbathe.
As soon as the pier is completed within 6 weeks, the project is set to continue with an infrastructure upgrade, new beach huts, additional parking spaces, new courts for sports (volleyball, soccer, and tennis), restaurants, bars, and bathrooms at both Baby and Rodgers beach.
Here’s a view of the pier at Rodgers beach back in the old days of Aruba…
Rodgers beach in its glory days…
More tourists will be geared toward this side of the island, because of the renovation and upgrading of Baby beach, Rodgers beach, and the addition of a new hotel.
San Nicolas has a lot to offer, another view of Aruba, culture, arts, food, and beautiful beaches.
There’s truly a lot to do here on this side of the island.
When in San Nicolas, visit the Tourist Information Center close to the central bus station for guides on what to do.
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