The Best Times To Visit Aruba [By Seasons and Interests]

Key Takeaways

• January and February are peak seasons with higher prices, but it offers balmy temperatures, making it ideal for beachgoers and outdoor activities.
• August through October are the hottest months of the year, and November is the wettest.
• Aruba is outside the hurricane belt, so it’s a reliable destination year-round, but planning around your preferences for crowd levels and costs is key.

If breezy Caribbean days spent on white sand beaches sound like a good time to you, then Aruba should be on your vacation wish list. This small island lies just north of Venezuela in the southern Caribbean sea and is known as “One Happy Island.” In addition to consistently beautiful weather, it’s located just south of the Hurricane Belt, so visitors can travel without much worry about big storms ruining their vacation.

While Aruba is a great place to visit year-round, there are definite times of year that are better than others depending on what you’re looking for. In this post, we’ll go over the best times to visit Aruba, month-by-month, and we’ll look at optimal travel times for enjoying great weather, water sports, and budget prices.

Aruba: At a Glance

Aruba is a small Caribbean island of just about 70 square miles that lies 15 miles off the coast of Venezuela. It’s a popular vacation destination for U.S. tourists especially because of its consistently warm weather and lack of hurricanes.

Known as “One Happy Island,” Aruba is an autonomous country that’s part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It’s not, however, an independent country recognized on any official list of world countries.

Together with the neighboring islands of Curaçao and Bonaire, it makes up the so-called ABC Islands. When you add in Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten, the group is collectively known as the Dutch Caribbean islands.

Aruba is an easy destination for U.S. tourists to visit. While the official languages of the island are Dutch and Papiamento (a Spanish Creole language with Portuguese and Dutch influences), English is very common. The official currency is the Aruban florin, but the U.S. dollar is widely accepted.

Hot Tip: When traveling to Aruba, be sure to bring a credit card that doesn’t charge a foreign transaction fee.

The Best Times To Visit Aruba by Season [Month-by-Month]

While Aruba does have a rainy season and a dry season, the effects aren’t as dramatic as they are in a place like the Maldives, where the time of year you visit is strongly tied to the experience you’ll have.

One of the unique things about Aruba is that it lies below the Hurricane Belt, so intense tropical storms and hurricanes are extremely rare on the island. While Aruba has near-constant trade winds, the threat of large storms is very small throughout the year.

Aruba in January

January is one of the most popular months to visit Aruba. With an average high temperature of 86 degrees and an average low temperature of 76 degrees, it’s a perfect month to enjoy balmy Caribbean days. Because it’s a great time to visit the island, it can be pricier — and more crowded — in January. Rainfall averages just about 1.5 inches for the month.

Hot Tip: The water temperature in Aruba is the coolest from January through March, averaging 79 degrees. While that may be acceptable to some travelers, it can be chilly for others. If you plan on snorkeling or scuba diving, you may want to consider wearing a wetsuit to help keep you warm.

Aruba in February

February is another popular month to visit Aruba. Temperatures are similar to January, ranging from 76 to 86 degrees, but the average rainfall drops to less than 1 inch.

Prices in February are high, so expect to pay a premium for hotels, flights, and activities around the island.

Hot Tip: January and February make up the bulk of Aruba’s Carnival season. As one of the island’s most popular events, expect colorful parades, music, and lively festivities.

Aruba in March

March tends to be the driest month in Aruba with an average rainfall of under 0.5 inches. Temperatures start to creep up, averaging between 77 and 87 degrees.

One of Aruba’s biggest celebrations centers around Flag Day, which falls in March. Expect jubilant celebrations and fireworks across the island. In Oranjestad, the island’s capital, there are folkloric musical performances, traditional food, and the Baile di Cintas, a traditional and somewhat complicated ribbon dance.

Aruba in April

April is shoulder season in Aruba, so it can actually be a great time to visit the island. While temperatures can be warm, with highs near 89 degrees, the trade winds help keep visitors and residents comfortable and can keep bugs at a minimum.

Aruba in May

The Soul Beach Music Festival, often cited as one of the Caribbean’s best festivals, happens in May. It brings concerts, nightclub events, and beach parties to the small island, often featuring internationally-known performers.

The other big event in May is Aruba Hi-Winds, the longest-running event in the Caribbean. This sports competition started with only windsurfing but has grown to include other sports like kitesurfing and biking.

Air temperatures range from 80 to 90 degrees and water temperatures start to warm up, averaging 81 degrees in May. This time of year is the beginning of the off-season so travelers may be able to find lower prices and smaller crowds.

Aruba in June

On June 24th every year, Aruba celebrates Dera Gai (St. John’s Day) with dancing, singing, storytelling, and even jumping over bonfires! Thankfully, the tradition of burying a live rooster isn’t practiced anymore.

June weather in Aruba is hot and dry with temperatures ranging from 80 to 90 degrees and rainfall averaging ~0.75 inches. For beachgoers, this can be great. For anyone who prefers land activities, it can be uncomfortably hot.

Aruba in July

Aruba weather in July is similar to June — hot and dry (although there’s a slightly higher chance for rain). While it’s the off-season, it’s a popular month to visit, particularly for families with school-age children.

While Americans make up the bulk of tourists in Aruba summer is a time you’ll see a bit more diversity, with more Europeans and South Americans visiting during this time.

Aruba in August

August is one of the hottest months in Aruba with temperatures ranging from 80 to 91 degrees. Rainfall is still at a minimum, averaging only ~1 inch for the whole month. Water temperatures are around 82 degrees, making August a great time for activities like swimming and snorkeling.

Aruba in September

September sees the lightest trade winds of the year and it’s the hottest month of the year, so many travelers avoid visiting Aruba during this time. In fact, September sees the fewest amount of visitors of the year. Temperatures can reach 91 degrees during the day, with lows hovering around 81 degrees.

Since temperatures are lower and tourists are fewer, you may be able to find great deals during this time. If you want to save some money, September can be a great time to visit Aruba. Plus, it’s actually an ideal time for snorkeling since lighter winds mean calmer surface water conditions.

Hot Tip: August and September are the hottest months in Aruba.

Aruba in October

Temperatures in October are still hot, ranging from 80 to 90 degrees, but rainfall starts to increase significantly, averaging about 3 inches for the month. While many people might avoid traveling to the Caribbean during this time due to the threat of hurricanes, Aruba lies just below the Hurricane Belt, so the likelihood of strong storms is very small.

October has the warmest water temperatures of the year, averaging 84 degrees.

Aruba in November

November is the wettest month of the year in Aruba, with about 3.7 inches of rain on average. Temperatures start to cool a bit but are still warm with averages between 78 degrees and 88 degrees.

Aruba in December

Mid-December is the beginning of Aruba’s high season, a time when prices and crowds start to soar. Temperatures are pleasant, ranging from 77 to 87 degrees, but the island sees a little over 3 inches of rainfall throughout the month on average.

Bottom Line: If Aruba had a true rainy season it would last from October to December. While these are the island’s wettest months, the amount of rain that falls is still pretty low compared to other islands in the Caribbean.

The Best Times To Visit Aruba by Interests

The Best Time To Visit Aruba To Save Money

According to Google Travel, Aruba hotel prices are at their highest from December through March. If you’re traveling on a budget, plan to visit Aruba during the off-season from mid-April to October to save money.

You can save some additional money by using points and miles to pay for your flights to the Caribbean. There are also plenty of hotels in Aruba you can book with points, too.

The Best Time To Visit Aruba for Great Weather

Compared to much of the world, Aruba’s weather is pretty great all year long. Temperatures are fairly consistent, never dipping much below 70 degrees. However, if you want close to perfect weather, plan your visit to Aruba from January to April. This time period has warm weather and very little rain.

The Best Time To Visit for Water Activities

If you prefer warmer ocean temperatures, visit Aruba from June through November when sea temperatures hover between 81 degrees and 84 degrees. October has the warmest water temperatures of the year. You’ll find cooler sea temperatures, averaging 79 degrees, from January to March.

Final Thoughts

Aruba is a popular vacation destination in the southern Caribbean. The weather is fairly consistent throughout the year, with only minor fluctuations in temperature and a short, mild rainy season. Additionally, it lies just outside the Hurricane Belt, so it’s rarely affected by these strong tropical storms.

While Aruba is a year-round destination, the most popular time to visit is during North America’s winter months of December through March.