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Aruba’s Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA) is small, bright and easy to find your way around. Still, it helps to know the order of things before you land, especially if you’re traveling with kids or meeting a driver. Here’s what happens from the moment the wheels touch down to the moment you’re on your way to the hotel.
Before you fly: fill in the online ED card
Every visitor to Aruba has to complete the online Embarkation and Disembarkation (ED) card before arrival. It’s free on the official site and takes a few minutes per traveler. Do it at home, not at the gate. Official ED card information.
While you’re at it, write down your hotel’s address and save your transfer confirmation where you can open it without Wi-Fi.
Step 1: Off the plane and through immigration
Follow the signs to immigration. Have your passport ready. Lines move faster when the whole family has documents in hand and the ED card is already done.
Step 2: Collect your bags and pass customs
Pick up your checked luggage at baggage claim, then walk through customs toward the exit. If you booked a private transfer, this is a good moment to switch your phone off airplane mode and check for any message from your driver.
Step 3: Walk out of the arrivals hall
Once you step outside, you’ll see everything that connects the airport to the island:
- Taxis wait in a line just outside the arrivals terminal. Fares are fixed by destination: $41 to Palm Beach, $37 to Eagle Beach and $26 to Oranjestad for up to 4 passengers, per the 2026 official fares.
- Car rental offices are across from the arrival terminal, and some companies run a shuttle to their lots.
- The public bus (Arubus) stops just outside the airport. A ride costs $2.60.
- Pre-booked drivers and tour company staff wait outside arrivals holding signs with guests’ names.
Step 4: Find your driver (private transfer)
If you booked our private airport transfer, look for a driver holding a sign with the lead traveler’s name or your group name. Your driver greets you, takes your suitcases and walks you to a black 2020 Lincoln Navigator. Up to 6 guests and 6 suitcases ride together, and no one else joins the trip.
A few tips that make the meeting easy:
- Give the exact flight number when you book. That’s what we use to plan your pickup.
- Use the name on the sign that your group will recognize. If you’re a wedding party or a group of friends, a group name works well.
- Keep a phone number on the booking that works in Aruba, ideally WhatsApp.
- If your flight changes, message us with the new details as soon as you know.
Step 5: The drive to your hotel
Most visitors stay on Aruba’s west coast, on Eagle Beach or Palm Beach, north of the airport. Secrets Baby Beach, an adults-only resort, is in the opposite direction near San Nicolas, about 12 miles (around 33 minutes) away. Sit back, cool down, and enjoy your first look at the island.
Arrival checklist
- Online ED card completed for every traveler
- Passports in hand
- Hotel address saved offline
- Transfer confirmation and driver contact saved
- Sunglasses within reach. You’ll need them the moment the doors open.
Planning the trip home
Leaving is a different routine because US-bound flights clear US Customs in Aruba before boarding. Read how early to leave for Aruba airport before your last day.
