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Aruba in December is warm, breezy and split into two very different halves. The first two weeks are the sensible time to come, with softer prices and room on the sand. Around mid-December, peak season arrives, and one planning guide we reviewed puts Christmas week at the top of the market. December is also wetter than the brochures suggest. This guide gives you the official weather numbers, the price shift, the events worth planning around, and what to book now if you are flying in a few weeks.

Aruba in December 2026: the quick answer

  • Temperature: average highs near 87°F and lows near 78°F, from the official 30-year climate normals.
  • Rain: about 3.2 inches over about 11 days. It is the second-wettest month of the year, but showers are usually short.
  • Wind and sea: easterly trades average about 15 mph. The water is near 81°F and calmest on the west and south coasts.
  • Crowds and prices: softer until about mid-December, then peak season. One planning guide we reviewed puts Christmas to New Year’s at the top of the market.
  • Events: Sint Nicolas on December 5, public holidays on December 25 and 26, and New Year’s Eve on December 31.

December weather in Aruba: the real numbers

The table uses the Departamento Meteorologico Aruba’s 1991–2020 normals, except for sea temperature, which comes from its older 1971–2000 sheet.

December average Value Source
Average daily high 30.7°C (about 87°F) meteo.aw normals 1991–2020
Average daily low 25.3°C (about 78°F) meteo.aw normals 1991–2020
Mean temperature 27.5°C (about 81.5°F) meteo.aw normals 1991–2020
Rainfall 80.1 mm (about 3.2 in); aruba.com lists 3.1 in meteo.aw normals 1991–2020; aruba.com
Days with 1 mm of rain or more 11.0 meteo.aw normals 1991–2020
Hours with rainfall 52.0 meteo.aw normals 1991–2020
Average wind speed 6.6 m/s (about 15 mph), from the east meteo.aw normals 1991–2020
Relative humidity 77.9% meteo.aw normals 1991–2020
Sea temperature 27.0°C (about 81°F) meteo.aw normals 1971–2000

The rainy season has not quite ended

Aruba’s weather service runs the rainy season from September through January, so December sits near its tail, not after it. Only November gets more rain, at 87.1 mm against December’s 80.1 mm. The drop comes afterward: January averages 44 mm and February 19.5 mm.

Eleven rain days means about a third of the month sees a measurable shower, and the current normals log about 52 rainy hours in a 744-hour month. The weather service says showers usually fall in the early morning, and in the rainy season they can also come in the evening. Don’t cancel a beach day at breakfast. If a day stays gray, here are things to do when the weather turns.

Puffy gray and white clouds over the beach at Eagle Beach in Aruba
Clouds over Eagle Beach. In December a gray spell usually passes quickly. Photo: Robert Koorenny via Unsplash

Trade winds and storms

The easterly trades return in strength this month. The official average climbs from about 12.5 mph in November to about 15 mph in December and about 16 mph in January. The breeze makes 87°F comfortable, but it also hides sunburn and turns wet skin chilly at dusk.

Hurricanes are not a realistic December worry. Aruba.com gives the season as June 1 to November 30, and the weather service places Aruba on the southern edge of the belt. Our guide to Aruba’s hurricane season has the fuller history.

Days are short by Aruba standards. In the weather service’s 2026 table, sunset moves from about 6:12 p.m. on December 1 to about 6:25 p.m. on December 31.

Sea conditions and where to swim

The wind decides your beach. Aruba.com describes the west and south coasts as calm and protected, which suits swimming and snorkeling. Eagle Beach, Palm Beach, Mangel Halto and Baby Beach are the December defaults. Baby Beach is the shallow, lagoon-style choice for kids.

The north and east coasts face open sea, with stronger winds and crashing waves. At Boca Grandi, aruba.com warns about a strong current that makes it a poor swimming choice. Read our beach safety guide before you go exploring on that side.

Palm trees against a blue sky on a west coast beach in Aruba
Palm trees on the sheltered west coast, where most December beach days happen. Photo: Darice de Cuba via Unsplash

If a breezy morning rules out the beach, a guided island tour covers the rugged side without any driving on your part. These suit a December trip, and our roundup of the best tours in Aruba compares more.

Crowds and prices: the mid-December shift

December is two months in one. Lonely Planet’s cheapest window runs from September to mid-December, with discounts of up to about 50% off winter highs. Its high season then runs from mid-December to mid-April. Aruba.com is broader and calls all of December through April peak season, so treat mid-December as a slope, not a switch.

Dates What to expect Best move
December 1 to about 14 Softer rates and more space Your best-value window; compare rooms now
About December 15 to 23 High season pricing begins Book rooms, cars and popular dinners at once
December 24 to January 1 Top of the market, per one planning guide; expect restaurants to fill Expect limited choice; read the rate terms

One Aruba planning guide we reviewed (November 2026) puts Christmas to New Year’s at the top of the market. It also warns that some resorts add mandatory gala dinner charges around December 24 and 25 and December 31. Check the rate terms before you pay, because a good nightly price can hide that line.

If you are booking this close to December, shift your dates earlier if you can, even by a few days. Our month-by-month guide shows how December compares with the rest of the year.

Lounge chairs and palm trees on a sandy resort beach in Aruba
Resort loungers in Aruba. From mid-December, expect to compete for them. Photo: Paulo Evangelista via Unsplash

Events in December 2026

Aruba.com’s calendar of events is the place to confirm anything before you plan around it. Our Aruba events calendar covers the full year.

Date What Good to know
December 5 Sint Nicolas A children’s celebration, not an official holiday
November to Christmas Gaita bands Listen at community events and supermarkets
December 25 Christmas Day Official holiday; most shops close
December 26 Boxing Day Official holiday; most shops close
Late December Dande Festival Dates for 2026 are usually announced late in the year
December 31 New Year’s Eve Firecrackers by day, fireworks at midnight

Sint Nicolas arrives by boat weeks ahead of his day. The 2026 arrival was set for November 15 at the Oranjestad harbor, so December visitors mostly see the tail of the season. One events listing we reviewed (November 2026) shows a weekly Thursday barbecue night at the Renaissance through December 31, at $59 per person. Two of those Thursdays are holiday eves, so confirm before you go.

The Bon Bini Festival at Fort Zoutman is listed on a short break, so check whether it is running. For Christmas traditions, pagara, dande and New Year’s Eve, see our Christmas and New Year’s guide to Aruba.

A tropical beach with palm trees and resort buildings in Aruba
Palms and resort towers in Aruba. Book holiday dinners early. Photo: Mauro Lima via Unsplash

What to pack and book ahead

Think summer clothes with one extra layer. Our Aruba packing list has the full rundown, and these are the December additions:

  • A light jacket or shawl: aruba.com suggests one for air-conditioned restaurants, casinos and breezy nights.
  • A compact rain shell: useful on those 11 rain days.
  • A cover-up and a hat with a strap: the wind takes loose hats.
  • Oxybenzone-free, reef-safe sunscreen: Aruba has penalized the import, sale and production of oxybenzone sunscreen since July 2020.

Aruba.com advises reserving restaurants, rental cars and tours in advance during peak season. Then handle the calendar traps:

  • December 24 and 31: VisitAruba says supermarkets may close between 2 and 6 p.m., and banks close at noon.
  • December 25 and 26: supermarkets and most stores close, and gas stations close on holidays. Resort-area restaurants usually stay open.
  • Fill the tank and shop early: do both by midday on December 24, especially with a rental car.
A sailboat silhouetted against an orange sunset off Eagle Beach in Aruba
Sunset off Eagle Beach. December sunsets come before 6:30 p.m., so plan dinner around them. Photo: Meg von Haartman via Unsplash

Planning for 2026

  • Cheapest December dates: the first two weeks, before high season begins.
  • Book lead time: one planning guide we reviewed suggests about six months for New Year’s week and at least four for Christmas week.
  • Before you fly: complete your ED card and confirm event dates on aruba.com.
  • Rain plan: keep one flexible day for showers, and put outdoor trips in the morning after they clear.

FAQ

Is December a good time to visit Aruba?

Yes, especially before mid-December. It is warm and breezy, with lower prices in the first two weeks. Expect some short showers, because the rainy season has not finished.

Does it rain a lot in Aruba in December?

More than most visitors expect. Official 30-year averages show about 3.2 inches over about 11 days with measurable rain. Showers tend to be brief and often come early in the morning.

How warm is the ocean in Aruba in December?

About 81°F, according to the weather service’s older climate sheet. Most swimmers are comfortable without a wetsuit.

Can a hurricane hit Aruba in December?

It is very unlikely. The Atlantic hurricane season ends November 30, and Aruba sits on the southern edge of the hurricane belt.

When does peak season start in Aruba?

Around mid-December, according to Lonely Planet, while aruba.com groups all of December into peak season. One planning guide we reviewed puts Christmas through New Year’s at the top of the market.

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