Your transportation options in Aruba are to call a taxi, rent a car, hop on a bus, rent an ATV, or rent a Jeep. Based on the four times I’ve visited the island, my recommendation is to rent a car AND a Jeep.
You can see a lot of the island and get around fine with a car. The roads are all mostly paved – except for some side streets – and you can see the majority of Arikok National Park by car if you stay on the road.
The first time my husband and I visited Aruba, we only rented a car for a few days, and we were fine. We got to see enough and go to the beaches, which were all we really wanted after spending ten days in Curacao.
But if you want to go to the Natural Pool or see the north end of the island without having to pay for an excursion, I would highly recommend renting a Jeep.
Two Reasons to Rent a Jeep in Aruba – to Visit the Natural Pool and See the North Side
Reason #1: The Natural Pool in Arikok National Park
If you want to go to the Natural Pool, you will either need to rent a Jeep or go on an excursion in big safari-like Jeeps. We rented a Jeep the last few times we were three so we could drive to the Natural Pool, and it’s worth it every time. However, keep in mind that the Jeep rental places include in their contracts that you cannot go to the Natural Pool. If you do and something happens to your Jeep, like a flat tire, they will not come to help you.
The drive from Arikok National Park’s parking lot to the pool is very bumpy and rocky. It can be a little nerve-wracking, but those Jeeps are built well and can make it through and over anything. It will really test your driving skills, but it’s a crazy adventure and worth it. You can not take a car to the Natural Pool – they would never make it. The views along the way are incredible, and you feel like you are in a completely different world.
At the Pool
One word of advice is to be super careful when you’re at the pool if it’s a windy day. The tide will blast over the rocks and come into the pool, which can be dangerous if you’re standing on the rocks or unprepared for the water to get a little wavy. If the tide is too high, they will not let anyone into it. You can call the park ahead of time and ask if the pool is accessible. The first time we visited the island, we called every day, and it was closed every day. They also usually have an employee at the pool who can let you know if it’s been a high tide day and answer any questions.
Make sure to bring your swimsuit, snorkel, and sunscreen!
Reason #2: The North Side of Aruba
You can take a car and drive up to the California Lighthouse, but if you want to drive along the coast and see the rock formations, it will be easier with a Jeep. Granted, you can get pretty far in a car up there, but if you want to go further and not be worried about getting stuck at any second, definitely just rent a Jeep.
How to Drive On the Coast
Leave Noord and head towards the lighthouse and Malmok Beach. After you pass Arashi Beach, the environment turns to desert quickly – with prickly bushes and desert sand rather than beaches and palm trees. It turns out that the only “tropical” part of the island with palm trees is the touristy area in Noord.
Watch for an opening to an unpaved road on the left side. If you’re lucky, you may see someone else drive in ahead of you so you can find it easier. Enter there.
When we were there a few years ago, there was a wooden barricade off to the side of it, but that’s the only indicator that it’s the road. From there, just follow the path!
Make sure to pull over and check out the coast and the rock formations. There are a couple of breathtaking locations on this path. One place you have to see is where the water crashing into the rocks has created a cave under your feet. You can feel the ground shake if you’re standing on it, and a huge wave comes in. It’s incredible.
Don’t Drive On the Sand Dunes!
The Jeeps can get through a lot of things, but the sand dunes are not one of them. You will start to sink in, and the Jeep rental companies will not be happy about it. Also, and more importantly, the turtles lay their eggs in the sand dunes! It would be traumatic to run over a turtle nest, so if you want to explore any dunes, park your Jeep and do it on foot.
A Couple of Jeep Rental Tips
As you may expect, renting a Jeep is more expensive than renting a car. You can rent a car for approximately $100/week when a Jeep is $100/day. Honestly, you don’t need a Jeep for more than two days when visiting Aruba, though. You can see the majority of the island by car. So, the trick is to rent a car for the entire time but only rent a Jeep for two days. Or you can rent a car, then return it and rent a Jeep for the last couple of days of your trip. I like having a car just because their doors and windows can be locked if you go somewhere.
Here is how to do it.
Day One
Rent a Jeep and pick it up first thing in the morning on your first day with it. If the company will let you pick it up the night before without charging anything extra, go for it. Renting a vehicle is always a long process, and you really just want to hit the road as soon as you can. Once you have the Jeep on your first morning with it, head towards Arikok National Park and the Natural Pool.
Make sure to get there early before it gets busy. It’s $20 per person to enter the park, and the way to the pool is by taking the road to the left. They’ll give you a map when you go into the building and pay, but you can just wing it and find the pool.
After the pool, you’ll take the same path out that you took in and then continue to take the road in the other direction rather than going out of the park the way you came in. There are places to stop and sightsee along the way, but the entire drive is really cool. Stop at Boca Prins and stand on the edge of the cliff – seriously, stand there and watch the water crash into the rocks. Head down the stairs and check out the beach and the sand dunes as well!
There are two caves in Arikok National Park – Fontein and Guadirikiri. Fontein is the first one you will come across. Follow the signs along the road, and you will get there. It’s smaller but still cool and worth stopping to check out. Guadirikiri is further up the road. It’s larger and much cooler to see, but still, stop at both just to say you did.
Both have bats – consider yourself warned. The more you scream, the more they fly around. So don’t scream, lol.
The road takes you past the windmills and out of the park, where you can stop at Baby Beach if you’re not exhausted yet. Baby Beach is beautiful and the easiest to swim at. It also has a restaurant and food truck if you need to refuel.
On day two with the Jeep, go to the north side of the island. Refer back to earlier when I said how to get on the road on the coast. You can see the entire north side in a couple of hours, so you don’t need to get up early and spend the entire day if you don’t want to. Return the Jeep back to the rental place by 5 PM (or whenever they close), and wallah – you did everything you needed to do with a Jeep in two days.
Rent From Anywhere
We’ve rented Jeeps from Royal Car Rental and Jay’s Car Rental in the past. You just have to do your research and make sure to pick one that’s reputable and not overpriced. It’s also advantageous to get a Jeep that’s been through some things, lol. You don’t want a brand new one to sneak to the Natural Pool with. If it’s creaky with the check engine light on and janky breaks, it’s perfect. Also, if you are going during the busy season, which is from February to April, you have to rent a Jeep far in advance.
Take the Top Off
When you rent a Jeep, make sure to get one that you can take the top off of! It makes driving to the Natural Pool and around the north side so much more fun. It also helps if you get carsick to stand up on your seat. Even if you don’t get carsick, stand up.
Just make sure to apply sunscreen and chapstick with SPF in it like your life depends on it. Driving around in a metal box absorbing the sun is literally like a human oven.
I hope this sheds some light on your decision to rent a Jeep in Aruba. Feel free to send me an email if you have questions about it.
Take the Top Off
When you rent a Jeep, make sure to get one that you can take the top off of! It makes driving to the Natural Pool and around the north side so much more fun. It also helps if you get carsick to stand up on your seat. Even if you don’t get carsick, stand up.
Just make sure to apply sunscreen and Chapstick with SPF in it like your life depends on it. Driving around in a metal box absorbing the sun is literally like a human oven.
I hope this sheds some light on your decision to rent a Jeep in Aruba. Feel free to send me an email if you have questions about it.