How to Use the Bus System in Aruba

Aruba is a small Caribbean island, but don’t let its size fool you. Getting around here can be somewhat of a challenge.

Expensive taxis, lack of ridesharing apps, and long distances between tourist attractions make it a bit complicated to find your way.

Renting a car can be too costly for budget travelers, so public transportation is your best bet!

For other ways to get around Aruba, and lots of cost-saving tips, read Aruba on Less Than $50 Per Day.

Luckily, Aruba has a cheap and extensive bus system. You can get pretty much anywhere you want to go for just spare (or *square*) change.

However, the bus system in Aruba is not inherently easy to figure out. That’s why we’ve created this guide, so you can be more prepared than we were!

Using the Arubus website, you can see what buses leave at which times, but it’s not very user-friendly.

To find exact times, scroll to the “Oranjestad to Arashi/Marritot (Hotel Area)” tab. Click on L10b if you’re only going as far as Palm Beach, or L10a for Eagle Beach and Arashi Beach stops.

The times listed are when they depart from Oranjestad station. They don’t list estimated times for other stops, but the L10a comes every 20 minutes. The L10b has a few times in the morning, then every 20 minutes after 5:30pm until 11:40pm.

The L10a stops at all the same places as L10b. The difference is the L10a goes all the way down the coast to Arashi Beach, where the L10b turns around at Palm Beach (Marriott Hotel).

Remember that Aruba is an island, so “island time” should be accounted for. This means that buses frequently leave and arrive earlier or later than scheduled. For the most part though, schedules are fairly accurate.

From the Oranjestad hotel (ocean-front) area, the L10a bus departs from the Oranjestad Bus Terminal.

It stops at every beach on the way to Arashi Beach at the end of the island. The L10a leaves every 20 minutes starting at 7:10am every weekday (Monday – Friday), and every hour starting at 6:00am on Saturday and Sunday.

The last bus leaves Arashi at 6:20pm weekdays and 7:25pm weekends. Don’t miss the last bus! Taxis are very expensive (if there are any), and it’s a long walk!

Trust me, we had to walk it. You can read about that, and the rest of our Aruba trip, in Five Days in Aruba: A Spontaneous Beach Vacation.

The L10b only goes as far as the Marriott Hotel (Palm Beach area), and the times are a bit more sporadic.

A one-way bus pass costs $2.60 (4.50 AWG). Round-trip is $5 (8.75 AWG). An unlimited day pass is $10 (17.50 AWG), which is best if you plan on bussing to more than three beaches in one day.

With all passes (as for most things on the island), you save some money by paying in Aruban Florins.

If you plan on using the bus often, applying for a SMARTCARD could save you money. They cost more up front (15 AWG/$8.33), but allow for cheaper fares (3.50 AWG/$2) around the island.

For the standard card, you start saving after about 15 one-way purchases.

This seems like a lot of trips; however, you can purchase multiple people’s tickets with one card. For example, a family of five would start saving after just 3 one-way tickets.

A couple would start saving after about 8 rides. You’d have to plan on using the bus nearly every day of your week-long trip in order for a SMARTCARD to make financial sense.

If you have a current valid student ID, apply for the Student SMARTCARD. You will start saving after just 5 bus rides.

However, with the Student SMARTCARD, you can’t buy tickets for others. You may have to show your student ID each time you get on the bus, so don’t forget to pack it!

There is also a SMARTCARD option for adults over 60 years old that allows for extra savings.

You must apply for a SMARTCARD online. Pick it up and charge it (add money to it) at one of these linked locations before you start using the bus.

If you will not be using a SMARTCARD, simply be ready at the bus stop with cash. Aruban Florins are preferred, but USD is also accepted.

Now that you know what to do, all you have to do is find the Oranjestad Bus Terminal. You can click the link below (Google Maps), or copy and paste this address:

Lloyd G. Smith Blvd, Oranjestad, Aruba

At first sight, it looks like a large empty parking lot. Once you get there, just wait for the L10a (or L10b for closer beaches).

It took us a couple days to get familiar with the bus system in Aruba. Once we figured it out, it really changed our trip for the better.

We hope this guide helps you fellow Bottom Dollar Backpackers get to where you want to go on One Happy Island!