What to wear on a jeep tour

What should you wear on a jeep tour in Aruba?

Your swimsuit under a T-shirt and shorts, water shoes, sunglasses, and something to pull over your nose and mouth.

There are no changing rooms at the Natural Pool, so the swimsuit goes on at the hotel. De Palm's advice on its listing covers the basics: “Wear your bathing suit under your clothes. Comfortable, close-toed shoes that allow you to walk on rocky terrain, sunglasses, and reef-friendly sunblock are highly recommended.”

Choose light, quick-drying clothes that can take some dirt. An EZ Raider guest learned that the hard way: “If you wear something that will get wet like a swim shirt etc. it will get dirty with the dust etc.” The full list, and who provides what:

Do you need water shoes for the Natural Pool?

Yes. The way in is over sharp, slippery volcanic rock, and operators and guests say so again and again.

An ABC guest: “definitely bring a pair of water shoes if you plan on doing the pool since you have to climb rocks or the little tide pool is also rocky”. EZ Raider's listing recommends water shoes at the pool and good walking shoes for the caves. An Outback Safari guest went further: “Water shoes are a must, they will work great at all locations.”

Flip-flops slide off on wet rock and give no grip. If you only pack one pair, make it water shoes with a firm sole: they handle the steps, the pool, the caves and Baby Beach. Cheap pairs do the job. Bring them from home.

How dusty is a jeep tour, and how do you protect yourself?

Very dusty on the park tracks, worst in the back rows and behind other trucks. Sunglasses, a bandana and a zip bag for your phone deal with most of it.

Even the happiest reviews mention it. A De Palm guest began hers: “Apart from bumpy and dusty driving, the driver ( Rafael) is courteous, entertaining and jovial.” Around Aruba Tours hands out a bandana “to reduce debris exposure”, and Fofoti sells goggles and dust masks at the start.

Contact lens wearers should bring glasses or goggles. Put your phone in a zip bag or a small dry bag: it keeps out the dust on the tracks and the splashes at the pool. Wipe your camera lens before the pool, not after.

Twelve guests at most, the Natural Pool, Fontein Cave and an hour at Baby Beach. Goggles and dust masks are on sale if you forget yours.

★ 4.9 · 4.5 hours · from $78

Explore the Fofoti small-group jeep tour → Tour details

Should you wear a hat on a jeep safari?

Only one that fits tight or straps on. Open trucks plus the trade wind take loose hats, and guests warn about it on almost every listing.

A De Palm guest: “bring sunglasses and maybe leave the hats at home lol (they will blow off of your head during the tour!” On EZ Raider: “Hold onto your hats. Literally I’m not joking.” And on the Outback Safari: “Wear comfy clothes and hang on to your hat.”

A cap with a strap or a buff works on the move. Keep the sun hat in your bag for the stops. Aruba runs at 27 to 32 °C all year (Aruba Tourism), and the breeze in an open truck hides how hot the sun is.

What sunscreen can you use in Aruba?

A reef-safe one without oxybenzone. Aruba banned the import and sale of sunscreen containing it from July 2020.

Parliament voted the ban in 2019 to protect the coral, and penalties apply from July 2020 (Visit Aruba). Mineral sunscreens with zinc are the simple choice, and local brands such as Aruba Aloe sell reef-safe versions on the island.

Put it on before pickup, then again after the pool: you will be in the water and in the sun at midday. A long-sleeved swim shirt saves a lot of cream on your back and shoulders while you snorkel.

What should you bring in your bag?

A towel, dry clothes, a refillable bottle, a zip bag for your phone, a snorkel mask if your tour has none, and some cash.

• Bottle: ABC asks guests to “Bring reusable bottle to refill”, and Fofoti to bring your own canteen. Both refill with ice water.
• Towel and a change of clothes: ABC recommends a towel, swimsuit, change of clothes and driver's license.
• Food: only ABC serves lunch, on its morning safari and the island day. AGW and the Arikok safari truck give snacks. Eat a proper breakfast either way.
• Mask: Fofoti's listing does not mention snorkel gear. Bring a mask for the pool and Baby Beach.
• Valuables: leave them at the hotel. Anything you take to the pool goes down about 100 steps and over wet rock with you.

Snorkel gear, ice water refills and lunch on the morning departure. Bring a towel and a bottle.

★ 5.0 · 4.5 hours · from $99

Explore the ABC Natural Pool jeep safari → Tour details

How much cash should you bring on a jeep tour?

Enough for the park fee if your tour collects it ($25 with ABC, $20 with Fofoti), a tip for the guide, and a few dollars for restrooms.

A Fofoti guest's tip: “bring $20 for the park”. Fofoti's own listing asks for spare change as well. De Palm warns that most locations on its route “only accept cash” for restrooms and extras. Gratuities are excluded on every tour here.

US dollars are accepted across the island, so there is no need to change money for one day. Ask when you book whether the check-in fee can go on a card, and carry cash in case it cannot. The tours that include the fee are listed in the price guide.

What should you wear for the caves and Baby Beach?

The same water shoes cover both. At Baby Beach you want a mask, and shoes for the rocks around the snorkeling spots.

Fontein and Quadirikiri caves have uneven floors, and EZ Raider recommends good walking shoes there. An AGW guest: “Bring a bag with beach gear and shoes for the cave tour.” Another added a tip for the bats: “You can use red light to see bats in the caves.”

Baby Beach is a shallow lagoon, calm inside and with currents out by the mouth. Guests on the Arikok safari truck noted that you “need to walk over rocks to get to snorkeling spots”. One AGW guest warned that the tour had no snorkels to fit little kids, so families should pack a child-size mask.

Frequently asked questions