Aruba: Harbours, bridges and formalities for sailors
9 harbours
Aruba: 9 harbours, clearing in, papers and fees. Plan your trip with weather, tides and route.
Formalities
outside the EU customs unionCurrency: Aruban florin, US dollar widely used
Clearing in: Country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, outside the EU, the EU customs territory and Schengen. The only port of entry for yachts is Barcadera harbour: moor at the customs quay there, do not anchor or call at a marina beforehand; first immigration, then customs. Before arrival fill in the digital ED card for every person, plus SailClear. There is a shoal in front of the quay at Barcadera: stay close to the quay (up to 2.1 m draught).
Ausreise: Clear out at a port of entry before departure (port clearance): the next state asks for the certificate on clearing in.
Documents: Passport valid for the length of stay; Germans visa-free up to 90 days per 180 days, with a return or onward ticket. Boat papers, insurance, crew list in several copies.
Fees: Clearance free of charge during office hours according to sailors; berthing fees in the Renaissance Marina in Oranjestad or at Varadero, anchoring only in the designated places (for example off Surfside near Oranjestad).
Fairway: Buoyage follows IALA system B: red to starboard when entering from seaward, the reverse of Europe. The southwest coast is sheltered by reefs, the north coast open and surf-beaten; the entrances to Barcadera and Oranjestad are buoyed.
Nature: Parke Marino Aruba (since 2018) on the south and west coasts: do not anchor on coral, spearfishing prohibited.
Tropical storm season: 1 June to 30 November; Aruba lies south of the hurricane belt and is rarely hit. Insurers often set a limit at 12 N: check your policy.
Emergency: 911; Kustwacht Caribisch Gebied emergency 913 or +599 9 463 7620, listening watch on VHF channel 16.
Sources: Aruba Cruising Guide: Clearance Procedure, Varadero Marina Aruba: Entry Procedure, Noonsite: Aruba, Auswärtiges Amt: Netherlands (with the Caribbean), travel and safety advice (as of 2026-10-20)
Harbours by cruising area
Aruba (Oranjestad, Barcadera, San Nicolas)
Frequently asked questions
Aruba: Do I need to clear in?
Country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, outside the EU, the EU customs territory and Schengen. The only port of entry for yachts is Barcadera harbour: moor at the customs quay there, do not anchor or call at a marina beforehand; first immigration, then customs. Before arrival fill in the digital ED card for every person, plus SailClear. There is a shoal in front of the quay at Barcadera: stay close to the quay (up to 2.1 m draught).
Aruba: Which documents do I need on board?
Passport valid for the length of stay; Germans visa-free up to 90 days per 180 days, with a return or onward ticket. Boat papers, insurance, crew list in several copies.
Aruba: What fees apply?
Clearance free of charge during office hours according to sailors; berthing fees in the Renaissance Marina in Oranjestad or at Varadero, anchoring only in the designated places (for example off Surfside near Oranjestad).
Aruba: What is the emergency number at sea?
911; Kustwacht Caribisch Gebied emergency 913 or +599 9 463 7620, listening watch on VHF channel 16.
Aruba: How many harbours does Sailseer cover?
Sailseer covers 9 harbours with harbour info, weather and route planning.