Map of Aruba: Cities, Districts, Bays, Beaches, Arikok National Park, and Road-Light Coastal Corridors

Exploring the Treasures of Aruba: Cities, Districts, Bays, and Beaches on our Map

Read this Aruba political map at a glance.

This Map of Aruba is a simple map designed for easy orientation. It highlights Oranjestad as the capital, shows the central urban districts including Noord, Paradera, Santa Cruz, Savaneta, and Sint Nicolaas, and labels coastal landmarks from Malmok and Palm Beach in the northwest to Ceru Colorado at the southeast tip.

A clean road-light network traces the principal spine linking Oranjestad, the airport zone near Dakota, the south-coast communities of Pos Chikitu and Savaneta, and the refinery and port area by Sint Nicolaas. Interior connectors reach Paradera and Santa Cruz, and the shaded block of Arikok National Park dominates the island’s eastern interior. Surrounding waters are the Caribbean Sea on all coasts. Because labels outnumber symbols, readers can follow cities and bays without clutter, which is why this sheet functions as the best map for residents, travelers, and geography students.

Aruba Country Briefs and Fast Facts

Aruba is a self-governing country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the southern Caribbean. The capital, Oranjestad, sits on the west coast near the cruise harbor and marina. On a clear political map, it is the largest label in the center of the island’s west side.

Geography and Neighbors

Aruba lies just off the coast of Venezuela and west of Curaçao and Bonaire. The Caribbean Sea surrounds the island. The highest point is Mount Jamanota in Arikok National Park, and the cone-shaped Hooiberg hill rises near the center. The west and southwest shores are calm and sandy. The east and northeast shores face steady trade winds with rocky coves and surf.

Administrative Map Reading

Aruba is depicted as a single island with distinct districts and town areas. Labels you will often see on a detailed map include Oranjestad West, Oranjestad East, Noord, Paradera, Santa Cruz, Savaneta, San Nicolas North, and San Nicolas South. Smaller locality names such as Tanki Leendert, Ponton, Pos Chiquito, and Sabana Basora help you fix neighborhoods along the main corridors.

Towns and Places to Find Quickly

• Oranjestad: capital, government area, waterfront market, cruise piers, and marinas

• Noord: north of the capital, near hotel zones and the California Lighthouse at Hudishibana

• Palm Beach and Eagle Beach: long west coast beaches on the hotel strip

• Paradera: an inland town at the base of Hooiberg with churches and neighborhoods

• Santa Cruz: central town on routes into Arikok National Park and the rugged east coast

• Savaneta: quiet fishing and residential area along the south shore

• San Nicolas: the central city in the southeast with Baby Beach and Rodger’s Beach nearby

• Spanish Lagoon: protected inlet east of the capital near Balashi ruins

• Natural Pool (Conchi), Dos Playa, Andicuri, and Boca Prins: east coast nature spots inside Arikok

• Alto Vista Chapel and Bushiribana gold mill ruins: north coast landmarks

Coasts, Hills, and Parks

• West and southwest coast: gentle water and sandy beaches from Eagle Beach to Palm Beach to Arashi

• North coast: exposed limestone shore with blowholes and cactus scrub, ending at the California Lighthouse

• East coast and interior: volcanic hills, dry forest, and limestone caves inside Arikok National Park

• Hooiberg and Mount Jamanota: easy map anchors for the island’s center and highest ridge

How to Trace the Main Road Light Corridors

A general Aruba road map often shows simple lines without many route numbers. Use town chains to follow the island:

1. Coastal hotel run: Oranjestad to Eagle Beach to Palm Beach to Arashi near the lighthouse

2. Capital to San Nicolas: from Oranjestad east toward Balashi, then south through Savaneta to San Nicolas and Baby Beach

3. Center cross: Oranjestad up to Paradera and Noord, or Oranjestad to Santa Cruz, then out to Boca Prins and Conchi inside Arikok

4. South bay loop: Savaneta and Pos Chiquito along the protected south shore back toward the airport and capital

These strings match what you see on most island maps and make it easy to plan a simple day loop.

Airports, Seaports, and Ferries

• Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA) lies just southeast of Oranjestad along the coast

• Oranjestad Harbor handles cruise ships and inter-island vessels

• Barcadera cargo port sits east of the capital

• Local boats and tours visit offshore snorkel sites. Regional ferries are limited, so most trips to nearby islands are by air.

Language, Money, and Time

• Languages: Papiamento and Dutch are official. English and Spanish are widely spoken

• Currency: Aruban florin (AWG) with a stable peg to the US dollar

• Time zone: UTC minus 4 hours year-round

Practical Basics

• Driving: right side of the road, roundabouts common, speed signs in km/h

• Power: about 120 V, 60 Hz, plug types A and B are common. Some hotels add European-style outlets. Carry a universal adapter

• Calling code: +297

• Emergency: 911 connects to police, fire, and ambulance

Weather and Safety

Aruba is generally dry and sunny with steady trade winds. Short rain bursts are more likely from October to January. The island sits south of most hurricane tracks, but strong seas and wind can still occur. On the east coast, watch footing on sharp rock and stay back from blowholes. Bring water for hikes in Arikok and wear sun protection all day.

National frame and island shape

Aruba stretches like a narrow leaf pointing from northwest to southeast. The widest part sits around Noord, Palm Beach, and Oranjestad, then the island narrows across Santa Cruz toward Ceru Colorado. Bays indent the north and east coasts at Wariruri Bay and Andicuri Bay, where the sea meets exposed limestone. The south and west coasts curve more gently, sheltering Paardenbaai Bay at Oranjestad and the sandy arc from Pos Abao to Savaneta and Sint Nicolaas Bay.

Capital focus: Oranjestad and Paardenbaai Bay

The capital, Oranjestad, sits midway along the west coast with docks fronting Paardenbaai Bay. On this Aruba map with cities, a red square marks the city center, making it stand out against the coastal tint. North of the harbor, the road-light grid climbs toward Pos Abao, Palm Beach, and Malmok; southward, the main line passes Dakota and the airport symbol, then rounds the coast toward Savaneta and Sint Nicolaas. For a classroom walk-through, you can point from the square-notched Paardenbaai waterfront to the north-coast resorts and then to the airport in a single sweep.

Resort belt and northwest headlands

From Oranjestad, follow the coast toward the hotel corridor. Pos Abao and Palm Beach form the central strip with inland access to Noord. Beyond Palm Beach, the road threads to Malmok, a slender headland that looks directly into the Caribbean Sea. The map’s thin road-light strokes show how the coastal boulevard and a few interior lanes connect beach neighborhoods to the capital. Because the sheet remains political first, shoreline names are clear even when the cartography stays minimalist.

Noord, Paradera, and the interior links

Noord stands just inland from Palm Beach with lanes fanning toward Paradera—the Paradera label anchors the north-central interior, which is drier and dotted with cacti and boulders. From Paradera, connectors run to Santa Cruz and back to Oranjestad, forming an inner triangle. These routes are suggested rather than numbered, but the geometry is unmistakable: capital to coast, coast to interior, interior back to capital.

Santa Cruz is the gateway to Arikok National Park.

Santa Cruz is marked south-central on the map where interior roads meet the edge of Arikok National Park. The park occupies the broad green wedge in the island’s eastern half. Creeks and dry washes are simplified into blue lines, enough to express relief without hiding the village names. The park’s shading shows its reach from the wild north shore near Wariruri Bay and Andicuri Bay down to the southeast hinterland above Savaneta and Pos Chikitu.

South-coast corridor: Dakota, Pos Chikitu, Savaneta, Sint Nicolaas

Back near Oranjestad, the airport symbol is printed a little southeast of Dakota. From there, the main coastal road heads to Pos Chikitu and Savaneta, where the shoreline turns slightly east. The line continues to Sint Nicolaas, the second urban anchor, then slides to Ceru Colorado at Aruba’s toe. Sint Nicolaas is an industrial and port zone, but on this political map, what matters is the simple urban label that balances Oranjestad in the island’s layout.

North coast and natural bays

Turn the map north and read Wariruri Bay and Andicuri Bay along the exposed coast. These names are evenly spaced, so you can infer that the north side has fewer settlements and more open rock and dunes. The road network thins near the shoreline, but the interior connectors make it clear that Santa Cruz provides access to the park and to these bays.

Why this map is helpful for residents, students, and travelers

Residents can confirm where neighborhoods sit relative to the capital and airport. Students can trace districts, bays, and a national park while learning how coastal and interior settlements align. Travelers can sketch itineraries: a capital morning in Oranjestad, a resort afternoon around Palm Beach, a sunset drive to Malmok, and a south-coast loop to Savaneta and Sint Nicolaas the next day, with an interior sweep into Arikok National Park from Santa Cruz.

District-by-district overview (as reflected by labels on this map)

• Oranjestad – Capital and main port at Paardenbaai Bay.

• Noord – Resort hinterland behind Palm Beach and Malmok.

• Paradera – North-central inland crossroads tied to Noord and Santa Cruz.

• Santa Cruz – Interior town at the edge of Arikok National Park; gateway to Wariruri and Andicuri on the north shore.

• Savaneta – Quiet south-coast community along the main coastal line.

• Sint Nicolaas – Southeastern urban hub and port area.

• Dakota – Airport zone just southeast of Oranjestad.

• Pos Chikitu – South-central stop between the airport corridor and Savaneta.

• Ceru Colorado – Southeast point and high ground beyond Sint Nicolaas.

• Malmok, Palm Beach, Pos Abao – Northwest beaches forming Aruba’s classic hotel strip.

Follow the island clockwise: a reader’s tour using the road-light cues.

Start at Oranjestad. The square city symbol marks downtown and the cruise pier along Paardenbaai Bay. Buildings step inland toward Dakota, where the airport sits just south of the main road. Slide north—the red line curves to Pos Abao and Palm Beach with Noord inland. You can sense how daily commutes move between hotels and the capital by simply tracing that line. Reach the headland. Malmok is the last cluster on the northwest tip before the rocky shore takes over. Cut across the top. A light connector crosses east from Noord to Paradera, then sweeps down to Santa Cruz. The angled strokes hint at hills that break the center of the island. Enter the park. Beyond Santa Cruz, the shaded polygon of Arikok National Park fills much of the eastern half. Bays on the north and east margins, such as Wariruri and Andicuri, show where the surf meets the cliff line. Return to the south coast. The main spine runs from Pos Chikitu to Savaneta, then tracks to Sint Nicolaas on Sint Nicolaas Bay. The label Ceru Colorado marks high ground to the southeast, a visual full stop to the island tour.

Coasts, bays, and headlands are named on the map.

• West coast: Paardenbaai Bay frames Oranjestad.

• Northwest: Palm Beach, Malmok, and the shallow reef flat.

• North: Wariruri Bay is set in the limestone coast.

• East: Andicuri Bay faces the open sea with fewer settlements.

• South and southeast: Savaneta, Sint Nicolaas, and Ceru Colorado along a smoother leeward curve.

Arikok National Park on the map

The park’s green shading clearly distinguishes protected land from developed districts. You can make out the way blue drainage lines cross the interior, pointing toward dry gullies that briefly carry water after rains. The park’s western boundary presses near Santa Cruz, and arms of protected ground reach toward the southeast interior above Savaneta and Sint Nicolaas. On a straightforward political map, this single visual block is sufficient to convey stewardship and zoning information while still keeping the town names prominent.

Education value: what students can derive from this sheet

• Urban geography: Two central urban nodes, Oranjestad and Sint Nicolaas, balance the west and southeast, with Noord, Paradera, Santa Cruz, and Savaneta filling the interior ring.

• Coastal morphology: Pocket beaches on the west, cliffs and blowholes on the north and east, indicated by the bays, and working waterfront along Sint Nicolaas Bay.

• Protected areas: A single national park block illustrates how small islands conserve interior space while concentrating development along specific coasts.

Resident and traveler use cases

• Residents use the map to visualize commutes between the resort belt, the capital, and the southeast industrial area, as well as to show visiting family where home neighborhoods sit in relation to Arikok’s trails.

• Travelers plan a one-to-three-day circuit: Day 1 in Oranjestad and Palm Beach; Day 2 through Arikok National Park with north-shore stops at Wariruri and Andicuri; Day 3 following the Savaneta – Sint Nicolaas – Ceru Colorado corridor.

• Researchers and students trace land-use patterns along the coast and compare settlement density with park boundaries.

Quick reference lists (aligned with labels on the map)

Main towns and districts: Oranjestad, Noord, Paradera, Santa Cruz, Savaneta, Sint Nicolaas, Dakota, Pos Chikitu, Pos Abao, Malmok, Palm Beach, Ceru Colorado. Significant natural features: Arikok National Park, Paardenbaai Bay, Sint Nicolaas Bay, Wariruri Bay, Andicuri Bay, Caribbean Sea. Travel spine: Oranjestad – Airport (Dakota) – Pos Chikitu – Savaneta – Sint Nicolaas – Ceru Colorado, with side arms to Noord, Paradera, and Santa Cruz.