Your transportation options in Aruba are to call a taxi, rent a car, hop a bus, rent an ATV, or rent a Jeep. The choice is truly up to you but this is my opinion based on the two times I’ve visited the island -- 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 and we were fine. We got to see enough and go to the beaches which were all we really wanted after spending 10 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 do an excursion where they take you there via these big safari-like Jeeps. We rented a Jeep twice the second time we were there so that we could drive to the Natural Pool and both times it was a ton of fun!

The drive is super bumpy and rocky. It can be a little nerve-wracking but those Jeeps are built well and can make it through and over anything. You can not take a car to the Natural Pool. It’s not allowed and it would get -- in a word -- demolished. The views along the way are incredible and you feel like you are in a completely other world.

One word of advice is to be super careful when you’re there 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. Oh, and definitely bring your snorkel. The snorkeling here is amazing!

Read Three Places Worth Snorkeling in Aruba

Reason #2: The North Side of Aruba

You can take a car and drive up the California Lighthouse but if you want to drive along the coast and see the rock formations, you will want to do that with a Jeep. Granted, you can get pretty far in a car up there but if you want to go further and not be afraid of getting stuck at any second, definitely just rent a Jeep.

This is how you get 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.

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. Enter there.

When we were last there, 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!

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 the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen in my entire life. Seriously, don’t miss it.

Don’t drive on the sand dunes! The Jeeps can get through a ton 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 turtle eggs so if you want to explore any dunes, park your Jeep and do it on foot.

A Couple of Jeep Rental Tips

How to rent a Jeep in Aruba for Cheap

As you may expect, renting a Jeep is more expensive than renting a car. You can rent a car for $100/week when a Jeep is $100/day. Honestly, you don’t need a Jeep for more than two days when visiting Aruba. You can see the majority of the island by car. I suggest renting a car for the entire time but only rent a Jeep for two days.

Here is how to do it.

When we visited Aruba in March 2021, we rented two Jeeps from Royal Car Rental on Thursday and picked them up around 5 pm -- closing time. On Friday morning, we headed off to Arikok National Park and the Natural Pool.

Start with the pool and make sure to get there early before it gets busy. It’s $11 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.

After the pool, you’ll take the same path out that you took in and then continue to take the road 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. It’s incredible. 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 at 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. But seriously, you have to see the caves.

The road takes you past the windmills and out of the park where you can then stop at Baby Beach if you’re not exhausted yet. Baby Beach is the most beautiful beach and easiest to swim at. It also has a restaurant and food truck if you need to refuel.

That was day one with the Jeep. On day two, go to the north side of the island. Refer back to earlier when I said how to get on the road and where to stop. Return the Jeep back to the rental place by 5 pm and wallah, you did everything you needed to do with a Jeep in two days. It’s $200 well spent.

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 more fun. It also helps if you get carsick to stand up on your seat. The ride to the pool is long and bumpy and standing makes it much easier to handle.

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 or not. Feel free to send me an email if you have questions about it -- I’d be happy to help.

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Two Reasons to Rent a Jeep in Aruba and How to Do it Cheaply