UPDATED FEB 2020. When I was researching things to do, it seemed that Jeep tours in Aruba were quite popular. Though, as I was researching I found a few blogs that said they were a big waste of money. I decided to do one anyway to find out for myself. Are they a tourist trap or a memorable travel experience? I’m sharing my experience with you today and what you can expect on these tours.
Jeep Tours In Aruba – Worth It Or A Big Waste Of Money?
Disclaimer
There are affiliate links included in this post. This means at no extra cost to you, I earn a commission if you book through the link.
Which Jeep tour I chose
I booked through ABC Tours Aruba and booked the Island Ultimate Safari Tour.
Cost and booking
The cost of the tour is $108 USD.
It is a 9.5-hour tour, though, in reality, we finished a little earlier. Included is the guided tour, lunch, snorkeling gear, water throughout the day, and pick up and drop off to most main hotels.
They did not offer a pick up to the hotel I was staying at because my accommodation was away from the main tourist areas, so instead, I was picked up at the nearest hotel. They did drop me off to my hotel at the end of the day.
The only other expenses for the day are snacks if you want to buy them and a tip for your guide.
You need to book or the tour online and can do that on their website.
Are Jeep tours in Aruba worth it? I think yes.
What to expect
The itinerary for the day is:
- pick-up
- check-in and paperwork at the office
- sightseeing
- lunch break
- more sightseeing
- drop off
From the get-go, all of us on the tour were wearing big smiles as we raced through the streets.
My driver, Andrew, was a crazy legend, and I say that as a compliment.
He was crazy enough with his driving to give us a memorable tour experience, something we wouldn’t have experienced on our own, but legend enough to keep us safe and make sure we were always OK.
It was kind of like a rollercoaster in a car.
It was clear early on that he knew the streets and he knew the terrain. Even in the national park where we were cruising through rocky ‘roads’ and scaling super steep inclines.
Could you rent a Jeep on your own and see the sights?
Many of the Jeep tour haters recommended renting a 4 Wheel Drive and exploring the sites on your own.
You could do that for the main beaches but I’d only recommend it for the national park if you have a lot of 4WD experience.
If not, you either won’t be able to see as much or you’ll end up as one of the many tourists who get stuck.
Only to be pulled out by these Jeep tours who have experienced drivers.
Why I think ABC Tours are the best
I should mention that while we were out and about I noticed that some of the Jeeps from other companies we passed were a lot higher off the ground and couldn’t go as fast or have as much fun.
The Jeeps on the tour I did were low so we could really cruise through without concern of rolling.
I wonder if the writers who thought the tours were overrated may have gone with one of the companies with higher Jeeps?
I don’t know but I could understand their point of view if that was the case.
The small groups
Though the group in it’s entirety is large – 4 Jeeps in the tour, the group in each Jeep is small, only 8 people in each Jeep.
You have the same group for the whole day.
I appreciated this because being a tourist on a giant tour bus is usually not my preferred day tour option.
I shared the day with a funny, friendly and all-around awesome team from all over the world and it was a treat to share the day with them.
The day of exploring
We had a few stops at sights where the guides would gather us around and explain the history of the place we were visiting.
Then we would have some time to explore on our own and take photos. It never felt rushed and there was always enough time to see each sight and get some holiday snaps.
In the second half of the day, we had a couple of swimming stops.
Unfortunately, the Natural Pool was closed the day we went, but the guides added in a different swimming spot instead.
The first one was fun because the guides jumped in the water too, so it was like one huge family going for a swim.
For the second swim spot, we had more time and the group split up with some people snorkeling, some swimming, and some chilling out on the beach.
Are they good for solo travelers?
Aruba is somewhat of a ‘couples’ destination. But, if you are a solo traveler like me, you can also have an amazing time on the Jeep tour.
I certainly did.
Don’t be shy, just chat with the other travelers and it won’t take long to make new friends. Even if you are the third wheel.
If you need an extra set of hands to take a photo of you, just ask and make sure to offer to get a photo for whoever helps you in return.
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Bonus travel tip
Don’t wear white clothes, unless you are trying to turn them brown. It’s mighty dusty!
Are the Jeep tours in Aruba worth it?
Ultimately, I am glad I didn’t listen to the advice I read online that said the Jeep tours were overrated. For me, it was a blast and one of my favorite memories from my trip to Aruba.
I learned about the island, shared the day with fun people, and experienced thrills I wouldn’t have on my own. We were also able to see a lot during the one day tour.
I can’t recommend all tour companies, but I absolutely recommend ABC Tours and their Island Ultimate Safari tour.
Where to stay in Aruba
I stayed at Serene By The Sea and it was fantastic.
It is a family-run hotel away from the main tourist area and right by the water.
No matter where you choose, I recommend searching on Booking.com. This is what I use to book accommodation when I am planning a trip and I can always find a good deal there.
For more information:
Visit the ABC tours website and follow them on Facebook for updates.
Other posts to help you plan your trip to Aruba
Solo Female Travel In Aruba – What You Need To Know & Things To Do
The Best Bed And Breakfast In Aruba For An Off The Beaten Path Experience
How To Keep Your Valuables Safe At The Beach As A Solo Female Traveler
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Hi Katie thank you so much for such a lovely piece about our excursion. I noticed in your pictures that you went with Big G and Andrew among others. Loved your very last picture. Hope to see you back on the island in the future. -Gabriel
No problem at all, thank you for a great tour! I loved it!
Great article! I’ve already booked 👍🏽 Any advice on tipping the tour guides?
I hope you have an awesome time! I think 10-20% of the tour cost is a ballpark area for tipping.
You got it in one. We’ve done tours with ABC Jeep Tours twice now; once when we were there for a week and once off a cruise. Will be stopping there in January and looking into renting a Jeep and doing our own tour. If it turns out we can’t take a rental over on the North Shore, will probably be back to ABC with Carnival.