Aruba’s City Center Street Car – or as we call it in Dutch; “Tram van Oranjestad’ – is a single track tram line in Oranjestad, the capital city of Aruba.
It was inaugurated on 22 December 2012, being the first and so far the only passenger rail service on Aruba and the rest of the Dutch Caribbean. There are two trolleys, a single-deck one with 42 seats and a double-decker with 64 seats. The line was inspired by the popular battery-powered streetcar operation at the Grove in Los Angeles, USA. Aruba’s streetcars are powered by hydrogen fuel cells, which are charged by the island’s year-round trade winds.
Caya Betico Croes, mostly referred to as our “main street” has been developed into a pollution-free pedestrian mall. The double-decker offers you a 360 degree view of the down town area with a picture perfect scenery of the island’s clear blue skies. Who would not enjoy a ride on this beautiful and naturally air-conditioned vehicle? The tour consists of a total of 9 stops approximately 200 meters apart from each other; all stops are clearly marked. The tram will bring you close to different museums, historical plazas, monuments, the Protestant church, Aruba’s high- end mall, retail shops, and a variety of local and international cuisine restaurants.
The “I love Aruba” trademark also belongs to that list. The third stop on the route is close to a 5-minute walk to the famous Renaissance Marina showcasing luxurious yachts and Aruba’s blue waters.
The “Tram van Oranjestad” starts from a balloon loop near the Port of Call and serves the downtown area and ends at Plaza Nicky. The first ride starts at 10:00 am sharp with intervals of 25minutes. The last trolley departs from the cruise port at 5:00 pm. Don’t miss this tour of the beautiful Aruba’s City Center – it is free for all!
