If you are in the final stages of planning your beach get-a-way, perhaps you are debating Aruba vs Barbados. Both are beautiful Caribbean islands that offer great vacation packages, but when comparing Aruba vs Barbados, there are some differences.
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| Aruba | Barbados | |
| Best Things to Do (per Viator.com) | Click Here | Click Here |
| Casinos? | Yes | No |
| Weather | Known for sunny, dry, windy Days | Sunny, but more rain than Aruba |
| December Avg Temp (f) | 81 | 79 |
| July Avg Temp (f) | 83 | 81 |
You absolutely will want to compare the safety of these two islands and factor that into your decision, because there are some places to avoid. We discuss safety below in the article.
When comparing Barbados vs Aruba, Barbados is an authentic Caribbean atmosphere with bright colors and numerous beaches while Aruba is a more arid-climate, with less beaches, but offers a safe, well-rounded set of entertainment options in a culture that feels much like America.
In this article we are going to compare Aruba vs Barbados across these 5 categories:
- Beaches
- Food
- Weather
- Entertainment
- Safety
Aruba vs Barbados: Beaches
First of all, it’s important to acknowledge that both of these islands have fabulous beaches, which is to be expected with islands in the Caribbean. But, there are some differences mainly due to location, and because of that, the beaches in Barbados are better than Aruba.
Although Aruba is a very popular get-a-way that does have beaches, it is a bit different than the traditional Caribbean vibe. Aruba is so far south in the Caribbean sea that it has an arid climate (think deserts), and isn’t lush with bright colors and palm trees galore like some other Caribbean islands are (Barbados).
Although Aruba has many entertainment options, and does have popular beaches like Palm Beach and Eagle Beach, its beaches are simply not up to par with the beaches of Barbados.
Barbados is that traditional Caribbean get-a-way with bright turquoise water, blonde beaches, and palm trees. Again, Barbados is a bit farther north in the Caribbean (and further east) than Aruba, so its climate supports that traditional Caribbean landscape.
Barbados best beaches include Silver Sands, Rockley, and Dover beach. If you are in it for the beaches, Barbados is the winner in our opinion.
Aruba vs Barbados: Food
For you foodies out there, Barbados will be the winner. Some food enthusiasts consider Barbados to be the best food in the Caribbean. But which one has the better food options for your appetite will be dependent on what you like.
As mentioned earlier in the article, Aruba is very similar in many ways to America, so much so that some people jokingly refer to Aruba as an American island. This is why the winner for food is going to be dependent on your personal preferences.
If you are like me and you are not a foodie (I prefer more traditional American food) then Aruba will have much more traditional options and well-known chain restaurants and fast food places than Barbados. Aruba has many fast-food restaurants that Americans are familiar with (source), and overall will have many more restaurants that offer more traditional American food.
But many vacationers want a break from typical American food and want to partake in local cuisine. Aruba does, of course, have its own unique food that is going to include a lot of fresh fish, shrimp and seafood, along with flatbread, and fresh fruits like mangos, cherries, and pomegranates.
Barbados will have more to offer foodies who want to dive deep into local cuisine. Barbadian cuisine (also known as Bajan cuisine) will give you a taste of traditional Caribbean flavor.
Bajan cuisine includes a lot of seafood, pork, and beef, and a strong use of spices in combination with raisins and coconut. Bajan cuisine will also include a lot of fresh fruit like mangos and papayas, and ground provisions such as yams and cassava.
It’s also important to remember that Barbados is a larger island than Aruba, which means it will have more restaurants to choose from.
The main takeaway for food should be that Aruba has much more traditional American offerings than Barbados, but of course Aruba does have its own unique food as well. Barbados has less traditional American food, but offers a lot of unique Caribbean flavored dishes for foodies to enjoy.
Aruba vs Barbados: Weather
These two islands are quite different in regards to weather. In general, Barbados can be rainy, but not as windy as Aruba. Aruba is hot, dry, but also quite windy (remember, Aruba is an arid climate).
Although the wind in Aruba is strong, it is usually a nice balance and provides relief from the heat. But to get a better idea of what you might be up against as far as wind (some people are bothered by wind), visit our article Is Aruba Windy?
One major win for Aruba in this category is the risk of hurricanes in Aruba is very slim in comparison to other islands in the Caribbean (including Barbados). Aruba is so far south (and west) in the Caribbean that it just does not get affected by hurricanes and tropical storms at near the rate that other Caribbean islands do.
Only 3 hurricanes since the year of 2000 have had an impact on Aruba, and all three of those occurrences created only minor damage like beach erosion and minor flooding. (Read more in our article about hurricanes in Aruba).
Hurricane season runs approximately from the beginning of June to the end of November. If you are planning a trip during that time frame, by choosing Aruba you greatly reduce your chances of having significant rain during your trip, and also lower your chances of running into a dangerous, powerful tropical storm.
The average high temperatures in Barbados range from about 82-88 (f) throughout the year depending on month (source). The temperature is very consistent year round in Barbados.
The average high temperature in Aruba ranges from about 84-88 (f) throughout the year, so it also has very consistent weather (source). Remember, you will be nearer to the equator in Aruba, so the direct sunlight will be intense. The heat can be overwhelming at times, that is why so many travelers enjoy and appreciate the trade winds that bring consistent wind to Aruba. It provides relief from the heat.
Comparing precipitation we see a significant difference between Aruba vs Barbados. Aruba averages about 18.5 inches of rain per year, while Barbados averages about 50 inches of rain per year.
Overall, Aruba has consistent sun and very little rain. Aruba is safe from hurricanes, and therefore we give it the nod over Barbados for weather because when you book your trip months in advance, Aruba gives you peace of mind knowing it will likely be sunny and ~85 degrees when you arrive.
Aruba vs Barbados: Entertainment
This is another close choice because both of these islands have a lot to offer for entertainment, that is why they both are so popular. As we mentioned earlier in the article, if you are in it for the beaches, Barbados is the better choice.
Barbados is also the larger island, so it is going to offer you more shops and restaurants that Aruba has to offer. But both islands are going to have your traditional island vacation entertainment options:
- Beaches
- Snorkeling
- Restaurants
- Nightlife
- Local shops
- Unique culture
But we are giving the nod to Aruba for entertainment due to gambling. If you like to visit a casino or two while on vacation, Aruba has casinos but Barbados does not. This is a sort of tie-breaker here for entertainment between Aruba and Barbados. If you prefer to gamble on your vacation, choose Aruba.