Oranjestad (Aruba) weather in December
December in Oranjestad: hot, a little rain, with clean air — an excellent time to visit.
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
#9 of 12 months in Oranjestad · #275 of 1413 destinations to visit in December · comfort 86/100 (tier A)
- Days
- 31°C
- Nights
- 25°C
- Wet days
- 16
- Sun
- 10.6 h
- Humidity
- 79%
- Daylight
- 11 h

Traveller notes on Oranjestad in December
Other months in Oranjestad
The Aruba forum's February-weather thread reads like a victory lap: regulars quote the month's averages - highs of 87F (30.5 degrees), lows of 76F (24.4), sea at 79F (26), total rainfall of three-quarters of an inch and an average windspeed of 17mph - and add that when showers do come they are short and quickly blown out to sea by the trade winds. Oranjestad's February row agrees: 30.5-degree days, 24.6-degree nights, seven precipitation days, 10.8 hours of sun and a 25.8-degree sea.
Aruba forum threads consistently call January weather terrific overall - highs around 86F, lows near 76F, ocean water around 80F - but the recurring topic every thread circles back to is wind. Aruba's steady trade winds run genuinely strong (posters cited typical forecasts around 17-18mph with gusts to 25-26mph), and opinions split hard on whether that's a plus or minus: some visitors said sand blowing across the beach into their faces was the low point of the trip, while others said the constant breeze is exactly what keeps the island comfortable despite temperatures well into the 90s. Rain, when it comes, was described as brief and typically overnight or early morning rather than a daytime concern.
Forum posters describe January as terrific - typically 80s-degree highs, sunny and breezy - with Aruba's famous trade winds a near-constant presence. Posters are candid the wind can sound alarming in a forecast (some report apps predicting 'substantial wind every single day'), but describe the reality as comfortable and even welcome, since the breeze offsets the tropical heat rather than making the beach unpleasant. Rain is most likely in the morning hours, typically tapering off through the day, and when it does fall it's usually brief - posters describe showers most often arriving overnight or in the very early morning rather than disrupting daytime plans. January wind levels are described as broadly similar to April's, both well within the island's normal, manageable range.
Add your own note from Oranjestad's card on the map.
Oranjestad climate normals — December
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Oranjestad in December
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
Peak crowdsCruise season, Dry season and winter peak, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Oranjestad's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Fair weatherOranjestad's weather doesn't swing hard through the year — comfort stays fairly steady in every month.
What's on in Oranjestad in December
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Season
Cruise season
1 Nov – 30 Apr · usuallyCrowdedThe terminal is in the middle of town, so passengers step straight onto Caya Betico Croes. Shops keep their hours to the ships and the streetcar only really runs when they are in.
- Season
Dry season and winter peak
15 Dec – 15 Apr · usuallyWinter-sun seasonCrowdedBook earlyAruba sits below the usual hurricane track and dries out over the northern winter, which is why the high-rise strip is booked from October and the same families come back for the same week each year.
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Oranjestad — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Oranjestad?
Oranjestad in December — FAQ
- Is December a good time to visit Oranjestad?
- December in Oranjestad: hot, a little rain, with clean air — an excellent time to visit. It ranks #9 of 12 months for Oranjestad on SeasonMap's comfort score (86/100).
- What is the weather like in Oranjestad in December?
- In December, Oranjestad averages a daily high of 30.9°C and a low of 25.4°C, with about 52.2 mm of rain over roughly 16 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Oranjestad in December?
- Oranjestad has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 36 in December.
Within 300 km: Kralendijk's Sea turtle nesting around 1 May – 15 Dec.