Tour & Activity Scams in Aruba, Aruba
Unlicensed guides, fake tickets, bait-and-switch excursions, and ticket scalping. Below are the tour & activities scams reported in Aruba — how they work and how to avoid them.
For broader context, compare this scam type with nearby destinations like Willemstad, San José, and Havana.
Last updated: April 2, 2026
3
Tour & Activities Scams
10
Total in Aruba
How it works
Operators renting jet skis on Palm Beach return vehicles with pre-existing scratches and dents that were not disclosed before the rental. When the customer returns the unit, the operator photographs damage and demands hundreds of dollars in repair fees, claiming the tourist caused it. Pressure tactics include blocking the customer from leaving and threatening police involvement.
How it works
Operators around the Oranjestad waterfront advertise inexpensive local fishing boat trips but deliver a cramped, unequipped vessel with no fish-finding gear or guide expertise. Once offshore, passengers are pressured for tips and the boat returns early. In some cases the "captain" has no license.
How it works
Aruba's Antilla shipwreck is one of the Caribbean's most famous dive sites. Some budget snorkel operators advertise "Antilla shipwreck tours" but take groups to a much closer, less impressive wreck or simply a reef, claiming conditions were unsafe. They do not offer refunds.
See all scams in Aruba
10 total warnings across all categories