Easter Monday in Aruba
Easter Monday is an official public holiday in Aruba and part of a four-day Easter period that includes Good Friday and Easter Sunday. The island’s best-known local Easter custom is beach camping, with families setting up tents and temporary kitchens on several beaches.[1][2]
A public holiday with a Christian meaning
The Government of Aruba lists Easter Monday among the island’s official holidays. Its holiday information describes these days as extra days off for employees, separate from vacation leave. The Department of Labor and Research also identifies Easter Monday as an official holiday under Article 22 of the Labor Ordinance 2013.[1][3]
The day follows Easter Sunday, which Christians celebrate as the Resurrection of Jesus. In Aruba, the tourism authority describes Easter as a time when many people attend church and visit family, linking the public holiday to both religious observance and time together.[2][4]
Church, family and beach camping
Beach camping is a distinctive Easter custom in Aruba. Families bring tents and make temporary camps with improvised kitchens; the tourism authority names Eagle Beach, Hadicurari Beach and Baby Beach as places where tents are especially common. It describes the practice as one observed for decades.[2]
Churchgoing, family visits and children’s egg hunts are also part of the holiday period. The tourism authority lists Easter brunches and special menus at hotels and resorts, as well as children’s egg-hunt events at malls in Palm Beach and Oranjestad.[2]
Work and holiday rules
An official holiday does not mean every employee in every sector necessarily has the day off. The labor department says some workers may be scheduled on holidays, depending on the sector and work arrangements; its guidance describes additional compensation for employees who work on an official holiday.[1][3]
The tourism authority says shops and offices are closed on Easter Monday, while facilities in and around hotels remain open as usual. Since individual businesses and services may have their own schedules, visitors should check directly before making plans.[2]
Camping restrictions and planning
Camping is prohibited on beaches opposite the hotels in Palm Beach, according to Aruba’s tourism authority. The same page describes camping at other beaches, but travelers should check local rules before setting up a tent. Hotel and resort facilities are described as open as usual over Easter.[2]
Frequently asked questions
Is Easter Monday a public holiday in Aruba?
Yes. The Government of Aruba lists Easter Monday as an official holiday and describes official holidays as extra days off for employees.[1]
What do people do for Easter in Aruba?
The tourism authority describes churchgoing, family visits, egg hunts and beach camping as common parts of the Easter period. Families camp at several beaches, including Eagle Beach, Hadicurari Beach and Baby Beach.[2]
Are shops and offices open on Easter Monday?
Aruba’s tourism authority says shops and offices are closed, while hotel facilities remain open as usual. Check with a specific business or service for its hours.[2]
Can visitors camp on any beach?
No. Camping is prohibited on beaches opposite hotels in Palm Beach. Check local rules before camping elsewhere.[2]
Sources and references
Sources used for Easter Monday in Aruba:
- Holidays- Government of Aruba
- Easter Sunday and Easter Monday- Aruba Tourism Authority
- The Department of Labor and Research (DAO) provides information on compensation when working on official holidays or commemorative days- Government of Aruba
- Regina Cæli, 6 April 2015, Easter Monday- The Holy See