Aruba - Adventure Guide to Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao - page 64

TIP: Tour operators and a selection of scheduled ex-
cursions are listed under Touring the Island, page 71.
For a schedule of cruise-ship visits, contact the
Cruise Authority ,

297-583-3648; www.aruba-

bycruise.com.

Leaving Aruba

A ruba's airport is staffed by agents of US Customs and

Border Protection (CBP), so you clear Customs before
you board a plane bound for the United States. This means
no long reentry lines when you land in the US, but the pro-
cess of clearing in Aruba is time-consuming, so arrive at
least three hours before your return flight is due to depart. You are re-
quired to be through Customs an hour before the flight departs.
The procedure goes like this:
Check baggage and verify your flight with the airline in the
non-secure departure building.
Show your airline ticket and ID to the guard at the entrance to
the secure US departure building in the courtyard.

Clear Aruban Immigration by presenting your passport or ID
and returning the small stub from the white tourist card that
you received on the airplane before arrival.
Stop at the duty-free shops for last-minute purchases and
snacks for the airplane.

Complete your US Customs form listing all purchases and gifts
from your trip.

Go through X-ray security screening, which includes receiving
a clearance sticker for your carry-on bags. (The list of prohib-
ited carry-on articles is long due to heightened security.)

Pick up your checked luggage from the conveyor belt on the
other side of the X-ray screener, and carry it to the US Immigra-
tion checkpoint. If you fail to do this, you will have to return to
Aruba to claim your bags, since no one may claim them for you
or take them through Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in-
spections.

Pay the 4% flat duty charged on all purchases valued at more
than $600. (See Duty-Free Allowances on page 32.)
If directed to do so, proceed to the CBP officials to clear any ani-
mals or plants that you wish to bring home and allow an agent
to examine your bags for harmful or prohibited items.