Address: Hotel Pick ups

Traveler Reviews

Great way to see the island!
Reviewed by A TripAdvisor Member on Oct 6, 2008


This was my second visit to Aruba, but my friend had never been. Although I took this tour back in 2004, I wanted to do it again for his benefit. Booked online (they give a discount for online booking). Response was prompt and courteous --- when our hotel changed, I dropped them an email and their pickup schedule was adjusted. Were a relatively small group -- 3 jeeps for the all day tour. Stops included: California Lighthouse, Alto Vista Chapel, Gold Smelter, Natural Bridge, Ostrich Farm, Natural Pool, Fontein Cave and Baby Beach. Had lunch at a local place --- chicken and ribs were good. Overall was an amazing day --- this is a great opportunity to see the "wild side" of Aruba, climb rocks all you want, and get a little dirty. Pack plenty of sunscreen. Bring something to put your camera in or to cover it as it gets VERY dusty in the afternoon. This trip will always be on my MUST do list!

Batumba Bungle
Reviewed by A TripAdvisor Member on Sep 5, 2008


I was in Aruba 2 months ago and had a few problems with a jeep tour I booked through ABC Jeep Tours. I booked the half day, 5.5 hour tour on ABC Jeep Tours' website 2 days before the tour. No one ever responded to the booking I made on the website on email or by phone to say that there were spots left for my desired time, and I had to get my concierge to help me make sure the excursion had been confirmed. In addition to the booking I made on the site, I also had sent a second email the following day that was met with no response. Several times I even attempted to do the live chat feature on the site to confirm it but no operators were ever available. Then the pickup at our hotel was at least 20 minutes after the time I was told to be ready so we had to call again to make sure the pickup was definitely happening. We were very uneasy about the whole thing. Finally, we were picked up at the hotel in the Batumba Monster Truck. I asked the driver, Gabriel, if this was just what was taking us to the ABC headquarters so we could sign our waivers and be assigned jeeps and he said "not today". I was concerned but figured that it would be straightened out when I arrived at the HQ. We signed our waivers and I signed my credit card bill, after which I realized I had been charged more than the amount that was listed in my automated email response after I made the booking. The woman at the desk said that you only got a discount if you booked 7 days in advance, but then I would think the website should adjust when you put in the date that you're scheduling the trip for. They told us to get back in the Batumba as that was the vehicle we were taking for the day. I had clearly booked the 5.5 hour jeep safari online and that was the tour we wanted. We wanted the smaller Land Rovers and were not interested in the monster truck. To add insult to injury, we were at the same stops at the same time as another ABC jeep tour (not sure if it was the 3.5 hour or the 8 hour) but we had to keep seeing the Land Rovers everywhere we went. The site also says we were to visit Jamanota Hill which we did not do in the Batumba. Halfway thru the trip the speaker system in the vehicle went completely dead so we couldn't even get any more info from the guide, we listened to music the rest of the trip. Additionally, the website clearly states that snorkeling equipment was to be provided at Baby Beach and it was not included with the Batumba. However, I looked at one of the Land Rovers when we were at the Gold Mill Ruins and they all had snorkel equipment in them. Because of this, we were forced to book another snorkeling trip on another day (with another company) since we were looking forward to snorkeling at Baby Beach and had been unable to do so with ABC Jeep Tours as promised. I should point out that Gabriel was a great tour guide and I know none of this was his fault, but we were disappointed with the tour as a whole. We only had 3 full days on the island and it is unfortunate that most of the first one was spent on a tour we had not signed up for. I emailed the two different email addresses ('reservations' and 'info') listed on ABC Jeep Tours' website 3 times and was met with no response. I was hoping they would compensate us in some way, but unfortunately their customer service seems to be lacking. Reading the other reviews on this site, it seems that my experience is rare, but I believe you should proceed with caution when booking with ABC.

WOW! What a day with ABC Tours.
Reviewed by A TripAdvisor Member on Sep 4, 2008


We booked our tour online for 8/28/08 for family of 5 for a full day. Boy! What a day we had?First ABC Tour pick us up at the hotel and took us to their location too sign our life away before departing in the Jeep. Before taking off they asked you if you are interested in driving. Some folks volunteer and drove the Jeep for a full day. Our tour guide ?Rocky? was great! Rocky was very informative about the history of the island. We stopped at the Highest Points, California Lighthouse, Chapel, Gold Ruins, Natural Bridges (we saw 4), Ostrich Farm, Natural Pool-trilling adventure getting there. We also stop at the Caves (Bats) and lastly at Baby Beach for more snorkeling. All sites were amazing and very scenic drive. Lunch was provided-food okay. Keep in mind- The terrain is absolutely extremely! We drove over huge boulders, pot holes, mud holes and rocks on a 75% incline ? we called it the Arubian rollercoaster. We were all scream & shaking at one point, totally insane!! We do not recommend the tour for children under the age of 7 and elders over the age of 55. Too extreme and require climbing. It was the most amazing off-road driving experience of our life! ABC Tours is a MUST do!

Best Tour ever but be prepared
Reviewed by A TripAdvisor Member on Sep 1, 2008


My husband, 9 year old son, and I loved the full day tour. We were with Rocky the tour guide and he was fabulous. In general, i don't think Aruba has many true tourist type of attractions but this tour hits what there is. The real fun is in getting from A to B. There was some great off-road portions of the trip and we were laughing and bumping up and down the entire time. lunch was ok. Some pointers that others have shared: 1. Unless you are an experienced off-road large jeep driver and are driving yourself, request in advance to be with the tour guide. They allow volunteers to drive. I am really not overally protective but under no circumstances would i have allowed my child to be a passanger with a stranger driving. it is too rough for me to trust an amateur who may or may not know what he is doing. 2. Good shoes - due to 2 water stops we figured crocs woud be good. Wrong!! - there is too much climbing (down to the natural pool, in the cave etc. to not have sneakers or something with a good grip. 3. Prepare to be dirty and have fun

ABC Jeep tours in Aruba - thye place to be
Reviewed by A TripAdvisor Member on Aug 25, 2008


The ABC Jeep Company in Aruba provides a great tour. There is a gotcha. As has been written on this forum, some times they let the tourist drove the jeep. That may not sound too bad but!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They ask if tourist are interested in driving at the very beginning of the tour - if a tourist shows an interested - they drive the full TOUR!!!! not like the guide lets them out at a point and they drive a short distance - they drive the full tour. And if the tourist does not know how to drive a standard Land Rover - that doesn't matter - they still drive - and all must wait for them to catch up. Mind you - the guests on the "Jeep" (Land Rover) that the tourist is driving has no choice - they are stuck with the fool. Fortunately we were with a guide, but the vehicle behind us (a Land Rover - with Jeep logo) was driven by a tourist. Our guide told us the tourist didn't know how to drive a standard - let alone a 4 wheel drive - they got stuck on the hills. Da - guess the tourist didn't know how to shift into 4 wheel drive. We had a second tourist driver in our outing - and he didn't know how to drive a standard (Manual transmission). Our vacation was great - we enjoyed the trip - but we had the tour guide. If you want to drive - great - please remember you will drive the full 3 - 5 or 8 hours, and if you accept a tourist driving - then remember - you have accepted it - with the rough rounds we drove - I preferred the experience of a experienced driver - not a yahoo that just took it for the day. ABC tour - sure would do it again - but again I would have a tour guide drive the "Jeep"