The Natural Pool Aruba locals call Conchi is a volcanic rock basin on the wild northeast coast, where the ocean crashes outside and the water inside stays calm enough to swim. Getting there is half the adventure — and where most visitors go wrong.
See the wild side of Aruba: top jeep and UTV tours
Three ways to reach Conchi
- Jeep or 4×4 tour — the easiest option; guides handle the brutal track and gear.
- Your own 4×4 — possible, but a regular rental car will not survive the trail and rental insurance often excludes it.
- Hiking or horseback from Daimari — roughly 40 hot minutes each way; bring far more water than feels reasonable.
The private option: your own jeep and guide
Group jeep and UTV tours run on a fixed schedule, so you share the pool with the rest of the convoy and leave when the guide says so. A private jeep tour flips that: just your group, hotel pick-up, and as long at the pool as you want. Our local partner ISLA Aruba runs private Natural Pool, caves and beach tours in an open safari jeep.
🌴 Natural Pool, Caves & Beach private tour with ISLA: $399 for up to 2 guests, hotel pick-up included, no crowds and no time limit at each stop. Check your date →
Can you drive a rental car to the Natural Pool?
Not a normal one. The last stretch is a steep, rutted, rocky track, and most Aruba rental contracts do not cover off-road driving, so any damage is on you. If you rent a high-clearance SUV, check in writing that the company allows Arikok’s dirt roads. Many drivers park at the top of the Daimari road and walk the rest. If you want a car for the rest of your trip, our Aruba car rental page has local rates from $50/day.
How long does it take?
- Guided tour: most Natural Pool tours take 4 to 5 hours with hotel pick-up, including other north-coast stops.
- Hiking from Daimari: about 1 mile (1.6 km) each way over sand dunes and volcanic rock; allow 3 to 4 hours in total, with 30 to 45 minutes at the pool.
- Park fee: pay at the Arikok visitor center before you head out. It is $22 per adult; under-17s are free. Most tours include it, but ask.
What to expect at the pool
You climb down volcanic rocks, slip into the basin, and float while spray explodes over the rim. Small fish share the pool, so a mask is worth packing. However, when swells run high the pool closes — tours reroute, which is another argument for going guided.
Practical tips
- Go early: tours arrive in waves from mid-morning.
- Water shoes are essential on the rocks.
- No facilities exist out there — none.
- Pair Conchi with Arikok National Park, since you are already on the wild side.
Wondering how it fits a week? Day four of our 7-day itinerary is built around this coast. Compare all the ways to visit in our tours guide.
Sightseeing? Our guide to Aruba landmarks rates every famous sight honestly — including the Natural Bridge that collapsed in 2005.
🔥 Most-booked Aruba tours right now
Top-rated group tours with free cancellation on most dates. Prices per person, live on Viator.
Prefer a private guide just for your group? See our private jeep tours.
Important: UTVs and ATVs cannot enter Arikok National Park
This trips up a lot of visitors, so book carefully. Since 2020, UTVs, ATVs and motorcycles are banned from Arikok National Park to protect the terrain. Only cars, jeeps, vans and pickups may enter.
- To reach the Natural Pool (which sits inside the park): take a Jeep or 4×4 safari, or go by horseback, bicycle or on foot. A UTV tour cannot take you there.
- UTV and ATV tours still run — but along the north coast outside the park: Alto Vista Chapel, the Bushiribana ruins, the Natural Bridge area, Andicuri, and Philip’s Animal Garden.
- If a tour promises a UTV ride to the Natural Pool, ask exactly how they enter the park before paying.
Arikok park fee, hours and entry
The Natural Pool sits inside Arikok National Park, so every visitor pays the park entry fee, $22 per person, with children under 17 free. Buy it at the visitor center at San Fuego before heading out; there is no ticket booth at the Daimari side, so hikers coming in that way should still stop at the visitor center first. Guided tours normally include the fee.
The park opens daily at 8 a.m. and closes mid-afternoon. Arrive early: you get cooler temperatures and a quieter pool before the tour convoys roll in.
When the Natural Pool is closed
When swells are big, waves can break over the rim with real force, and rangers close the pool. Warning signs go up at the entrance; obey them, because people do get hurt here. The north-east coast is usually calmest in the morning and during the lighter-wind months, but there is no guarantee, which is why guided tours keep a backup plan.
What a Natural Pool tour day looks like
- Hotel pickup and a drive across the island to the park entrance.
- A slow, bumpy descent on the rough track, often with a stop at a lookout above the coast.
- About 45 minutes to an hour at the pool to swim, snorkel and take photos.
- On full-day tours: caves, the north-coast ruins, and a beach stop with lunch.
Snorkeling in the Natural Pool
The water is clear and shallow enough to see small reef fish in the basin, so a mask is worth bringing. There is no lifeguard, the rocks are sharp and slippery, and currents strengthen near the rim, so stay in the sheltered middle and keep kids within arm’s reach.
🚙 Thinking of driving? Our jeep rental guide explains what rental contracts allow on the Natural Pool track.
🧭 Choosing a tour? Natural Pool tours compared: group vs private vs UTV, with real prices for two.
Natural Pool FAQ
Can I drive to the Natural Pool myself?
Only in a proper 4×4, and the last stretch is tough even then. Most rental insurance excludes off-road damage, so a tour or a guided hike is the safer choice.
Is the Natural Pool good for kids?
Older, confident swimmers love it. For toddlers and weak swimmers, the climb down and the surge near the rim make it a poor fit.
Is the Natural Pool worth it?
Yes, if you want to see the wild side of Aruba. Pair it with the caves and north coast on a full-day tour to make the trip worth the effort.
Prefer to hike in? Guided sunrise hikes reach the pool before the jeeps; compare them in our Aruba hiking guide.
