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Aruba🇦🇼 | landmarksNatural PoolConchi basin, Baby Bridge, black stone beach, park entry | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Natural Pool
🏆 Top pickunique site ranked #1
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 20, 2026

Natural Pool, called Conchi by locals, is a rock-ringed basin on Aruba’s wild northeast coast, inside Arikok National Park, where black volcanic stone holds back the Atlantic and leaves a tide-fed pool of calm, clear water. The wow-factor is real, and so is the effort: the last stretch is a rutted, rocky track, so a rental sedan is out and a 4x4 or a guided UTV convoy is in. Crowds peak when tour groups arrive midday, so go early or late and you may have the ledges mostly to yourself. Is it worth the money? The park fee and the rough ride, yes, but skip the pool if the sea is running high, because waves over the rim turn it into a washing machine. Photos are best from the cliff above, looking down at the turquoise oval against the dark rock. Wear water shoes, since the rim is sharp and slick, and the pool floor is dotted with small, spiky stones.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #1 unique site in ArubaWhat makes this unique site worth visiting

Natural Pool is one of the few places on Aruba where you swim in a sea-fed basin with the open Atlantic crashing a few steps away. That contrast is the draw. The beaches on the southwest side are soft, calm and busy, while this coast is raw, windswept and mostly empty of buildings, so you get a completely different island in one afternoon.

The effort is part of the appeal. Reaching Conchi means driving or riding the rough interior track of Arikok National Park, and that journey passes cactus scrub, goat paths and limestone cliffs you would never see from the resort strip. If you have no 4x4, a group UTV tour or a guided jeep run gets you there without damaging a rental.

It also fits neatly into a day on the northeast coast. The Baby Bridge, the dark sand of the surrounding bays and the gold-mill … read more 👉
Natural Pool is one of the few places on Aruba where you swim in a sea-fed basin with the open Atlantic crashing a few steps away. That contrast is the draw. The beaches on the southwest side are soft, calm and busy, while this coast is raw, windswept and mostly empty of buildings, so you get a completely different island in one afternoon.

The effort is part of the appeal. Reaching Conchi means driving or riding the rough interior track of Arikok National Park, and that journey passes cactus scrub, goat paths and limestone cliffs you would never see from the resort strip. If you have no 4x4, a group UTV tour or a guided jeep run gets you there without damaging a rental.

It also fits neatly into a day on the northeast coast. The Baby Bridge, the dark sand of the surrounding bays and the gold-mill ruins sit close together, so you can string them into a single loop and still be back for dinner. Bring your own snacks and water; there are no stalls at the pool.

💡 HighlightsEssential experiences to have while visiting Natural Pool

  1. Natural Pool (Conchi): The headline sight, a basin of calm, clear water ringed by a wall of volcanic rock that breaks the Atlantic swell. Swimming is best when the sea is calm, and snorkelers can see small reef fish near the edges. Entry is through Arikok National Park (about US$15 per person), and you should give the pool itself one to two hours.
  2. The cliff lookout above the pool: Walk up the rocky rise beside the basin for the classic overhead view, with the turquoise water framed against the black rock and surf. It is the best spot for photos and takes only a few minutes.
  3. Baby Bridge: A small natural limestone arch over a cut in the coastal rock, close to the pool. It is what remains of the scene left after the much larger Natural Bridge collapsed in 2005. Walk across the top carefully and
… read more 👉
  1. Natural Pool (Conchi): The headline sight, a basin of calm, clear water ringed by a wall of volcanic rock that breaks the Atlantic swell. Swimming is best when the sea is calm, and snorkelers can see small reef fish near the edges. Entry is through Arikok National Park (about US$15 per person), and you should give the pool itself one to two hours.
  2. The cliff lookout above the pool: Walk up the rocky rise beside the basin for the classic overhead view, with the turquoise water framed against the black rock and surf. It is the best spot for photos and takes only a few minutes.
  3. Baby Bridge: A small natural limestone arch over a cut in the coastal rock, close to the pool. It is what remains of the scene left after the much larger Natural Bridge collapsed in 2005. Walk across the top carefully and watch the surf below.
  4. Andicuri Beach: A rough, windswept bay popular with local bodyboarders and kitesurfers. The sea here is too strong for casual swimming, but it is a good place to watch the waves and stop for a break from the track.
  5. Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins: The remains of a stone smelter from Aruba’s nineteenth-century gold rush, perched on the shore. You can climb its walls for views of the coast. Spend about half an hour exploring.
  6. Black Stone Beach: A beach covered in dark, smooth stones rather than sand. Visitors stack the stones into small towers, and the beach is more for walking and photographs than for swimming.
Natural Pool and the nearby stops can be covered in three to four hours, including the slow drive over the park tracks.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

Things to do near Natural Pool

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Private Aruba National Park Hiking & Natural Pool Swimming

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Private Snorkeling Aruba: FIN-TASTIC Turtle Spotting

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Private Aruba Jeep Adventure|Custom Island Tour with Local Guide

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Guided Padi Discover Scuba Diving for Non-Certified Divers

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Private 4x4 Natural Pool, Caves & Baby Beach by Cross Aruba Tours

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Epic Off-Road Surron Electric Bike Tour in Aruba

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Half Day Hike at Arikok National Park & Snorkel

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Ratings based on Tripadvisor reviews. When you book through this link, you support our work at no extra cost to you.

🌤️ When to go?Seasonal considerations and timing

  • Calmest Seas (roughly May to September): The trade winds ease off and the surf below the Natural Pool drops enough for the pool to be at its most inviting. Days run 28 to 32°C (82 to 90°F), and you will swim without a fight against the waves.
  • Windy Months (December to April): Swells build on the north coast and crash over the rim, which looks dramatic but makes swimming risky. Temperatures sit around 27 to 31°C (81 to 88°F) with a steady breeze that keeps the hike tolerable.
  • Wetter Spell (October to January): Short, heavy showers are the main rain on this very dry island, and they usually clear within an hour. The dirt track can turn slick and muddy afterward.
  • Crowds and Prices: Mid-December through April is peak season, with higher lodging rates and more jeep tours stopping at the pool. Summer
… read more 👉
  • Calmest Seas (roughly May to September): The trade winds ease off and the surf below the Natural Pool drops enough for the pool to be at its most inviting. Days run 28 to 32°C (82 to 90°F), and you will swim without a fight against the waves.
  • Windy Months (December to April): Swells build on the north coast and crash over the rim, which looks dramatic but makes swimming risky. Temperatures sit around 27 to 31°C (81 to 88°F) with a steady breeze that keeps the hike tolerable.
  • Wetter Spell (October to January): Short, heavy showers are the main rain on this very dry island, and they usually clear within an hour. The dirt track can turn slick and muddy afterward.
  • Crowds and Prices: Mid-December through April is peak season, with higher lodging rates and more jeep tours stopping at the pool. Summer is quieter, and beds cost less.
  • Daylight: Days stay close to 11 to 13 hours, so you can hike and swim without rushing.
Arrive on a weekday morning, before the tour convoys pull in and while the sun is still behind you on the exposed track.


source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: good for travelingFEBFebruary: good for travelingMARMarch: good for travelingAPRApril: excellent for travelingMAYMay: excellent for travelingJUNJune: excellent for travelingJULJuly: excellent for travelingAUGAugust: excellent for travelingSEPSeptember: highly recommended for travelingOCTOctober: highly recommended for travelingNOVNovember: highly recommended for travelingDECDecember: good for traveling
aruba-unique-site-natural-pool
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🛏️ Where to stay?Where staying makes the most sense

Eagle Beach and Palm Beach are the two best bets for backpackers, with Oranjestad the cheapest and most social option. Natural Pool sits on the rugged northeast coast, far from any lodging, so you will be commuting from the west or south regardless.
Oranjestad is the practical hub. It has the island’s main bus terminal, supermarkets, and the widest choice of budget rooms and guesthouses, so you can cook and save money. Evenings are easy to spend with other travelers around the waterfront and the downtown bars. Buses to the beaches run from here, and rental cars and scooters are easy to arrange … read more 👉
Eagle Beach and Palm Beach are the two best bets for backpackers, with Oranjestad the cheapest and most social option. Natural Pool sits on the rugged northeast coast, far from any lodging, so you will be commuting from the west or south regardless.
Oranjestad is the practical hub. It has the island’s main bus terminal, supermarkets, and the widest choice of budget rooms and guesthouses, so you can cook and save money. Evenings are easy to spend with other travelers around the waterfront and the downtown bars. Buses to the beaches run from here, and rental cars and scooters are easy to arrange for the trip to the pool.
Eagle Beach, a short bus ride from town, is calmer and wider, with a residential feel and small apartments that suit pairs or groups splitting costs. It is quieter at night but safe, and the sand is good for unwinding after a dusty drive.
Palm Beach is the resort strip. Rooms cost more, yet it has the liveliest nightlife and the most travelers mingling, and some budget options hide a few streets back from the water.
San Nicolas in the southeast sits closer to the Natural Pool, with a growing art scene and cheaper rooms, though it is much quieter and has fewer social options for solo travelers.
Best hostels in Aruba


Best quality hotels in Aruba

👛 Costs (as of 20 October 2026)What things cost and how to budget

Plan on roughly US$68 to 126 per day for Natural Pool and the surrounding trip, with US$105 as a solid average. There is no entrance fee to the pool itself, so most of your money goes to getting out there and to food and a bed.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
EntryUS$0The pool is free to reach, though some operators charge to enter nearby protected land.
Accommodation (high season)US$50 to 80Guesthouses and basic apartments in Oranjestad or Eagle Beach. Rates drop in summer.
TransportUS$0 to 10Tours are pricier, so most visitors rent a 4x4. Rentals are per day, so splitting among a group lowers the cost.
FoodUS$15 to 30Supermarket groceries and cheap snack stands, plus local lunch plates in town. Restaurants near the coast are limited.
Water and SuppliesUS$3 to 6Bring plenty of water and sun protection,
… read more 👉
Plan on roughly US$68 to 126 per day for Natural Pool and the surrounding trip, with US$105 as a solid average. There is no entrance fee to the pool itself, so most of your money goes to getting out there and to food and a bed.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
EntryUS$0The pool is free to reach, though some operators charge to enter nearby protected land.
Accommodation (high season)US$50 to 80Guesthouses and basic apartments in Oranjestad or Eagle Beach. Rates drop in summer.
TransportUS$0 to 10Tours are pricier, so most visitors rent a 4x4. Rentals are per day, so splitting among a group lowers the cost.
FoodUS$15 to 30Supermarket groceries and cheap snack stands, plus local lunch plates in town. Restaurants near the coast are limited.
Water and SuppliesUS$3 to 6Bring plenty of water and sun protection, as there are no shops near the pool.
Total Daily BudgetUS$68 to 126About US$105 for a typical day with high-season lodging and a shared rental.
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

FAQTraveler FAQ

Natural Pool is a rock-ringed tidal pool on Aruba’s rugged northeast coast, also called Conchi, formed where lava stone walls shelter a basin from the Atlantic surf. It sits inside Arikok National Park territory, near Alto Vista and Andicuri beach. Swimming is possible when the sea is calm, and cliff jumping draws some visitors.
Allow about two to three hours at Natural Pool for the swim and the photos, or a half day if you combine it with nearby Andicuri Beach and the Bushiribana ruins. The drive from Oranjestad takes roughly 45 minutes to an hour on rough roads. Weekday mornings are the quietest.
Natural Pool is reached by a rough dirt track from the northeast coast, so a 4x4 or an off-road tour is the usual way in. The drive from Oranjestad covers roughly 25 kilometers and takes 45 to 60 minutes. Tours leave from the main hotel areas and typically cost US$80 to 130 per person, while a rented jeep costs about US$90 to 140 per day. Regular buses do not go there.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Aruban landmarks near Natural Pool

Explore more nearby:

  • Ayo Rock Formations—Diorite boulders, hematite drawings, lizard-filled scrub, shaded overhangs| 4 km away
  • Fontein Cave—Arawak ceiling drawings, stalactites, old spring, roosting bats| 4 km away
  • Cave Pool—Rock-ringed basin, cliff ledges, rough park track, crashing outer wall| 5 km away

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We 💚 feedbackFinal thoughts on visiting Natural Pool

Natural Pool has a detail many first-timers overlook: the water level and the safe swimming window change with the swell, and the rim wall is covered in slick algae. I would watch the waves for a few minutes before getting in, wear water shoes, and keep the cliff jumping to the locals.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on in-depth research, insights shared by experienced travelers, and feedback from the local travel community in Aruba. While every effort is made to keep the information accurate and current, conditions can change — so if you spot anything incorrect or outdated, please get in touch.



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Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

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