Can you drive to the Natural Pool in a rental car?
No. The final section is an unpaved boulder track and standard rental cars are not insured for it. You need a 4x4, an ATV or a UTV — or you hike in from the Arikok visitor centre.
Natural Pool Aruba (Conchi)
The Natural Pool — Conchi in Papiamento, meaning 'bowl' — is a circular pocket of calm water carved into the volcanic rock of Aruba's Atlantic coast, shielded from the surf by a ring of stone. It sits inside Arikok National Park and it is the island's most photographed spot.
You cannot drive there in a normal rental car. The last stretch is a boulder track that only 4x4 vehicles, ATVs and UTVs can handle, which is why almost everyone visits on a tour.
How to get to the Natural Pool
There are three realistic ways in. A guided safari Jeep or Hummer takes you the whole way and handles the rough section for you. An ATV or UTV lets you drive it yourself — the trail is bumpy but manageable at a walking pace with a guide leading. The third option is hiking in from the Arikok visitor centre, which takes roughly 90 minutes each way in full sun and is only for well-prepared walkers.
Whichever way you go, you enter through Arikok National Park and the park entrance fee is included in our guided tours.
What it is like to swim there
The pool is about 8 metres across and chest to head deep, with a rocky bottom and a natural stone rim that the Atlantic breaks over. On calm days it is glassy and you can float with small fish around you; on rough days the waves spill in and the guides may keep everyone out for safety.
Bring water shoes if you have them — the rock is sharp — and expect a short scramble down from the parking area.
- Swimwear, towel and reef-safe sunscreen
- Closed shoes or water shoes for the rocks
- A dry bag or a waterproof phone case
- Cash is not needed — park entry is included in the tour
Best time to visit
Morning tours (departing around 8:30–9:00 AM) reach the pool before the biggest groups and before the midday heat. Afternoon departures are quieter but the light for photos is harsher and the trade winds pick up.
The pool is open year round. Sea conditions on the windward coast are calmest between April and August.
Tours that reach the Natural Pool
Aruba
Aruba Safari Jeep Tour
Open safari Jeep to Arikok National Park
4.7(311)
About 5 hoursfrom$65per person
Aruba
Aruba Outback Safari Tour
The full island crossing, coast to coast
4.8(143)
4.5 hours · 8:30 AM–1:00 PM or 2:00 PM–6:30 PMfrom$95per person
Aruba
Aruba UTV Tour
Two to five seats of side-by-side off-road fun
4.9(168)
Morning 9:00 AM–1:00 PM or afternoon 2:30 PM–6:30 PMfrom$203.30per vehicle
Aruba
Aruba ATV Tour
Dust, cliffs and hidden beaches on a single or double ATV
4.8(214)
Morning 9:00 AM–1:00 PM or afternoon 2:30 PM–6:30 PMfrom$139.10per vehicle
PrivateAruba
Private AC Jeep Tour
Air-conditioned island tour, entirely your own
4.9(96)
Per hour, flexible start timefrom$110per group
Aruba
Aruba Hummer Jeep Tour
Big wheels, big views, big fun
4.7(87)
About 4 hoursfrom$65per person
Departure points
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Natural Pool tour cost in Aruba?
Shared safari tours that include the Natural Pool start from $65 per person. Self-drive ATV tours start at $139.10 per vehicle and UTVs from $203.30 per vehicle, park entrance included.
How long does the trip take?
Plan on four to five hours door to door, including hotel pick up, the drive through Arikok National Park, roughly 45 minutes at the pool and the stops on the way back.
Is the Natural Pool safe for children?
Children from four years old join the safari tours. The pool itself is deep, so young swimmers need life vests, which the guides carry, and adult supervision on the rocks.