Natural Pool Aruba: How to Get There, Rules and What to Bring
By Guljar HosenFacts checked 20 Sep 2026
Yes, you can drive a rental Jeep to the Natural Pool. Aventurova’s Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Gladiator are allowed to drive there. (Aventurova FAQ, checked 20 Sep 2026) UTVs are not: they are banned from the park’s protected nature areas. The Arikok National Park pass is $22 per adult, and children under 17 are free. (Aruba Conservation Foundation, acf.aw/experiences, checked 25 Sep 2026)
The Natural Pool sits at the end of a rough road inside Arikok National Park. Most pages about it either sell you a tour or skip the practical part: how you actually get there, what the park pass costs, which vehicles are banned and when the sea makes the pool unsafe. This guide covers the three real ways in and what to expect at the pool, with the source and date for each fact.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The Natural Pool, also called Conchi, is inside Arikok National Park on Aruba’s northeast coast. (aruba.com, checked 20 Sep 2026)
- The road to it needs a 4×4. You can drive a 4×4 yourself, go on a guided 4×4 tour or horseback ride, or hike (3 to 4 hours round trip for experienced hikers). (aruba.com)
- You need the park pass: $22 per person for adults, free for children under 17. (Aruba Conservation Foundation, acf.aw/experiences, checked 20 Sep 2026)
- ATVs, UTVs and motorcycles are banned from the park’s protected nature areas, so a UTV tour cannot take you there. (acf.aw/experiences, checked 19 Sep 2026)
- Swimming is only safe when the sea is calm. The pool has been closed before because of rough water. (aruba.com; Aruba Today)
- A guided shuttle or tour runs on the operator’s schedule and is priced per person; a self-drive Jeep is priced per vehicle, so the price per person falls as more people share it (see section 8). (Aventurova Jeep page, checked 25 Sep 2026)
1. What the Natural Pool is
The Natural Pool is a swimming basin formed in volcanic rock, in desert terrain on a deserted stretch of coastline inside Arikok National Park. Aruba’s tourism site describes it as a naturally formed volcanic rock pool that you can swim in, and says the terrain is rough and rocky enough that it can only be reached by 4×4. (aruba.com, checked 20 Sep 2026)
It is often called Conchi, and aruba.com also lists the name Cura di Tortuga. All the names point to the same place. (aruba.com, checked 20 Sep 2026)
2. Three ways to reach it
There are three ways in. Which one suits you depends on how much you want to plan and how much you want to walk.
| Way in | What you need | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Drive a 4×4 yourself | A 4×4 vehicle and the park pass. Standard passenger cars cannot reach the site (aruba.com) | Travelers who want their own schedule and stops |
| Guided 4×4 tour or horseback ride | A booking with an operator, plus the park pass (check what the tour includes) | Travelers who want a guide to handle the route |
| Hike | Fitness and time: about a 3 to 4 hour round trip, for experienced hikers (aruba.com) | Experienced hikers who want the walk |
A UTV or quad tour is not one of the options, because those vehicles are banned inside the park (see section 4).
The last stretch is rough, so give yourself plenty of time before the gates close. Ask at the visitor center for the current route. (aruba.com, checked 20 Sep 2026)
3. The park pass
You need the Arikok National Park pass: $22 per person for adults, with children under 17 free. (acf.aw/experiences, checked 20 Sep 2026)
It is not included when you rent a Jeep. (Aventurova FAQ, checked 20 Sep 2026) Entrance hours and where to buy the pass are in the Arikok National Park guide.
4. Which vehicles are banned
Banned
UTVs, ATVs and motorbikes are banned from the park’s protected nature areas, so the ways in are a 4×4, a guided tour, a horse or your own feet. (acf.aw/experiences, checked 19 Sep 2026)
Any other vehicle
For any other vehicle, ask at the visitor center.
The full park rules are in the Arikok National Park guide; for a UTV day elsewhere on the island, see UTV rental.
5. Swimming safety and closures
Swimming is only safe when the sea is calm. Waves can crash over the rocks and conditions can change quickly. (aruba.com) Water shoes are recommended because the rocks are uneven, the way down is by steep natural stone steps, and the site is not wheelchair accessible. (aruba.com)
Swimming is only safe when the sea is calm. Treat an open, swimmable pool as something to check on the day, never as a promise.
The pool has closed before. The Aruba Conservation Foundation announced that it was closing Conchi “until further notice” because of weather and water conditions caused by Hurricane Beryl, and advised visitors to stay off the coast because of rough high seas. (Aruba Today, “Important announcement: Conchi closed until further notice”) If the sea looks rough when you arrive, do not enter the water.
A small snack and refreshment stand operates at the top of the stairs during the day. (aruba.com)
6. What to bring
- Water shoes with good grip for the rocks and steps. (aruba.com)
- Your park pass, bought at San Fuego or Vaderpiet.
- Swimwear and a towel, and a dry bag or change of clothes for the drive back.
- Drinking water and sun protection. The stand at the top of the stairs sells refreshments during the day, but do not rely on it. (aruba.com)
7. Renting a Jeep for this day
Two rules from Aventurova’s rental terms matter here:
Where you cannot drive
Driving on white sand, mud, dunes, ocean water, rainwater and large puddles is prohibited, and driving off road where signs prohibit it is strictly forbidden. (Aventurova Terms, section 4, checked 20 Sep 2026)
Soft tops
Soft tops must be closed overnight and during rain. (Aventurova Terms, section 10)
If you get a flat tire, roadside help costs $20 near town and $50 on an off road path. (Aventurova FAQ)
8. Natural Pool shuttle or self-drive Jeep?
A guided shuttle or tour picks you up, drives you in and brings you back on its own schedule. Renting a Jeep and driving yourself costs the same whether two people ride or five, so the more people share the vehicle, the lower the price per person, and the day is yours to shape.
| Guided shuttle or tour | Self-drive Jeep | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle | A tour operator’s own 4×4, usually a Jeep or similar | Your own rental Jeep |
| Schedule | Fixed start time set by the operator | Whenever you choose to leave |
| What’s included | Set by the operator: ask before booking | Nothing beyond the vehicle; you bring your own water and pay the park pass |
| Other stops | Set by the tour’s own route | Up to you: caves, other Arikok trails, a beach, all on the same rental day |
| Cost basis | Priced per person | Priced per vehicle per day, plus the park pass per person |
| UTV option | Not available: UTVs are banned from the park (acf.aw/experiences, checked 25 Sep 2026) | Not available for the same reason |
A self-drive day for a family of 4: Aventurova’s Jeep Wrangler rental starts at $259.99 a day (rates change with the owner’s rate card and are before tax) plus $88 in park passes, split across the group, which is about $87 per person. (Aventurova Jeep page, checked 25 Sep 2026; acf.aw/experiences, checked 25 Sep 2026) Compare that with a current quote from your chosen tour operator, priced per person, to see which works out cheaper for your group size. Inclusions and prices vary by operator, so ask what a tour covers before you book.
A guided tour suits someone without a rental car at all, who wants the driving and the route handled, and does not mind a fixed start time. Self-drive suits anyone who already has (or is renting) a Jeep for other days, wants to set their own schedule, or plans to add other stops in the park. The park is covered in the Arikok by Jeep section of the park guide. Want a UTV instead? UTVs cannot enter the park, but they are a great way to see the coast outside it: UTV rental in Aruba, from $240 for 4 hours.
Conclusion
The Natural Pool is worth planning for: the way in is rough, the pass is required, and the sea decides whether you can swim. Choose your way in, check the sea on the day, bring water shoes and your pass, and leave the UTV for another trip.
Bring water shoes. The rocks are uneven and the way down is by steep natural stone steps. (aruba.com, checked 20 Sep 2026)
FAQ
How do you get to the Natural Pool in Aruba?
You can drive a 4×4 yourself, join a guided 4×4 tour or horseback ride, or hike. Aruba’s tourism site says the site is reachable only by 4×4 because of rough, rocky terrain, and that experienced hikers can walk in as a 3 to 4 hour round trip. You also need the Arikok National Park pass. (aruba.com, checked 20 Sep 2026)
Can you drive to the Natural Pool yourself?
Yes, in a 4×4. Aventurova’s FAQ says its Wrangler and Gladiator Jeeps are allowed to drive to the Natural Pool and other permitted off road destinations in Arikok National Park. UTVs, ATVs and motorcycles cannot enter the park’s protected nature areas. (Aventurova FAQ, checked 20 Sep 2026; acf.aw/experiences, checked 19 Sep 2026)
Is the Natural Pool open today, and when is it closed?
Check the sea on the day. Swimming is only safe in calm seas, and the pool has been closed before because of rough water after Hurricane Beryl. The park entrances close in the afternoon, so plan the drive in early; the hours are in the Arikok National Park guide. (aruba.com; Aruba Today; acf.aw, checked 19 Sep 2026)
What should you bring for a day at the Natural Pool?
Water shoes, your park pass, swimwear and a towel, drinking water and sun protection. A small snack and refreshment stand runs at the top of the stairs during the day. (aruba.com, checked 20 Sep 2026)
How much does it cost to visit?
The park’s conservation day pass is $22 per person for adults, and children under 17 are free. It is not included in an Aventurova rental. (acf.aw/experiences, checked 20 Sep 2026; Aventurova FAQ)
Can you hike to the Natural Pool instead?
Yes, if you are an experienced hiker: aruba.com describes it as a 3 to 4 hour round trip. You still need the park pass. (aruba.com, checked 20 Sep 2026)
Is a guided tour or a rental Jeep cheaper for a group?
A guided tour is priced per person, so the total rises with each person. A Jeep rental is priced per vehicle, so the cost splits across everyone riding along, plus the $22 per person park pass. Get a current per-person quote from your tour operator and compare it with the self-drive example above. (acf.aw/experiences, checked 25 Sep 2026)
What time should I leave for the Natural Pool?
Leave early. The park’s visitor centers are open daily from 8:00 to 15:30 at San Fuego and from 8:30 to 15:00 at Vaderpiet, so the drive in has to fit inside those hours. (acf.aw/experiences, checked 25 Sep 2026)
Sources (checked 19 and 20 Sep 2026 unless noted)
- Aruba Conservation Foundation, acf.aw/experiences (checked 19 and 20 Sep 2026): park day pass $22 for adults, children under 17 free, ATVs, UTVs and motorcycles prohibited in protected nature areas
- Aruba Conservation Foundation, acf.aw (checked 19 Sep 2026): entrance hours, which this page leaves to the Arikok National Park guide
- aruba.com, Natural Pool page (checked 20 Sep 2026): northeast coast location inside Arikok National Park, the alternative name Cura di Tortuga, road needs a 4×4, guided 4×4 tours and horseback rides, 3 to 4 hour hike for experienced hikers, swimming only safe when the sea is calm, water shoes, steep natural stone steps, not wheelchair accessible, snack and refreshment stand at the top of the stairs
- Aruba Today, “Important announcement: Conchi closed until further notice” (the page shows no date): closure because of weather and water conditions caused by Hurricane Beryl, and advice to stay off the coast in rough high seas
- Aventurova FAQ, aventurova.com/frequently-asked-questions/ (checked 20 Sep 2026): Wrangler and Gladiator Jeeps allowed to drive to the Natural Pool and other permitted off road destinations, park fees not included in a rental, 4×4 off road capability, free road map, unlimited mileage, roadside help for a flat tire at $20 near town and $50 on an off road path
- Aventurova Terms, aventurova.com/terms-conditions/ (checked 20 Sep 2026): driving on white sand, mud, dunes, ocean water, rainwater and large puddles prohibited and off road driving where signs prohibit it forbidden (section 4), soft tops closed overnight and during rain (section 10)
- Aventurova Jeep page, aventurova.com/jeep/ (checked 25 Sep 2026): Wrangler from $259.99 a day.