Many people visit Aruba for the gorgeous sand beaches along the western part of the island, but did you know that Aruba has a wild side? The eastern part of the island is full of caves, crashing waves, hidden beaches and two amazing swimming holes to explore among the rocks.
In this article we’ll share the details of the two popular swimming holes on Aruba: the Conchi Pool and the Cave Pool. Swimming in the pools was a highlight of our visit to Aruba.
Looking for more ideas to plan your visit to Aruba? Check out our complete guide or start with the Most Adventurous Things to do in Aruba.
Quick Overview of the Two Swimming Holes
Before I get into the details of each of the pools, here is a quick look at each of the pools.
Conchi Natural Pool
Conchi Natural Pool is one of Aruba’s most famous natural attractions, located in Arikok National Park. This secluded, ocean-fed pool is surrounded by rugged rocks, offering a calm swimming area amidst the island’s wild coastline.
Accessible via a 4×4 vehicle, tour, or a rugged hike, the pool is ideal for those looking to experience Aruba’s natural beauty in a tranquil setting.

Cave Pool
The Cave Pool is another hidden gem in Aruba, located in the area on the coast north of Arikok National Park. This natural pool is formed within a cave. Unlike the Conchi Natural Pool, the Cave Pool is more enclosed, offering a slightly more intimate experience. Visitors can swim inside the cave, surrounded by smooth stone walls and the sounds of nature.
You don’t need a 4 x4 to reach this pool but you will need to climb down a ladder.

Conchi Natural Pool
Important Things to Know
The Conchi swimming pool is within Arikok National Park, so you will need to pay the entrance fee. This is also a very popular place to visit. While we did swim here and enjoyed it, it was pretty crowded and I wish we had arrived earlier as this took away from the experience.
How to Get There
There are 3 ways to get to the Conchi Natural Pool. The first way is to do a tour. This is the easiest method. There are several different types of tours and you can get there in a jeep, UTV, or even on a horse.
You can search for tours on Viator.
The second way to get to the Conchi Natural Pool is to drive yourself. You will need a 4×4 vehicle. Many rental companies restrict where you can drive with a rental car, so double check that your rental car is allowed to go to the Conchi Pool.
The final way to get to the pool is to hike. There is a long trail that starts at the Visitor Center or you can drive to Daimari Beach and hike into the park to the pool. This is what Dave and I did and we loved the hikes just as much as we enjoyed the pool.
How to Hike to the Conchi Pool from Daimari Beach
Daimari Beach is located just north of Arikok National Park. You will need to pay your entrance fee to enter the park at the visitor center and then drive to the beach.
To get to Daimari Beach you will need to drive down a dirt road. While this road does not have the same restriction as the other road to Conchi Pool – but you should at the very least have a car with high clearance. We almost turned around several times due to the state of the road. with large pot holes and washed out areas. The photo below shows one of the better parts of the road.

Once you reach the end of the road, you will see the trail/road to the right with signs that you are entering the park. This is the start of the hike to the swimming hole.
Follow the trail to the base of the hill then take the trail to the right that leads uphill.


The trail from here to the pool is mostly easy to follow although there are several areas where it meanders a bit but you can easily find your way by following the coastline. You will pass a truly gorgeous beach as well as sand dunes along the path.
The trail itself is in good condition and is mostly flat with easy walking and you are consistently rewarded with beautiful views.



The trail ends right at the Natural Pool and you’ll likely find other people enjoying a dip. I took a quick dip here while Dave chose to just watch. There were several National Park workers here monitoring for safety.
Once you’ve enjoyed the pool, retrace your steps back to your car.

Cave Pool
While we enjoyed the hike to the Conchi Pool, we far prefered the Cave Pool, mostly because we had the entire pool to ourselves around 8:30 in the morning. This is not always the case as this swimming hole is now ‘discovered’ and by 11, there was a line to get to the pool.
How to Get There
The Cave Pool is located right next to the Bushiribana Ruins on the road to the Natural Arch. You will see a ladder coming over the side of the cliff near the water. To get to the cave, descend the ladder and you will need to walk across some sharp rocks to the platform. This adds a little excitement to the pool.
The road to get to the Cave Pool is easy to drive although it is also dirt. You can reach the Cave Pool in most cars and it shows up on the common map apps.
The pool is created from a rock fall that opened up a small pool. You will have crashing waves on one side of the rocks and complete calm on the other side. It’s truly a magical place to swim.



Which Swimming Hole is Better
Both swimming holes are a great way to explore this part of the island and should both be on your list although we preferred the Cave Pool- mostly due to the crowds. For both pools try to arrive early in the day or late in the day when it’s a little cooler and less crowded.
