The Conchi Natural Pool is a naturally formed pool nestled within Aruba's rugged coastline. The pools are situated deep inside the Arikok National Park in Aruba, a park that makes up almost 20% of the entire island. In a typical national park where trees are prevalent, this park stands out with a unique feature—a forest of cacti take the place of the traditional trees. Getting to the Conchi Natural Pools is an adventure that initially seemed a bit uncertain, but it unexpectedly became the highlight of the trip, and getting there was actually half of the fun.
Arrival and parking
Before reaching the starting point of your hike, you'll need to visit the Visitor's Center to pay the entrance fee for access to the National Park. Once you do, you'll take a dirt road from the Visitor's Center, to your first stop, Daimari Beach.
It costs $15 per person to access the park, and from there you have access to the entire dessert landscape with all of the unique beaches, lookouts, caves and rock formations.
Finding your way and parking
When you reach the end of Daimari road, you will reach a small parking lot called Parking Rancho. You might spot a few parked cars, signaling other fellow hikers who may be walking to Conchi. In our case, there was nobody else around when we did the hike, which intensified the uncertainty about our path to the natural pools. If you find yourself in a similar situation, don't worry, just follow these directions, and you'll find your way just fine!
Hike to the Daimari Beach
Starting from the parking lot, you will walk down a dirt trail to the base of the hill. Your initial destination is Daimari Beach, which is noticeable in the distance. Head towards the water until you reach a large rock formation by the beach (the rock has a large overhang that you can use as a spot to briefly escape the sun). The beach isn't very nice, it's full of kelp and trash and the water is too rough for swimming.
Upon reaching Daimari Beach, your next task is to find a suitable access point for climbing over the rocks to reach higher ground. You'll probably notice signs of previous visitors—a cue for us was an arrangement of stacked wooden posts that helped us climb over the rock. The rock is steep and requires some climbing and physical effort to lift yourself up and over.
What to expect on the hike
Throughout your hike you'll encounter stretches of arid land full of cacti, shrubs, and unique desert flora. It's a very picturesque setting, but the pathway is quite unclear as you begin your walk through the desert and sand dunes. Unlike a typical hike with well-marked paths, this hike requires a different approach. Instead of a clearly defined trail, you'll navigate by heading south and moving along the coastline, essentially creating your own path as you go.
The hike involves a mix of moderate to challenging terrain, especially as you navigate the dunes and rocky areas. Be prepared for some moderate ascents and descents, and wear running shoes, even though you're hiking through sand most of the time. I would also recommend packing water, a hat and a shirt for your hike. It is extremely hot, the sun is very strong and there is no shade anywhere along the hike.
Hike to Boca Keto / Klein Aruba "The Big Rock"
Once you've reached the top of the rock at Daimari Beach, you'll start walking south through the desert and the sand dunes. While the sand dunes may pose a short challenge, they're not a prolonged obstacle. You'll have to climb a large sand dune, after which you will reach the peak where you'll get a panoramic view of the ocean. You'll know you're on the right way when you spot a huge boulder in the water near the shoreline.
This beach is notably beautiful; however, the water still has considerable waves, making it difficult to swim. I would recommend not stopping here for long, but continuing your hike, as you'll be getting close to the natural pools at this point.
Hike to the peek / Conchi Natural Pools
What I liked most about this hike were the changes in terrain over such a short distance. We walked through dry desert grounds, deep sand dunes and even jagged volcanic-looking rock, that lined the coast.
From a distance you'll begin to see the light blue waters of the Conchi Natural Pools, and you might even begin to see some people, most likely the first people you've seen throughout your entire hike. I was relieved, as I had concerns about hiking an undefined path and getting lost in the desert. Upon reaching the Conchi Natural Pools, it was obvious that most of the visitors arrive in 4x4 vehicles accompanied by local tour guides.
The Conchi Natural Pools
Our arrival coincided with a group being guided by a local tour guide. This was nice because we joined the group by the pools and got to listen in on the advice the guide was giving others. The pools look a lot more intimidating then they actually are. The rock formations that enclose the pools play a crucial role in acting as a barrier and diffusing the waves that come from the surrounding open waters. At times, the water does crash over the rocks, but if the tour guide hadn't been there, we might have assumed it to be too dangerous to swim.
Other than the waves in the water, you have to be careful walking over the rocks to get to the pools, because they're slippery and sharp. Otherwise, once you're in the pool, you can stay near the rocks where it is shallow, or swim towards the middle where it is deeper and where you can snorkel and see some marine life. The water gets deep very fast, reaching about 17 feet deep just a couple feet from the shoreline.
The hike back
The return hike seemed shorter compared to the journey to the pools, maybe because I had a better idea of the route I needed to take back. Plan your visit to the pools early in the day, to make sure that there will be daylight for your return, otherwise you might find yourself in a difficult position trying to navigate the endless desert with no light.
Overall, I would recommend doing the hike to the pools if you can and are in the mood for more of a challenge. Otherwise, there are many tour guides that will safely take you and guide you through the experience themselves.
