Arikok National Park
Covering nearly a fifth of the island, Arikok National Park is the wild, rugged soul of Aruba: a desert wilderness of cactus, divi-divi trees, rocky hills and a dramatic windward coast pounded by the open Atlantic. It is a landscape that feels worlds away from the calm western beaches, and it is the part of the island that surprises travelers most.
Its star attraction is the Natural Pool, known as Conchi or Cura di Tortuga, a secluded circle of calm, clear water enclosed by volcanic rock where you can swim while waves crash just beyond. Reaching it is half the adventure: you arrive by rugged 4x4, on horseback or on foot, and the journey across the desert is as memorable as the dip itself.
The park also shelters limestone caves with ancient Arawak rock drawings at Fontein and Quadirikiri, hidden coves, sand dunes and the island's highest hills, a landscape utterly different from the calm western beaches and best explored with a guide or a sturdy vehicle. We weave a day in Arikok into a beach week to give the trip its sense of discovery.
