Life means nothing without a great adventure every now and then, that’s the reason why a few months ago I decided to take a small vacation with my boyfriend, it was definitely time for us to make some great traveling memories!... After long hours of talking and pointing out the things we love about traveling, we both reached to a conclusion: Aruba was the perfect destination for both of us.
Beautiful beaches a magnificent weather and more than welcoming locals; the beautiful One Happy Island definitely has many happy attributes for tourist and also for people who are looking for a more adventurous traveling. I want to share many stories about it with you guys, but today I want to start with one of my favorite days at the island, the day we got to see Conchi: the secret jewel of Aruba!
Located at the Arikok National Park, Conchi “the natural pool” it’s the most important national attraction of Aruba. Its names say it all: it’s a beautiful pool that was formed of comprised ancient lava stone and surrounded by rough seas. The crush of the waves slowly created a small area that is similar to a pool and that is perfect for swimming and snorkeling. It’s just stunning from every angle!
The way to Conchi is also an adventure itself. If you want to visit this natural wonder there’s a few things you must know; the road to the natural pool is not that easy since it’s a very rocky road, so the only way to get there (besides walking) is on a 4x4 vehicle. There’s easy options for tourists since you can rent yourself a 4x4 car or a motorbike, and there are also rustic bus tours that can take you as well.
Since my boyfriend is the most adventurous soul in the planet, we decided to take the walking path… I think getting to Conchi by foot was definitely an amazing experience, but it was also a bit exhausting if you are not used to walking long distances, so you need to take that on consideration. I definitely have some recommendations for you in case you want to hike this amazing trail:
1.- Use the proper hiking shoes: the distance between the main entrance of the Arikok National Park and the natural pool is a few miles and the road its full of rocks. If you want to walk in a more comfortable way then you must definitely need to use hiking shoes. The rocks are a bit slippery (trust me, I know this since I decided to wear converse and it was a poor decision lol).
2.- Use a hat and a great sun lotion: the way to Conchi is hot and a bit deserted. You won’t find trees on the road so the only shelter from the sun would definitely be a nice hat and a sun lotion. Remember that your skin is very sensitive so protect it well.
3.- Bring water, food and natural snacks with you: remember, you are going to a national park, they won’t have amenities or food stands all over the place, that is why is very important for you to bring your bottle of water to keep you hydrated and some good food to give you fuel for the walking.
4.- Bring a camera with you: the road to Conchi is absolutely amazing and as beautiful as the pool itself. You will find many wonderful sea views as well as many rock formations that I’m sure you’ll be crazy to capture on a nice picture.
5.- Have a ton of fun!: maybe that’s not even a recommendation at all lol, but definitely, have a ton of fun. Going to a marvelous place like this is definitely an experience for a lifetime. For me this was definitely the most beautiful place to check out in Aruba and I know you are going to be amazed by its wonders… So my dear friends, I encourage you to go do some hiking, have a great swim, make a nice healthy picnic and enjoy life!
