Aruba | 🏛 Aruba Horseback Riding Tour · Natural Pool Tours

Aruba: Horseback Ride to Natural Pool & Arikok Park

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/13

Duration3h 30m

GroupUp to 14

LanguagesEN · ES +1

PickupAt your hotel

Ride into Arikok's highlands, then down to volcanic rock pools

You ride through Arikok National Park on the Nacho Trail, a vehicle-free route that climbs into the highlands with views of the whole island, then descends to the Natural Pool where you swim or explore for 30 minutes before heading back. Hotel pickup, guide instruction, park fees and water are all included; the whole experience runs about three hours.

3h 30m

Step-by-step itinerary

Hotel pickup and transfer to Rancho Loco
Receive horse riding instructions
Pair with a horse and get comfortable
Ride on Nacho Trail through nature
Watch for wild goats and scenic views
Descend to the coastline to Natural Pool
Enjoy 30-minute break at Natural Pool
Swim or explore the Natural Pool area
Ride back to Rancho Loco
Say goodbye to horse and have a cold drink
Depart to hotel

The Experience

The trail narrows as the horse picks its way uphill, and suddenly the whole island spreads below you—white sand beaches, scrub brush burning gold in the sun, the ocean a flat blue line at the edge. You're on the Nacho Trail inside Arikok National Park, the only route through here without vehicle noise, and your guide points out wild goats moving between the huge cacti that dot the landscape. No riding experience is needed; Rancho Loco matches you with a horse during the instruction session at the ranch, and the pace is relaxed enough that you're not fighting the animal or yourself. The 2+ hour roundtrip ride is the whole point—it's the only way to reach the Natural Pool except on foot or in a 4x4, and the approach on horseback lets you see the terrain the way it actually is.

When you drop down toward the coast, the volcanic rock formation called Conchi comes into view—a miniature mountain range of stone rising from the water, the Natural Pool cupped inside it. You get 30 minutes to swim or just sit on the rocks and let the salt water cool you down. The formation is strange and beautiful in a way that photographs don't quite capture; the rocks are dark and weathered, and the pool itself is shallow enough to wade but deep enough to float. After you've had your time there, it's back on the horse for the descent to Rancho Loco, where a cold drink waits at the bar (you pay extra for that). Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, so the whole thing—the ride, the pool, the return—is handled without you arranging transport or paying park fees separately.

Long pants and closed shoes are strongly recommended because the saddle and the brush can wear on bare skin, and the sun here is direct. Children as young as 8 can ride if an adult is with them, and helmets are mandatory for anyone 12 and under. The weight limit is 220 pounds fully clothed, strictly enforced for the horses' sake and yours. If you have hip problems, spinal issues, or poor cardiovascular health, this tour isn't the right fit—the ride is steady but it does ask something of your body.

What’s included

Hotel or port pickup and drop-off, professional guide instruction, 2+ hour horseback ride on the Nacho Trail through Arikok National Park, 30 minutes at the Natural Pool, bottled water, National Park entry fees, and helmets for children 12 and under (mandatory). A cold drink at the bar is available for purchase after the ride.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Rancho Loco Aruba

Is this one for you?Right for riders who want to reach the Natural Pool without a 4x4 or a long hike, and who can handle a moderate-paced ride on horseback. Plan for about three hours total, and bring long pants and closed shoes—the saddle and brush will thank you.