You’ll ride an ATV or UTV along Aruba’s volcanic north coast with a local guide, stopping for photos at Blackstone Beach and 3 Sisters Bridges before swimming in a hidden cave pool. Hear stories at Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins and end with a swim at Arashi Beach—expect dust on your skin and salt in your hair.
I didn’t expect the north side of Aruba to feel so different. It’s like someone flipped the island over—suddenly you’re bouncing over black volcanic rock instead of soft sand, wind whipping your hair (and sand in your teeth if you grin too wide). Our guide, Miguel, kept laughing at how we all clung to the steering wheels on those first bumpy stretches. The Honda UTV felt solid but I still braced myself every time we hit a dip. You really do smell the salt and something almost metallic in the air near Blackstone Beach. That was our first real stop—those round black stones everywhere, nothing like Eagle Beach back at the resort.
Miguel told us about the 3 Sisters Bridges and pointed out how they’ve just sort of grown out of each other—nature doing its own architecture. There were a couple of fly-by stops where he’d shout facts over the engine noise (I caught half), but mostly I was distracted by the crash of waves and that weird feeling you get when you realize you’re somewhere most people never see. We got to Andicuri Beach just as a few local kids were racing along the waterline—one waved at us, then just kept running. The water looked wild, blue-green and foamy, not really for swimming but beautiful in its own way.
The cave pool was something else. You have to climb down this ladder—my hands slipped a bit because everything’s damp from sea spray—and suddenly it’s quiet except for drips echoing off stone. Water’s cold at first but clear enough to see your toes. Some folks jumped from the rocks; I chickened out and just slid in. Still felt brave enough after all that off-roading dust. When we dried off on the rocks outside, Miguel passed around cookies (he called them “Aruban power bars,” which made us laugh) and told us about Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins up ahead.
Standing inside those old stone walls with sunlight slanting through gaps—it’s strange what sticks with you. He explained how people came here chasing gold dreams over a century ago; now it’s just wind, stone, and stories. We finished up at Arashi Beach where everything suddenly went calm again—white sand, gentle water, families picnicking under umbrellas. I still think about that view back toward the rough north coast while rinsing salt off my arms in turquoise shallows. If you want Aruba beyond postcards—a bit raw around the edges—this day trip is probably it.
The tour typically lasts half a day with morning pickup between 8:30–8:50 am or afternoon pickup between 2:00–2:15 pm.
Bring swim gear, sunglasses, your driver’s license if driving, and be ready for some dust and sun.
Yes, pickup and drop-off are included from designated hotels or meeting points.
Yes, there’s time to swim in a natural cave pool and relax at Arashi Beach.
You must be at least 18 years old to drive; not recommended for pregnant travelers or those with spinal injuries.
You’ll see Blackstone Beach, 3 Sisters Bridges, Andicuri Beach (drive-by), Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins, California Lighthouse (fly-by), secret cave pool for swimming, and finish at Arashi Beach.
No previous experience is needed—the guide gives instructions before heading out.
You’ll get water and a cookie snack during one of the stops.
Your day includes hotel or port pickup and drop-off from selected points around Aruba (or free parking if you meet there), bottled water to keep you going under that strong sun, a cookie snack after swimming in the cave pool (trust me—you’ll want it), plus all guiding fees covered so you can focus on driving dusty trails instead of logistics.
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