Arikok National Park covers 7,907 acres, nearly 20 percent of Aruba, and is open daily from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, with a day pass sold at the visitor center at San Fuego 71 in Santa Cruz (Aruba Tourism Authority and VisitAruba, read 7 November 2026). It holds the island's caves, wild windward beaches, gold-mine ruins, hiking trails and the Natural Pool, and its roughest tracks are for 4x4 vehicles or walkers.
Highlights
Quadirikiri Cave
Two chambers lit by sunlight through holes in the roof, about 100 feet long, with hundreds of harmless bats roosting in the darker parts.
Fontein Cave
The most popular cave, with Arawak drawings on the ceiling, which the tourism board calls the only cave with such drawings, plus stalactites and stalagmites. It is shallow and low, so visitors crawl. Rangers at the cave entrances can give a guided tour that explains the drawings and the formations.
The Natural Pool (Conchi)
A pool in a ring of volcanic rock on the northeast coast. A park pass is required, standard passenger cars cannot go beyond the park checkpoints toward it, and the tourism board lists a 4x4, a guided 4x4 tour, horseback or a 3 to 4-hour round-trip hike for experienced hikers. Swimming is only safe when the ocean is calm; water shoes are strongly recommended. There are steep stone steps, so the site is not wheelchair accessible. A small snack and drink stand is often open at the top of the stairs. More in Aruba's Natural Pool.
Guided walks
Guided nature walks follow dry riverbeds to secluded bays including Moro, Boca Prins and Dos Playa.
Practical info
Tips
- UTVs and ATVs are banned inside the park, so quad tours stay outside it (see Aruba excursions). Buy the day pass at the visitor center before you drive in. If you do not want to drive the rough tracks yourself, the Arikok National Park jeep safari is rated 4.9 out of 5 from 262 reviews on GetYourGuide (read 7 November 2026). Other jeep options are compared in jeep tours in Aruba.
How to get there
The main visitor center is at San Fuego 71, Santa Cruz (phone +297 585 1234). Visitors explore by jeep or on foot, and the tourism board advises inexperienced drivers to take a jeep safari. See getting around Aruba.
Opening hours
Nearby
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