Our local picks
These are hikes we walked ourselves, with our own photos and tips.
More popular hikes in Aruba
We haven’t written our own guides for these yet. Distances and times are approximate, based on published trail guides; check a trail map before you go.
| Hike | Where | Distance and time | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hooiberg | Near Oranjestad | About 30 min up | Climb the concrete steps, or take the rockier back path marked with red dots. Big views over Oranjestad and Santa Cruz. |
| California Lighthouse loop | North tip of the island | About 4 km, 1 hr, easy | Flat loop over dirt roads, rocky shore and dunes. Lovely at sunrise or sunset. |
| Daimari to the Natural Pool | Arikok National Park | About 3.8 km, 1.5 hrs, easy | The back route to the Natural Pool across the dunes. Park fee applies. |
| Bushiribana to Wariruri Bay | North coast | About 7 km, 2.5 hrs, easy | Loop marked with white arrows, past cactus and volcanic rock to a local surf beach. |
| Balashi gold mill ruins | Near Spanish Lagoon | About 3 km, 50 min, easy | Short loop to old gold mill ruins, past mangroves where parakeets nest. |
| Jamanota to Fontein Cave and Dos Playa | Arikok National Park | About 13.6 km, 4.5 hrs, moderate | The island’s highest point and old Arawak rock drawings. Long and hot: start early. Park fee applies. |
For GPS maps of these routes, see AllTrails (Arikok National Park) or Wikiloc (Aruba). Distances above are from Lonely Planet’s Aruba hiking guide.
Local tips for hiking in Aruba
- Beat the heat. Start early morning or late afternoon; there’s almost no shade.
- Closed shoes. Cactus spines and loose rock are everywhere.
- More water than you think. The trade winds hide how fast you dry out.
- Don’t swim on the north coast. The currents are strong.
- Park fee in Arikok. Trails inside the national park need a park entry.
Go with a guide
Not sure of the way? Many trails are only partly marked. A guided group hike takes the guesswork out, and the guide shares the stories behind each place. The Aruba Conservation Foundation, which runs Arikok, also offers guided hikes in the park.
Rather book a guided hike to the Natural Pool on Viator? These two are the ones our readers book:
- Sunrise Hike & Swim in the Natural Pool: a small-group hike that starts early in the morning, before the heat and the jeep crowds, with a swim in the pool.
- Private National Park Hike & Natural Pool Swim: a private guided hike through Arikok to the Natural Pool, just for your group.
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