Budget Sunrise Hike And Swim

Sunrise Hike & Swim in Natural Pool: Escape the Crowds and Heat

★ 4.9 123 reviews

from $59 per person

Opens the operator's official listing with live dates. Book there; nothing is charged on this site. Free cancellation.

Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes
Meeting point: Confirmed after booking
Cancellation: Free cancellation
Run by: Yarimar Orozco

Overview

This 3 hour 30 minute tour starts at 6:00 am sharp outside Angochi Supermarket in Santa Cruz, and the early start is the whole point. Hikers set off while the island is still cool and reach Conchi, the natural pool, before the crowds and the heat arrive. The sunrise itself happens on the move rather than at a seated viewpoint, so travellers should expect to be walking as the light comes up.

The route strings together several short stops: about 50 minutes at Conchi Natural Pool, plus brief stops at Boca Ketu, Daimari Beach and Rancho Daimari. Fresh squeezed lemonade and a fruit bar biscuit are handed out, but hikers bring their own water. Reviewers consistently praise the guides for knowing the island's history, flora and fauna, and for pointing out fish while in the water.

The tour suits people with moderate fitness who are comfortable on uneven, rocky ground with a few hills. Families with children as young as nine have completed it, and several reviewers said the return leg is the toughest stretch. It does not suit wheelchair users or anyone with serious heart or medical conditions, and the group is capped at 13 travellers.

What's Included

Included

Snacks
Use of snorkelling equipment

Not Included

Admission fee - Conservation fee for the National park is $10 per adult (US$10.00 per person)
Gratuities are not included but highly appreciated

Itinerary

Meet at Angochi SupermarketMeet at 6:00 am sharp at Angochi Supermarket, Santa Cruz. The group leaves at 6:05 am, and there are no refunds for no shows or late arrivals.
Drive to the trailheadTransportation is not provided by the tour.
Conchi Natural PoolThe longest stop, 50 minutes. Admission to the national park is not included in the tour price; the conservation fee is 10 US dollars per adult and can be arranged through the guide.
Boca KetuA 10 minute stop at this coastal spot. Admission ticket not included.
Daimari BeachA 10 minute stop with free admission.
Boca Ketu againA second, shorter 5 minute pass through Boca Ketu on the way back.
Rancho DaimariA 10 minute stop near the end of the walk. Admission included.
Return to meeting pointThe activity ends back at Angochi Supermarket.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical things shape this tour more than most, from the 6:00 am start to the rocky trail and the extra park fee.

Footwear. Several travellers also recommend water shoes, since entering the natural pool requires walking over rocks.
Fitness and pace. The listing asks for a moderate fitness level, and reviewers describe a medium hike with a couple of hard spots. The trail is uneven and sandy in places, and several people say the final hill back to the vehicles is the real effort, so save some energy for it.
Water and snacks. The tour provides fresh squeezed lemonade and a fruit bar biscuit. Bring your own water bottle, since no other drinks are provided.
Snorkel gear. Snorkelling equipment is included, and reviewers strongly recommend using it. The pool has plenty of reef fish, and several travellers said the fish were a memorable part of the swim.
Early start payoff. The 6:00 am meeting exists to beat both heat and crowds. If you take a taxi to the meeting point, the same driver must follow the group to the start of the trail.
Group feel. The group is capped at 13 travellers. Guides stop to share information about the island and the trail along the way.

Common issues. The park conservation fee of 10 US dollars per adult is not included, and transportation is not provided, so travellers need a rental car or must arrange a lift to the trailhead. The trail is genuinely uneven, with hills and a sandy stretch, and one reviewer with a scheduled knee replacement felt the terrain was not made clear enough at booking. Poor weather can cancel the whole tour, with a different date or a full refund offered. A minimum number of travellers is required, and the tour is not wheelchair accessible. Full refunds require cancelling at least 24 hours before the 6:00 am start, and there are no refunds for no shows or late arrivals. One reviewer also found the WhatsApp communication before the tour brusque, though most praise the guides themselves.

Common Questions

What Is Included In The Price?

Snacks in the form of fresh squeezed lemonade and a fruit bar biscuit, plus use of snorkelling equipment. The national park conservation fee of 10 US dollars per adult, transportation and gratuities are not included.

Is Hotel Pickup Provided?

The listing does not state pickup. It gives a single meeting point, Angochi Supermarket in Santa Cruz, and the traveller should check the booking page for arrangements. If you take a taxi, the same driver must follow the group to the start of the trail.

Where And When Do We Meet?

At Angochi Supermarket in Santa Cruz, using the plus code G29P+QCQ. Meeting time is 6:00 am sharp, departure is 6:05 am, and arriving late counts as a no show with no refund.

Is This Hike Suitable For Kids Or People With Limited Mobility?

One reviewer's nine year old hiked the whole way, and families with teens have enjoyed it. However, the listing requires moderate physical fitness and excludes travellers with heart problems or serious medical conditions. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, and the trail is uneven with hills.

What Is The Cancellation Policy?

Cancel at least 24 hours before the 6:00 am start for a full refund. Inside 24 hours there is no refund and no changes are accepted. Weather cancellations and low traveller numbers come with the choice of a different date or a full refund.

What Should I Bring?

Your own water bottle, since drinks beyond the lemonade are not provided. Reviewers consistently recommend hiking shoes and water shoes for the rocky pool entry.