While you may find yourself daydreaming about the next pool you want to lounge by in a hot Caribbean resort, you may want to consider daydreaming about one of these 10 Natural Pools. I was graciously offered the opportunity to partner up with Holiday Lettings from TripAdvisor to feature this article. For more information about Holiday Lettings or TripAdvisor, please click on the links. Please note that this is not a sponsored post and the article was personally chosen and endorsed by me.
Nothing says ‘holiday’ like a refreshing dip. If you’ve had enough of bobbing up and down in a rectangular hole in a hotel complex, you might like to try one of these natural beauties.
No chlorine, no artificial heating, no boring lanes to power up and down like a mechanical bath toy. Here’s the Holiday Lettings top 10 rundown of natural pools.
1. Havasu Falls, USA
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A waterfall tumbling into a stunning blue pool might just be the perfect end to a ramble around the Grand Canyon National Park. Located in the Havasupai Indian Reservation to the south of the canyon is this gorgeous oasis. But you may have to work up a sweat to get there. Hike the 10 miles (or get airlifted in by chopper, if that’s your thing).
2. Cenote X’Kenen, Mexico
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| Photo credit: Razi Marysol Machay (license) via Flickr |
You’ll find Cenote X’Kenen in a large, atmospheric cave. It’s a deep and chilly body of water, with natural light streaming in through an opening in the rock above – some visitors choose to fling themselves in from here. Once you’re in, you’ll be tickled by the resident catfish as you float around.
3. Blue Lagoon, Iceland
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| Photo credit: Jerick Parrone Machay (license) via Flickr |
One of the most famous natural pools in the world, the Blue Lagoon remains a tourist favourite, so you’re unlikely to be bathing alone here. With 6 million litres of geothermal water maintaining a year-round temperature of 37-40 degrees Celsius, a soak here is like wallowing in the world’s largest bath.
4. Fairy Pools, Scotland
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| Photo credit: William Pearce (license) via Flickr |
You’ll need to don your hiking boots to reach this pretty series of little pools fed by mini waterfalls, but it’s worth it. Splash around in the cool waters and take your goggles – the water’s crystal-clear and you’ll want to see the rock formations and little underground caves.
5. Pamukkale Thermal Pools, Turkey
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| Photo credit: P. Vasiliadis (license) via Wikipedia Commons |
Pamukkale translates as ‘cotton castle’, so named for the calcite formations that give the thermal pool contours a white and fluffy look from afar. There’s not much depth to the pools here, so don’t expect to dive. The views, however, are divine.
6. Bimmah sinkhole, Oman
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| Photo credit: Martyna Zambrzycka Millspaugh via Wikimedia Commons |
You’ll be astonished at the sight of this amazing sinkhole set in northern Oman’s Hawiyat Najm Park. Man-made steps lead down to the deep blue waters, which slope down to a full 20 metres deep. Be prepared to have your toes nibbled by the friendly fish.
7. To Sua Ocean Trench, Samoa
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| Photo credit: Neil (license) via Wikipedia Commons |
To Sua means ‘big hole’, and that’s exactly what you’ll find here. Descend the long wooden ladder into stunning cool waters that run 30 metres deep then gaze up at the lush green foliage spilling over the edges as you enjoy a leisurely swim.
8. Treyarnon Bay Natural Lagoon, UK
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| Photo credit: Roy Parkhouse (license) via geograph.org.uk |
When the tide goes out on Cornwall’s Treyarnon Bay, that’s the time to slip into this lovely rock pool with a stunning view. It’s safely bordered for bathing families and a bit warmer than braving the open seawater.
9. Ik Kil Cenote, Mexico
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| Photo credit: daryl_mitchell (license) via Flickr |
This deep, round pool was brought into view after a cave collapsed. It’s made all the more picture perfect by the vegetation bursting out above and green vines dangling down into the water. Access is via a carved staircase down to a platform. It’s plenty deep, so you can dive right in.
10. Natural Saltwater Pools, the Azores
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| Photo credit: Portuguese_eyes (license) via Wikipedia Commons |
You’ll find pools aplenty along the coast of the Azores archipelago. Some are untouched and others sport a few man-made additions to make them safely accessible for the tourists drawn to a soak in the warm, iron-rich waters.
Happy Travels Everyone!
Andrea
Andrea