Page 12 - AHATA

A9
LOCAL Monday 16 SepteMber 2024

Visit the island’s popular cave sites!

(Oranjestad)—Among the The Huliba Cave, formerly
endless sea of dark brown known as the Tunnel of
sand and cacti, there are Love, was once open to
two caves hidden in the the public, and was the
outskirts of San Nicolas, in biggest and most acces-
the north-eastern area of sible of all three caves. This
the island. These caves, cave had five chambers,
The Quadiriki cave and The including one that is heart-
Fontein Cave are open to shaped. This cave had nar-
visitors of the Arikok Na- row stairs that led to long
tional Park, so if you ever pathways deep into the
decide to take an “off- cave, with a staircase lead-
road” tour in the park, be ing to the exit on the other
sure to visit these prehis- side. In one of the cham-
toric caves…and be sure to bers, there used to be the
bring a flashlight! carving of the Virgin Mary,
put there for the protection
Quadirikiri Cave of the cave.
Known for its two cham-
bers accompanied by a However, the Huliba Cave
skylight, the Quadikiri Cave has been permanently
is the most popular cave the lore and mystery of the her beloved. As legend by vandalism. However, closed for a few years now,
among locals and tourists, site. The Quadirikiri cave would have it, the chief the Fontein Cave further as a way to preserve the
as it is easy to walk through is no different. The most disapproved of his daugh- up north, provides a better bat population that lives
and provides great lighting well-known legend behind ter’s choice of lover, as glimpse in prehistoric Amer- in the cave. These Long
for pictures. the cave could be consid- he thought him unworthy. indian paintings. Tongue Fruit Bats and In-
ered as Aruba’s first love Stubborn and filled with an- sect Eater Bats are very im-
As with all prehistoric or an- story, as it tells the tale of ger, the daughter refused Fontein Cave portant to the ecosystem
cient sites, there is always the undying love between to turn away her beloved. Longer than the Quadirikiri of the island. Though this
a folk legend that adds to the chief’s daughter and Cave, the Fontein Cave cave is no longer acces-
So, the chief decided to contains pathways that sible to the public, it surely
lock her up in the Quadirikiri stretch to the limestone is interesting to learn more
Cave, in hopes that she walls further down. Here about the history of these
would soon calm down is also where prehistoric caves and the Awarak
and turn away her lover. drawings can be seen. tribes that resided or uti-
Her beloved, in turn, was Though this cave does not lized them.
locked away in the Tunnel have its own legend, this
of Love (Now known as the was speculated to have Do note that these caves
Huliba Cave). been occupied—or at are very dark, humid, hot,
least used by prehistoric Ar- and are inhabited by bats.
Through the pathways un- awak settlers on the island Do wear comfortable
derneath the Tunnel of for rituals and other spiritual clothing and shoes, as the
Love running up to the ceremonies. pathways in these caves
Quadiriki cave, the two may be rough and bumpy,
love bird found each other, The Huliba Cave/ Tunnel of and don’t forget to bring a
and refused to let each Love flashlight!
other go. Because of their
stubbornness, they both
died in the Quadiriki Cave,
their ascending spirits burn-
ing two holes in the ceiling
of the cave. This is why the
cave has two holes through
which sunlight passes
through to illuminate the
chamber.

Though there have been
discoveries of Amerindian
drawing on the wall, these
have mostly been ruined