Page 20 - AHATA

Thursday 6 March 2025 locAl
A10

Visit the island’s popular cave sites!

(Oranjestad)—Among the
endless sea of dark brown
sand and cacti, there are
two caves hidden in the
outskirts of San Nicolas, in
the north-eastern area of
the island. These caves,
The Quadiriki cave and The
Fontein Cave are open to
visitors of the Arikok Na-
tional Park, so if you ever
decide to take an “off-
road” tour in the park, be
sure to visit these prehis-
toric caves…and be sure to
bring a flashlight! would have it, the chief stubbornness, they both
disapproved of his daugh- died in the Quadiriki Cave,
Quadirikiri Cave ter’s choice of lover, as their ascending spirits burn-
Known for its two cham- he thought him unworthy. ing two holes in the ceiling
bers accompanied by a Stubborn and filled with an- of the cave. This is why the
skylight, the Quadikiri Cave ger, the daughter refused cave has two holes through
is the most popular cave to turn away her beloved. which sunlight passes
among locals and tourists, through to illuminate the
as it is easy to walk through So, the chief decided to chamber.
and provides great lighting lock her up in the Quadirikiri
for pictures. Cave, in hopes that she Though there have been
would soon calm down discoveries of Amerindian
As with all prehistoric or an- and turn away her lover. drawing on the wall, these
cient sites, there is always Her beloved, in turn, was have mostly been ruined
a folk legend that adds to locked away in the Tunnel by vandalism. However,
the lore and mystery of the of Love (Now known as the the Fontein Cave further
site. The Quadirikiri cave Huliba Cave). up north, provides a better The Huliba Cave/ Tunnel of as a way to preserve the
is no different. The most glimpse in prehistoric Amer- Love bat population that lives
well-known legend behind Through the pathways un- indian paintings. The Huliba Cave, formerly in the cave. These Long
the cave could be consid- derneath the Tunnel of known as the Tunnel of Tongue Fruit Bats and In-
ered as Aruba’s first love Love running up to the Fontein Cave Love, was once open to sect Eater Bats are very im-
story, as it tells the tale of Quadiriki cave, the two Longer than the Quadirikiri the public, and was the portant to the ecosystem of
the undying love between love bird found each other, Cave, the Fontein Cave biggest and most acces- the island. Though this cave
the chief’s daughter and and refused to let each contains pathways that sible of all three caves. This is no longer accessible to
her beloved. As legend other go. Because of their stretch to the limestone cave had five chambers, the public, it surely is inter-

walls further down. Here including one that is heart- esting to learn more about
is also where prehistoric shaped. This cave had nar- the history of these caves
drawings can be seen. row stairs that led to long and the Awarak tribes that
Though this cave does not pathways deep into the resided or utilized them.
have its own legend, this cave, with a staircase lead-
was speculated to have ing to the exit on the other Do note that these caves
been occupied—or at side. In one of the cham- are very dark, humid, hot,
least used by prehistoric Ar- bers, there used to be the and are inhabited by bats.
awak settlers on the island carving of the Virgin Mary, Do wear comfortable
for rituals and other spiritual put there for the protection clothing and shoes, as the
ceremonies. of the cave. pathways in these caves
may be rough and bumpy,
However, the Huliba Cave and don’t forget to bring a
has been permanently flashlight!q
closed for a few years now,