Page 11 - AHATA

Saturday 8 February 2025 locAl
A10

Visit the island’s popular cave sites!

(Oranjestad)—Among the a folk legend that adds to Through the pathways un-
endless sea of dark brown the lore and mystery of the derneath the Tunnel of
sand and cacti, there are site. The Quadirikiri cave Love running up to the
two caves hidden in the is no different. The most Quadiriki cave, the two
outskirts of San Nicolas, in well-known legend behind love bird found each other,
the north-eastern area of the cave could be consid- and refused to let each
the island. These caves, ered as Aruba’s first love other go. Because of their
The Quadiriki cave and The story, as it tells the tale of stubbornness, they both
Fontein Cave are open to the undying love between died in the Quadiriki Cave,
visitors of the Arikok Na- the chief’s daughter and their ascending spirits burn-
tional Park, so if you ever her beloved. As legend ing two holes in the ceiling
decide to take an “off- would have it, the chief of the cave. This is why the
road” tour in the park, be disapproved of his daugh- cave has two holes through
sure to visit these prehis- ter’s choice of lover, as which sunlight passes
toric caves…and be sure to he thought him unworthy. through to illuminate the
bring a flashlight! Stubborn and filled with an- chamber.
ger, the daughter refused
Quadirikiri Cave to turn away her beloved. Though there have been
Known for its two cham- discoveries of Amerindian
bers accompanied by a So, the chief decided to drawing on the wall, these
skylight, the Quadikiri Cave lock her up in the Quadirikiri have mostly been ruined
is the most popular cave Cave, in hopes that she by vandalism. However,
among locals and tourists, would soon calm down the Fontein Cave further
as it is easy to walk through and turn away her lover. up north, provides a better
and provides great lighting Her beloved, in turn, was glimpse in prehistoric Amer-
for pictures. locked away in the Tunnel indian paintings.
of Love (Now known as the
As with all prehistoric or an- Huliba Cave). Fontein Cave
cient sites, there is always Longer than the Quadirikiri
Cave, the Fontein Cave
contains pathways that
stretch to the limestone
walls further down. Here
is also where prehistoric
drawings can be seen.
Though this cave does not
have its own legend, this
was speculated to have
been occupied—or at
least used by prehistoric Ar-
awak settlers on the island
for rituals and other spiritual
ceremonies.

The Huliba Cave/ Tunnel of
Love
The Huliba Cave, formerly
known as the Tunnel of put there for the protection esting to learn more about
Love, was once open to of the cave. the history of these caves
the public, and was the and the Awarak tribes that
biggest and most acces- However, the Huliba Cave resided or utilized them.
sible of all three caves. This has been permanently
cave had five chambers, closed for a few years now, Do note that these caves
including one that is heart- as a way to preserve the are very dark, humid, hot,
shaped. This cave had nar- bat population that lives and are inhabited by bats.
row stairs that led to long in the cave. These Long Do wear comfortable
pathways deep into the Tongue Fruit Bats and In- clothing and shoes, as the
cave, with a staircase lead- sect Eater Bats are very im- pathways in these caves
ing to the exit on the other portant to the ecosystem of may be rough and bumpy,
side. In one of the cham- the island. Though this cave and don’t forget to bring a
bers, there used to be the is no longer accessible to flashlight!q
carving of the Virgin Mary, the public, it surely is inter-