Page 9 - AHATA

Saturday 17 February 2024 LOCAL
A10

Visit the island’s popular cave sites!

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