Page 8 - AHATA

Saturday 27 July 2024 locAl
A10

Visit the island’s popular cave sites!

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