Page 14 - AHATA

a7
local Tuesday 30 sepTember 2025
Visit the island’s popular cave sites!

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