Page 9 - AHATA

a8 local
Friday 29 august 2025

Explore Aruba

Aruba Today collected job is to maintain trails and these close in the park’s
some things to do BEYOND protect natural resources. Visitors’ Center. For more in-
the beach. Yes, we know. The flora and fauna are formation, visit the website
Aruba, located 15 miles beautiful and the histori- www.acf.aw
north of Venezuela in the cal sites tell you about the
warm waters of the south- island’s indigenous roots. Natural Bridge
ern Caribbean, is home The guided tours are even One of Aruba’s favorite
to beautiful white-sand free of charge. If you are tourist attractions is the
beaches, 82-degree days, not up to walking, you can Natural Bridge. For thou-
and thus ideal for the per- drive through the park, one sands of years, pounding
fect beach day. But we way or another this park is waves and strong winds
are also blessed with some a great place to spend an have slowly chiseled away
of the warmest people in entire day. Cruising through the limestone cliffs along
the world and our island is the landscape you end Aruba’s north coast to cre- tunately the bridge col- created under the guid-
19.6 miles long and 6 miles up at some of the most ate several natural bridges. lapsed on September 2, ance of a priest named
across, with a total area of stunning beaches like Dos The largest of these bridg- 2005. Despite this, it is still “Erkamp” and parishioners
70 square miles. Bit more Playa or Daimara Beach. es used to be the famous the most photographed in the year 1958. The grotto,
to discover than the white In Total the park consists Natural Bridge. The bridge natural bridge and it re- a shrine built into the rocks
stretch on the coastline we of 34 square kilometers of was a formation of coral mains a popular tourist at- is located in Seroe Preto,
say. Let’s mention some of protected nature with a limestone cut out by years traction in Aruba, with the just off the main road to
these hidden gems. richness of animals living in of pounding surf, and was adjacent and intact Baby San Nicolas. A statue of the
it. The Aruban whiptail liz- one of the largest of these Bridge also meriting a visit. Virgin Mary, weighing 700
Arikok National Park ard (cododo), Aruban cat types of spans in the world. The Natural Bridge is the kilos, was hoisted into place
The Arikok National park is eye snake (santanero) and It standed some 23 feet (7 perfect stop while touring in the grotto. Every year, on
worth the ride. We love the endangered rattle snake meters) above sea level Aruba. There is no admis- February 11 (feast of Lady
hikes that are guided by (cascabel) are just some of and spans more than 100 sion fee or set hours for visit- of Lourdes), a procession
the park’s rangers whose them, you can also admire feet (30 meters). Unfor- ing. Quench your thirst with leaves from the St. There-
refreshing beverages & sita church in San Nicolas
refuel your tank with local to the grotto, where a mass
snacks. is performed. The grotto is
located road-side and can
The Lourdes Grotto be visited daily. Just make
Named in commemora- sure you park safely in the
tion of the famous French event you wish to stop for
religious landmark, was pictures at this location.q