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LOCAL Wednesday 15 OctOber 2025

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

Prohibited by law: leaving the island with seashells, white sand or corals

(Oranjestad)—Often times, the customs experience for the tourist. This also leads
department at the airport intercepts many to a negative reaction which can put our
tourists leaving the island with seashells, tourism in a negative light.
white sand and/or corals as souvenirs.
Though we love to accommodate our
Conforming to the international treaty of visitors, let’s all give nature the respect it
CITES and our local law which protects deserves by protecting our environment.
our Flora & Fauna, it is absolutely prohib-
ited to take any seashell, sand and coral Stop collecting seashells, white sand and
outside of Aruba. This is to protect our en- corals from our shores and stop buying or
vironment. The high number of seashells, accepting these from local sellers or com-
coral and amount of sand confiscated is panies.
very strange and it is suspected that our
own locals are the ones selling these to We want our future generations and visi-
the tourists, which is unacceptable. tors to enjoy the beauty of our beaches,
shells and corals in a sustainable way,
Upon confiscation at the airport, you can without destroying or disrupting the Aru-
also face a fine that they have to pay be- ban ecosystem. Help us protect what is
fore leaving. This is surely not a pleasant ours!q