Page 11 - AHATA

Monday 8 January 2024 LOCAL
A10

Visit the island’s popular cave sites!

(Oranjestad)—Among the
endless sea of dark brown
sand and cacti, there are
two caves hidden in the
outskirts of San Nicolas, in
the north-eastern area of
the island. These caves,
The Quadiriki cave and The
Fontein Cave are open to
visitors of the Arikok Na-
tional Park, so if you ever
decide to take an “off-
road” tour in the park, be
sure to visit these prehis-
toric caves…and be sure to
bring a flashlight! would have it, the chief stubbornness, they both
disapproved of his daugh- died in the Quadiriki Cave,
Quadirikiri Cave ter’s choice of lover, as their ascending spirits burn-
Known for its two cham- he thought him unworthy. ing two holes in the ceiling
bers accompanied by a Stubborn and filled with an- of the cave. This is why the
skylight, the Quadikiri Cave ger, the daughter refused cave has two holes through
is the most popular cave to turn away her beloved. which sunlight passes
among locals and tourists, through to illuminate the
as it is easy to walk through So, the chief decided to chamber.
and provides great lighting lock her up in the Quadirikiri Though there have been
for pictures. Cave, in hopes that she discoveries of Amerindian
would soon calm down drawing on the wall, these
As with all prehistoric or an- and turn away her lover. have mostly been ruined
cient sites, there is always Her beloved, in turn, was by vandalism. However,
a folk legend that adds to locked away in the Tunnel the Fontein Cave further
the lore and mystery of the of Love (Now known as the up north, provides a better
site. The Quadirikiri cave Huliba Cave). glimpse in prehistoric Amer- Love as a way to preserve the
is no different. The most indian paintings. The Huliba Cave, formerly bat population that lives
well-known legend behind Through the pathways un- known as the Tunnel of in the cave. These Long
the cave could be consid- derneath the Tunnel of Fontein Cave Love, was once open to Tongue Fruit Bats and In-
ered as Aruba’s first love Love running up to the Longer than the Quadirikiri the public, and was the sect Eater Bats are very im-
story, as it tells the tale of Quadiriki cave, the two Cave, the Fontein Cave biggest and most acces- portant to the ecosystem of
the undying love between love bird found each other, contains pathways that sible of all three caves. This the island. Though this cave
the chief’s daughter and and refused to let each stretch to the limestone cave had five chambers, is no longer accessible to
her beloved. As legend other go. Because of their walls further down. Here including one that is heart- the public, it surely is inter-

is also where prehistoric shaped. This cave had nar- esting to learn more about
drawings can be seen. row stairs that led to long the history of these caves
Though this cave does not pathways deep into the and the Awarak tribes that
have its own legend, this cave, with a staircase lead- resided or utilized them.
was speculated to have ing to the exit on the other
been occupied—or at side. In one of the cham- Do note that these caves
least used by prehistoric Ar- bers, there used to be the are very dark, humid, hot,
awak settlers on the island carving of the Virgin Mary, and are inhabited by bats.
for rituals and other spiritual put there for the protection Do wear comfortable
ceremonies. of the cave. clothing and shoes, as the
pathways in these caves
The Huliba Cave/ Tunnel of However, the Huliba Cave may be rough and bumpy,
has been permanently and don’t forget to bring a
closed for a few years now, flashlight!