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local Thursday 6 July 2023
Visit the island’s popular cave sites!

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