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local Monday 1 SepteMber 2025
National Park Arikok: Aruba’s biggest nature conservation

The National Park Arikok the difficult conditions, and
comprises almost 18 % of were able to erect their
the island. Its rugged ter- homes with materials found
rain, desert-like hills filled in the area. Two of these
with tall cacti, breathtaking adobe houses have been
coastline and protected restored. Park rangers are
local flora and fauna wel- learning many of the old
come you to be explored. building techniques in or-
There are numerous ani- der to preserve this unique
mals to discover, for exam- Aruban mud-house. At Cu-
ple the bright blue Cododo nucu Arikok and near Plan-
or mighty Warawara. tation Prins you can find
these adobe houses.
The national park Arikok
takes you on a memorable Park Management
journey of the islands past For the management of
offering unique geological, the park, a dedicated
cultural and historical sites. foundation “Aruba Conser-
These can all be enjoyed fossilized coral. The two vation Foundation (ACF),
and explored either on tallest hills on the island are formerly known as Aruba
your own or during guided situated within the park. National Park Foundation.
tours. A wide variety of ed- Jamanota hill 188 meters This foundation was estab-
ucational and informative (617 ft) and Arikok hill 176 lished in July 2003. In Feb-
programs and fun activities meters (577 ft), from which ruary 2017, mangrove and
is available. the name of the park is de- wetland RAMSAR site #198
rived. Spanish Lagoon was an-
Did you know that four of nexed to Arikok National
the seven species of sea The line of the permanently Park due to its importance
turtle lay their eggs on wind-and-wave beaten as a feeding and breed-
Aruba's beaches? In the North Coast is broken by ing area for water birds
national park, a Least Tern several bays (boca’s). Most and as a nursery area for
(Sternula antillarum) keeps Nature Conservation Aruba is assigned as a Na- of them are small yet im- a variety of marine organ-
a strict eye on a very spe- The protected area of Na- tional Park, to protect and pressive inlets at the mouth isms. With this addition, the
cial event taking place be- tional Park Arikok was of- preserve the flora, fauna, of dry riverbeds. Some areas under management
low on the beach: A ma- ficially established in 2000. geology and historical re- of these bays (boca’s) increased by 70 hectares
jestic Leatherback (Dermo- Arikok National Park is a mains present within Arikok are spectacular sights, while the amount of spe-
chelys coriacea) heading 34 square kilometers (7907 National Park. adorned with white, sandy cies of flora and fauna to
back to the ocean after acres) of natural area, lo- beaches and sand dunes, be conserved to over 250.
laying her eggs. Sea turtles cated at the north-eastern The Landscape as is the case at Boca Prins On December 21st, 2018
prefer nesting in the cool part of Aruba which con- There is a great geological and Dos Playa. (AB 2018 no. 77) Parke Ma-
and dark hours of the night. tains examples of most of variety within the park. The rino Aruba – currently con-
And hatchlings usually wait the island’s flora and fau- main aspects are the rough Arikok is also home to Con- sisting of four marine pro-
for the cue of cooling sur- na against a backdrop of hills of the volcanic Aruba chi, Aruba’s most impor- tected areas (MPAs) – was
face sand before emerg- great geological complex- lava formation, the mysteri- tant natural attraction; also officially established and
ing. ity. We are proud to state ous rocks of the batholithic known as The Natural Pool. subsequently brought un-
that approximately 18% quartz-diorite/tonalite, and The journey to the Pool is der management of ACF.
of the total land area of the limestone rocks from and adventure by itself and In 2019, preliminary man-
only possible by foot, horse, agement plan for marine
or 4×4 vehicle. As of 2020, were introduced for Parke
ATV’s and UTVs are not al- Marino to conserve reefs,
lowed in the park due do seagrass beds, and man-
its significant impact they grove forests and in 2020
have on nature. ACF was given additional
management areas such
Cultural and Historical as the Saliñas (Druif, Mal-
components mok, Cerca, Palm Beach,
There are a number of sites Bubali etc.) and also ad-
within the park that attest ditional areas such as Rooi
to the history of Aruba. The Manonchi, Ser’I Teishi etc.
Caquetío Indians left rock Managed areas can be
paintings in Cunucu Arikok seen here: https://acf.aw/.
and Fontein Cave.
Visit the National Park
Old plantation (Cunucus) Arikok to see the wonder
sites tell the story of an ac- of Aruba’s nature. The visi-
tive yet challenging agri- tor center in San Fuego
cultural past. and entrance in Vader Piet
(San Nicolas) is open daily
These Cunucus were also from 8:00 AM to 16:00 PM.
residential areas for the Contact the ACF via e-
few families that worked mail, info@acf.aw or call
the land. These families +297 585 1234 for more
found ways to survive in information.q