Page 13 - AHATA

A11
LOCAL Monday 26 February 2024

Visit the island’s popular cave sites!

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