Page 14 - AHATA

Saturday 13 September 2025 locAl
A10
Visit the island’s popular cave sites!
(Oranjestad)—Among the Arikok National Park, Aruba
endless sea of dark brown As with all prehistoric or an-
sand and cacti, there are cient sites, there is always
two caves hidden in the a folk legend that adds to
outskirts of San Nicolas, in the lore and mystery of the
the north-eastern area of site. The Quadirikiri cave
the island. These caves, is no different. The most
The Quadiriki cave and The well-known legend behind
Fontein Cave are open to the cave could be consid-
visitors of the Arikok Na- ered as Aruba’s first love
tional Park, so if you ever story, as it tells the tale of
decide to take an “off- the undying love between
road” tour in the park, be the chief’s daughter and
sure to visit these prehis- her beloved. As legend
toric caves…and be sure to would have it, the chief
bring a flashlight! disapproved of his daugh-
ter’s choice of lover, as
Quadirikiri Cave he thought him unworthy.
Known for its two cham- Stubborn and filled with an-
bers accompanied by a ger, the daughter refused
skylight, the Quadikiri Cave to turn away her beloved.
is the most popular cave
among locals and tourists, So, the chief decided to
as it is easy to walk through lock her up in the Quadirikiri
and provides great lighting Cave, in hopes that she
for pictures. would soon calm down
and turn away her lover.
Woman in Quadirikiri Cave, Her beloved, in turn, was
locked away in the Tunnel Huliba Cave). Love
of Love (Now known as the The Huliba Cave, formerly
Through the pathways un- known as the Tunnel of
derneath the Tunnel of Love, was once open to
Love running up to the the public, and was the
Quadiriki cave, the two biggest and most acces-
love bird found each other, sible of all three caves. This
and refused to let each cave had five chambers,
other go. Because of their including one that is heart-
stubbornness, they both shaped. This cave had nar-
died in the Quadiriki Cave, row stairs that led to long
their ascending spirits burn- pathways deep into the
ing two holes in the ceiling cave, with a staircase lead-
of the cave. This is why the ing to the exit on the other
cave has two holes through side. In one of the cham-
which sunlight passes bers, there used to be the
through to illuminate the carving of the Virgin Mary,
chamber. put there for the protection
of the cave.
Though there have been
discoveries of Amerindian However, the Huliba Cave
drawing on the wall, these has been permanently
have mostly been ruined closed for a few years now,
by vandalism. However, as a way to preserve the
the Fontein Cave further bat population that lives
up north, provides a better in the cave. These Long
glimpse in prehistoric Amer- Tongue Fruit Bats and In-
indian paintings. sect Eater Bats are very im-
portant to the ecosystem of
Fontein Cave the island. Though this cave
Longer than the Quadirikiri is no longer accessible to
Cave, the Fontein Cave the public, it surely is inter-
contains pathways that esting to learn more about
stretch to the limestone the history of these caves
walls further down. Here and the Arawak tribes that
is also where prehistoric resided or utilized them.
drawings can be seen.
Though this cave does not Do note that these caves
have its own legend, this are very dark, humid, hot,
was speculated to have and are inhabited by bats.
been occupied—or at Do wear comfortable
least used by prehistoric Ar- clothing and shoes, as the
awak settlers on the island pathways in these caves
for rituals and other spiritual may be rough and bumpy,
ceremonies. and don’t forget to bring a
flashlight!q
The Huliba Cave/ Tunnel of