Page 17 - AHATA

Monday 30 June 2025 locAl
A10

Visit the island’s popular cave sites!

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