Natural Wonders
The Arikok National Park, designated as an environmental sanctuary more than twenty years ago, is a natural preserve that covers one-fifth of Aruba and encompasses the three geological formations that have shaped the island and its history.
Arikok is home to all of Aruba’s animals including the cascabel (endangered native rattlesnake), santanero (harmless cat-eyed snake), eight species of lagadishi (endemic lizards) of which the dinosaur-like iguana is the largest and most beautiful, and the unassuming pega pega (gecko). You may discover a passing shoco (burrowing owl), chattering prikichi (emerald and lemon-colored parakeet), trupial (large songbird with bright orange and black feathers), or blenchi (hummingbirds) in search of nectar, as well as buricos (wild donkeys), cabritos (free-ranging goats), and scurrying cottontail rabbits. The park contains forty species of trees and hearty desert vegetation that survive blazing sun and constant wind. Cacti in all shapes and sizes dot its surreal desert landscape. 
As if the guardian of the park, the 620-foot-high Mount Jamanota towers over Arikok’s rugged red dirt roads, valleys, ravines, boulders, terraces, and unforgiving terrain. The irregular north coast is like the border of an incomplete puzzle, with gaps and inlets that have formed such intriguing retreats as Fuente, Daimari, Andicuri and Wairuri. Dos Playa has a wide beach but very rough surf, as does Boca Prins, a secluded cove fringed by sugary white sand dunes. The Natural Pool is a tranquil pool protected by rocks amidst some of the park’s most rugged terrain. Natural bridges have been carved out of rock along the north coast by a millennia of pounding surf. The longest one, spanning a length of 100-feet and a height of 25-feet, suddenly fell in 2005. Erosion has also resulted in the formation of caves, some of which contain internationally recognized Indian rock drawings. Fontein is the largest and most easily accessible. Natural light penetrates the ceiling of the Quadirikiri cave, creating an eerie effect. A more challenging climb is the nearby Tunnel of Love with its heart-shaped entrance.
Of historical interest, the ruins of the Miralamar Gold Mill date back to Aruba’s gold rush in the early 20th century. Agricultural areas include Cunucu Arikok at the foot of Mount Arikok with a cas di torto (mud house), planting areas, stone walls and cactus fences; the former Prins coconut plantation; and Hofi Fontein with its coveted natural spring. Hiking trails are marked by wooden stakes with rings color-coded by level of difficulty. Be sure to follow park rules, wear a cap, use sunscreen, bring adequate water, and wear sturdy shoes; don’t swim in rough waters.
