Aruba - Adventure Guide to Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao - page 82

airport radar station on the top.) Follow the walking trail through the out-
door exhibit that includes a typical cunucu cas di torto (a country house
made of mud-and-grass adobe), planting areas that once grew a variety of
crops, and stone walls and cactus fences that were built to keep out farm
animals. The farmland is a popular hangout for rabbits, reptiles, and
birds, and they will keep you company as you rest on one of the shaded
benches along the path.
Gardeners may be interested in the aloe exhibit at Masiduri Cunucu
House and Experimental Gardens , an area made fertile by intersect-
ing creek beds in the hills west of Mount (or Cero) Jamanota. During the
1950s, the experimental garden grew a variety of plants, but today pri-
marily aloe and eucalyptus provide sanctuary for lizards, iguanas, snakes,
and wild donkeys. Before you leave the area, drive to the top of 564-foot
Cero Jamanota , the highest point on the island. The views are terrific.
Geology buffs and nature lovers should schedule time to explore the
unique rock formations, sand dunes, and coastal limestone cliffs between
Dos Playa and Boca Prins . Strong currents make the water unsafe or
unpleasant for swimming on most days, but photographers will find glori-
ous landscapes and sea vistas, especially at Boca Prins where the ocean
has carved a natural bridge known as Dragon Mouth. The young at heart
will want to slide down the sand dunes at Boca Prins; sunbathers prefer
the wide span of sand at the more northen of the two beaches at Dos Playa.
Fontein , Guadirikiri , and the Tunnel of Love Caves are worth a visit,
but come early in the morning or late in the afternoon because the caves
are hot and airless. Fontein , just south of Boca Prins, has perhaps the
island's best Indian art and early-European graphics on the walls and ceil-
ing. A guide will point out limestone stalactites and stalagmites that
resemble animals and religious figures. You may need a strong imagina-
tion to appreciate the similarities.
Guadirikiri is a two-chamber cave with skylights, so there is more air and
natural light inside. A long tunnel here is home to hundreds of bats that
sleept during the day. Come at dusk to see them swarm out of the cave in
search of dinner. The Tunnel of Love gets its name from the heart-shaped
stone entrance. Pick up a flashlight from the stand at the entrance (you'll
be charged a $6 fee) because the 300-foot-long tunnel is totally dark. A
guide will point out various formations as you inch your way along, and
will entertain you with tales of pirates' treasure.
The road from the Tunnel of Love takes you south and west past the Inter-
national Raceway Park, where it becomes Highway 7A/B, leading to the
town of San Nicolas.