Before Aruba became the vibrant, multicultural paradise we know today—with its iconic California Lighthouse to the north and the red anchor marking San Nicolas to the south—it was a vastly different island. An untouched treasure formed from ancient volcanic eruptions and shaped by time, wind, and sea.
In this opening chapter of the “Untold Stories of Aruba” series, with the guidance of local historian Anthony Croes of Etnia Nativa Art Gallery & Museum, we explore Aruba as it existed before humanity left its mark.
🪨 Born of Fire and Water
The ABC Islands—Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao—were born during the Upper-Cretaceous period, when lava burst from Earth’s core and cooled in the deep ocean. Over millions of years, tectonic uplift and coral growth helped shape what we now know as Aruba’s rugged coastlines and limestone cliffs.
Erosion, climate change, and sea level shifts continued to refine the island, exposing the coral rock that now defines much of Aruba’s southern shores.
🌧️ Prehistoric Climate and Ecosystem
Research from paleobotanists and anthropologists suggests that ancient Aruba experienced longer rainy seasons than today. Torrential rain carved deep trenches, created freshwater pools, and nurtured dense green vegetation.
These pools were once home to:
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🐢 Freshwater turtles
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🦐 Crayfish and fiddler crabs
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🐈 Feral cats (similar to ocelots)
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🦌 Cottontail deer (still found in Curaçao)
🌿 Aruba’s Original Flora & Fauna
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🌳 Indigenous plants: Kwihi trees, cacti, and ferns grew wild across the island
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🌴 Non-native species: Coconut trees, aloe, and most agricultural plants were introduced later by humans
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🐦 Bright birds like the trupiaal, barica geel, and prikichi filled the air with color and sound — and once, so did parrots, now lost to history
At night, bats ruled the skies, feeding on fruit and insects beneath a canopy of starlight untouched by artificial light.
🛶 The First Human Visitors
It’s believed that the Caquetio Indians, a peaceful subgroup of the Arawak, were the first to reach Aruba from the South American mainland. Legend says they fled their aggressive Carib cousins and rowed across 17 miles of open sea in dugout canoes to find a new home.
It’s unclear whether they settled permanently at first, or used the island as a seasonal refuge during the dry months. Either way, their arrival marked the beginning of Aruba’s human story.
When the Spanish arrived in 1499, they found around 600 peaceful Caquetios living in harmony with the land.
🧭 Stay Tuned: Aruba’s First Vacationers
Next in the series, we explore what life may have been like for Aruba’s earliest nomadic visitors in:
👉 Untold Stories of Aruba: Aruba’s First Vacationers
🎨 Want to Explore Further?
Visit Etnia Nativa—Aruba’s only Native Heritage Museum & Art Gallery, where Anthony Croes brings these ancient stories to life with artifacts, insight, and living history.
Photo credits : https://www.visitaruba.com/blog/about-aruba/untold-stories-of-aruba-prelude-aruba-untouched/
