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Paradera is a district that makes up the north central section of Aruba east of Oranjestad. It’s known mostly for beautiful natural features.
Casibari Rock Formations
One of the most visited places in Paradera are the Casibari Rock Formations. They’re remnants of the volcanic rocks that formed Aruba. The rock formations are free to visit (as of February 2024).
The Casibari Rock Formations consist of a few huge rocks with steps built into them. The biggest is directly across from the entrance. There are two sets of steps leading up to the top and it’s a fairly easy climb.
Once at the top and get 360° views of Paradera. We got great looks at Hooiberg and could see the cruise ships docked in Oranjestad.
From the top of the second largest rock you can better appreciate the smaller rock formations as well as get a good view of the largest rock.
Mi Dushi Casibari
Across the street from the Casibari Rock Formations is Mi Dushi Casibari. It’s a lively place with loud music and drinks that also has rock formations of its own. At the top of the tallest rock is a bench where you can sit with your drink and enjoy the views.
The path to the top was a little longer than we thought but it was fun to follow the “cave drawings” that lead up. Once at the top, we were able to sit for a while and have our drinks in an amazing setting. The best part is that we were even higher than the largest rock across the street!
Ayo Rock Formations
A short drive east of Casibari are the Ayo Rock Formations. They’re similar to the Casibari Rock Formations but stand much taller. Also, it doesn’t seem like it gets as many visitors as Casibari because we had the entire site to ourselves for a good half hour.
You can follow the short loop trail from the entrance to the site. While you can’t go on top of the largest rock, the path leads through a natural corridor to the other side. We got to the corridor and turned around, however, due to the presence of several huge wasp nests. We took the trail around to the other side of the corridor to see where it led, and admired some of the rocks along the way.
At the other side of the corridor we were able to walk up to see the spot where we turned around. There’s a staircase built over the rocks leading back down to the path.
From the other side of the natural corridor, the loop trail continues back towards the entrance through a beautiful desert landscape.
Petroglyphs
Near the end of the loop are two large boulders with iron bars built around some sections. These bars protect valuable petroglyphs created by the Arawak people. They were the earliest settlers of Aruba and used the rocks for religious ceremonies. This alone made the site more interesting for us than Casibari.
Aruba Ostrich Farm
The Aruba Ostrich Farm is another popular attraction in Paradera. It’s located north of Ayo on the way to the Natural Bridge. The farm offers informative guided tours to learn about ostriches and their unique traits. Tours cost US$15 for adults and US$8 for children (as of February 2024) and run every hour from 10am to 3pm. There’s also a restaurant and gift shop on-site. We planned to have lunch at the restaurant but they were understaffed and weren’t able to serve at the time of our visit
Our guide led us through the property past the ostrich pens, pointing out the different between male and female ostriches. He told us some incredible facts about the birds, such as how they mate and raise their young, their feeding habits, and how fast, intelligent, and powerful they are. We also got to see an ostrich egg shell and got the chance to feed the ostriches.
In addition to the ostriches, there are a few other species at the Aruba Ostrich Farm. The guide led us to a pen with a few emus and gave us a few facts about them. We also saw a couple turkeys.
Overall, the tour was short yet entertaining and informative, although the guide seemed a little disinterested or distracted. We do feel that the price is a bit high for what you get, but our toddler loved it and that’s what’s most important.
Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins
Paradera is home to the ruins of the former Bushiribana Gold Mill, just few minutes north of the Aruba Ostrich Farm. This is one of the most interesting historic sites in Aruba and a popular stop on ATV and other island tours. It’s possible to climb on the ruins although a sign at the back says “no trespassing”.
Gold was discovered in Aruba in 1824, and the Bushiribana Gold Mill was constructed in 1872 by the Aruba Gold Mining Company. It was designed by an English architect and the walls were 62 centimeters thick.
The following year, an engineer was sent there to install a stamp mill, ovens, zinc tanks, freshwater tanks, and a steam engine. The Aruba Agency Company took over the mill in 1881 and abandoned it in 1899 to build new mill at Balashi.
Ore from the surrounding hills was brought to the mill to be crushed and combined with mercury. It was then flushed out by water across copper plates to let the gold settle. Unfortunately, this process wasn’t very profitable and left much of the gold behind.
The rocky shoreline near the ruins is a good place to witness the power of the sea and the rugged east coast of Aruba. Waves crash into the rocks with incredible force, so don’t get too close the edge!
Cave Pool
A few steps from the ruins is the Cave Pool. It’s a natural swimming hole in a collapsed rock shelf accessible via a wooden ladder. You have to climb down the ladder then over coral to the pool. Along the way, you’ll see lots of crabs scurrying atop the rocks.
Once at the pool, you can jump into the water and pull yourself out with a rope. A tourist in the pool with me described it as Conchi Natural Pool without all the tourists. A word of advice: You’ll need to wear water shoes or footwear with good traction. It’s very slippery, the coral is jagged, and a fall could be devastating.
Road to Natural Bridge
The unpaved road along the coast in Paradera leads south to Natural Bridge and is lined with scenic coves. We stopped at a few long the way to snap some photos. Our first stop was at a small bay with a nice sized sandy beach. We walked along the cliffside and watched the waves rolling in.
The second stop we made was at a large curve in the road. It’s a beautiful place to watch the waves crashing into the rocks.
Finally, not too far from Natural Bridge is Cairn’s Cove. It’s another scenic cove to admire the beauty of Aruba’s east coast.
Natural Bridge
Natural Bridge was once one of Aruba’s biggest tourist attractions. It was 25 feet (7.6 meters) high and 100 feet (30 meters) long, but collapsed on September 2, 2005. Still, tourists flock to the area to see its remnants and Baby Bridge, its little sister. There are tourist facilities at Natural Bridge, but you’re better off bringing your own snacks and drinks because everything is overpriced.
Baby Bridge may not be as big as Natural Bridge was, but it’s still impressive. It spans 25 feet and is only 3 feet above sea level. It used to be possible to cross the bridges, but signs now warn tourists to stay behind certain points.
Aside from the bridges, the coastline at Natural Bridge is spectacular. It’s yet another great place to see the waves crashing onto the rocks, spraying mist up into the sky.
There’s also a trail popular with ATV tours and those who rented a 4×4. The trail takes you further south from Paradera to Andicuri Beach and the Tripod Bridge. That’s something I plan to do on my next trip!
Where to Eat in Paradera
We had originally planned to eat at the Aruba Ostrich Farm but found another great place nearby.
Happy Stop
Happy Stop is a food truck parked outside the Bushiribana Gold Mill ruins. They serve big sandwiches, wraps, and hot dogs at reasonable prices. Service was friendly and enthusiastic, and it ended up being one of the better meals we had on the trip.
