This morning, together with my wife, we walked a route from the Visitor Center of Parke Arikok to Dos Playa and then back via Rooi Tambu to the starting point.
When we arrived at the visitor center, it turned out that there were already a lot of guests. There was an organized hike, which we had wanted to sign up for, but it turned out to be fully booked. That's why we decided to walk the same route ourselves. Eventually I was able to find a place for the car along the road.
I asked at the counter how the condition of Roi Tambu was. In Aruba it has also rained quite a bit in the past period, so it could be that there would be water in the rooi. But according to the counter employee it should be okay.
I have not walked this route before, so it was a surprise for me too.. I knew the first part from another route; that also starts through a dry river bed (Rooi Cacho) and this one was still a bit wet, but that was no problem. At some point we came to the junction, where our route went right and the other route to Conchi went left.
The next part to the coast goes through a fairly open terrain on a well-accessible path. Beautiful views on both sides and ahead a view of the sea. We arrived there after a while. The sea itself was still quite rough, as another guest experienced, who had stood a bit close to the water. She got a considerable wave over her. We ourselves stayed a bit further away from the water.
Then the return journey through Roi Tambu began. To be honest, I had a rougher rooi in mind; this one was very pleasant. Wide and few rocks; later it did become a bit more rocky, but no comparison with an earlier experience, which I had a few years ago in another rooi. There was also no water in the rooi. There were beautiful trees, which upon closer inspection turned out to be mangrove trees. An indication that water does occur here with some regularity. Impressive trees!
There are two dams in the rooi. The first one we came across was quite worn out; the second one is still quite intact and it was quite an obstacle to get over. Later I saw that a path has been made to get to the top.
The route ends at a certain point on the asphalt road. Then you think you are almost there, but then there is still a considerable uphill stretch. Then the route leaves the road again to cover the last part to the visitor center.
It was a nice walk, which you really feel in your legs.
The route I walked (clockwise)
The beginning of Rooi Cacho
Rooi Cacho
Moss on a rock
Beautiful views from the route
Dos Playa
Dunes at Dos Playa
The sea is not very calm
Beautiful tree at the entrance of Rooi Tambu
Hey, isn't it time you gave up your shell?
A lonely hermit crab
This crab defends itself with a large claw
Beautiful rock formation along the dry river bed
Mangrove tree in the roi; there are many
The dry river bed is easy to walk
An old dam in the dry river bed
A new dam in the dry river bed; quite an obstacle
Palu di lechi; a plague
