Together with the president of the Commission Amenities Aldrick Croes and with the presence of His Excellency Minister President and Minister of Culture and Finance and other departments we could appreciate the Phase 1 of renewal of the Ayo rock Formation.
The beautiful trail where we used to spend a fun time in our nature, Ayo Rock Formation finished with its Phase 1 renovation. Different guests were invited as Minister President, Minister of Culture and Finance, guests and departments who worked hard on the renovation of Ayo Rock Formation there in the sweet area of Ayo.
History:
The Arwaks were the first inhabitants of the island. They visited the Rock Formations of Ayo to be able to listen to the electronic storms coming from the island of Aruba. They also made stone paintings called petroglyphs while performing religious rituals.
Situated:
The Ayo Rock Formations can be visited about 3 km from the Natural Bridge. You can walk on large rocky mounds of different shapes and sizes molded by the forces of nature. There are paved paths and steps between the rocks that allow visitors to walk and reach the top of the rocks formed.
The imposing Rock of the Ayo Rock Formations creates a sense of wonder and an understanding of why the area was once considered a sacred site by the original inhabitants of the island. You can even find original stone drawings here, dating back thousands of years.
Aruba Amenities mentioned that there were many exchanges with other institutions, among others, the members of Aruba Amenities and other government departments and other institutions that collaborated with each other to carry out these renovations in a sustainable way. The members of Aruba Amenities have carried out and continue to carry out intense debates, intellectuals and passionate people have made the best choices for these renovations. In this way, time is dedicated to innovation for that heritage and places, their renovation and maintenance.
With new technologies will be used to elevate the innovation and experience of visitors, and so it has been elaborated how they are closely working with specialized companies Camia that are conducting research in the place and in the community in order to come with new technologies in this area coming from the community and the experience they would like to have when visiting a place like Ayo Rock Formation to make this experience a beautiful one with an interpretive trail. With this, each person who attends the Ayo Rock Formation can scan a QR code and explore this rock formation receiving information and much more along their routes, all this with the goal of increasing the educational value of this experience. So you can get historical, valuable and botanical information, you will know more about all the trees you will find on your way and much more.
We can expect all this with Phase 2 which is already in formation. The amenities President is expected to see this phase 2 in effect within 2 to 3 months. There will also be phase 3 which is currently having less emphasis as it is focusing on making phase 2 a good one, but it was expanded that phase 3 will be an addition of a visitor center that will provide information, the art and souvenirs in the near future, which will form a place where artists can start demonstrating and selling their art and there will also be changes in the infrastructure and many more that will come in due time when phase 3 is ready to be presented. Finally, the President of Amenities Mr. Aldrick Croes thanks everyone who was present at the Phase 1 commemoration there at the Ayo rock formation.
Her Excellency Minister President also had words of gratitude to all those who worked on the phase 1 of Ayo Rock Formation and Amenities Aruba for the beautiful renovation of phase 1 and extended an invitation to all the people of Aruba to also know the new renovations of Ayo Rock Formation. Her Excellency Prime Minister Evelyn Wever-Croes extended on how this project began and explained how in times of pandemic the people could realize how we should have more outdoor activities to do outside and so came with the Aruba Amenities committee along with other governmental organizations in order to elevate these areas of activities in the open air of Aruba.
A year and a half ago, the renovations of Phase 1 of the Ayo Rock Formation began. Phase 1 was the renovation of the walking path, placement of rails for the safety when walking, renovation of the roofs of the gazebos, a very nice wooden bridge was made were the water is flowing entering the rock formation. The rails are there to protect the caves and the paintings of the Indians and also 2 new signs were obtained to identify Ayo at the entrance and another one inside where there are informations and much more about the route. Ayo offers the experience to its visitors, a historical and geological one but also botanical according to the Minister President.
We also found out through the Minister of Culture and Finance who also highlighted the importance of renewing a natural and special heritage for our country, one that is unique and very important for our region. A place with an important and impressive history of our indigenous past which has preserved paintings that now serve as testimony of its presence. It is important because we are a country that is one of the few in our region that still has these paintings on cliffs, which is evident that Ayo was a very important place in the past and also now that we walk in the middle of it and the tranquillity that you can experience in this area. We can also experience its beautiful flora and fauna that is typical of Aruba. It is a very visited place with tourists who are ready to learn more about our history and the past.
Inviting the entire community of Aruba to a totally elevated, quiet and beautiful experience full of our flora and fauna. The holidays are soon where we will have a week where we can spend time in Ayo Rock Formation with our young people and children so that they also know more about our history and past.
