Casibari Rock Formations

Casibari is a cluster of huge, rounded tonalite boulders rising out of the flat cactus country of Aruba's interior, about 1.5 km north of Hooiberg in the Paradera district. A short circuit of steps, railings and narrow gaps between the rocks leads to the top, where you look across the whole island. It is one of the quickest and most rewarding stops on an interior drive.

How were the Casibari boulders formed?

Aruba's interior is a worn-down plain of diorite and tonalite — igneous rock from the Aruba batholith that cooled deep underground and was later exposed by erosion. Where the rock weathered into rounded blocks, clusters such as Casibari and Ayo were left standing above a landscape that averages only about 40 m above sea level. The Aruba Tourism Authority (ATA) notes that geologists still discuss exactly how these boulder piles took shape. The name is of Arawak origin; one reading is "where there are good stones".

What is the climb like?

Short but tight. Paths and steps wind around and between the boulders, sometimes through low, narrow passages where only one person fits at a time. At the entrance a formation is known as the Dragon's Mouth. The reward at the top is a 360° view over the cunucu (countryside) to the coast and Hooiberg's cone; on clear days the coast of Venezuela is said to be visible.

When is the best time to visit?

Go early in the morning or late in the afternoon. The rock absorbs heat and there is little shade on the top, and the light at these hours brings out the texture of the stone. Midday is also when tour groups tend to stop. Lizards — including the bright blue-green whiptail — are common on the warm rocks; watch, don't feed.

Good to know

• The site sits in a residential area just off the road between Oranjestad and Santa Cruz; follow the signs for Casibari.
• ATA mentions a small snack bar with shaded seating at the site.
• Wear shoes with grip: the granite-like surfaces are smooth and the steps are uneven. It is not suitable for wheelchairs.
• Do not climb outside the marked paths or add stones to cairns.

Casibari pairs naturally with Ayo Rock Formations, a few minutes east, and with Hooiberg to the south. All three fit into an island highlights drive or a half-day in the interior.