Frenchman's Pass

Frenchman's Pass is a narrow gap between hills in Aruba's interior where the road runs under overhanging divi-divi and thorn, and tradition holds that a battle was fought here between French raiders and the island's Amerindian population in the seventeenth century. Whether that happened is unresolved. Caves nearby carry Amerindian drawings and the ruins of a gold mill stand along the road. The Balashi gold mill was built in the 1890s and worked until the ore ran out around 1916.

What to look for

• The pass - the narrow gap with vegetation overhanging the road.
• The battle tradition - the account attached to the site.
• The nearby caves - the Amerindian drawings in the rock.
• The gold mill ruins - the remains of the Balashi works along the road.

When to go

December to April is the dry season. The pass is drivable year round. Morning light is best under the trees.

Before you go

The battle account is tradition rather than documented history. The pass itself is short and the visit is a drive-through and a stop. There is no interpretation.

Nearby

The Balashi mill is nearby, and Oranjestad is northwest.

Key facts