Visit a small but storied place of worship at Alto Vista Chapel. Originally consecrated in 1750, the chapel was central to the mission of Domingo Silvestre, a Venezuelan missionary. Rebuilt on numerous occasions after extreme weather or abandonment, the modern-day chapel was completed in 1952 and displays a quirky neo-colonial architectural style, with a bright yellow exterior and tapering walls. Take a step inside to admire the hand-carved altar, a neo-gothic artwork created in 1870. The surrounding desert landscape of cactuses and sand frames the chapel, giving it the air of a refuge from the harsh conditions. Use our Oranjestad trip itinerary planning app to add Alto Vista Chapel and other attractions to your Oranjestad vacation plans.
Tours to Alto Vista Chapel
Alto Vista Chapel reviews
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This was the first stop on a Kini Kini ATV tour, so much history and simply a beautiful little chapel that traces back in time for Aruba.
This was the first stop on a Kini Kini ATV tour, so much history and simply a beautiful little chapel that traces back in time for Aruba. more »
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The 1st church on the island rich in history, beautiful and small inside with the surrounding ocean in the distance
The 1st church on the island rich in history, beautiful and small inside with the surrounding ocean in the distance more »
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Nice reconstructed chapel (1952) on the site of the original chapel built around 1770. The chapel itself is active and maintained well. The seat surrounding the chapel itself is of a amphitheater seating in a concentric half circle. The is a small view of the coast when standing in the parking lot. The three vendors that sell refreshments and gifts have mobile card readers. Getting there is are 14 signs of the stations of the cross. This is a typical place for the tours around the island and is worthy of inclusion.
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Locals have a Wednesday mass here. So it's still a functional church, but it is revered more as a historical and tourist site. It sits atop a mountain with grand views of the surrounding arid desert. There are no restrooms here. We visited with a safari tour as one of our stops. There were a couple of vendors on site selling souvenirs, food, and drinks. The whole family can enjoy this area. There's also a billboard showing a map with trails from this point. Keep in mind there's not a lot of shade here.
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