I don’t like flying. Considering my career choice, it was my fear of my inconvenience. This will certainly take full effect when I find myself sitting on a 16-seat twin. Suppose my travel companion still has nail marks embedded in the arms.
I was about to land in Saba, a small 5 square mile volcanic island that rose sharply from the Caribbean Sea and only 12 minutes of water puddle jumping from St. Marton.
More than just landing is dramatic: Everything about Saba feels like a scene drawn from an adventure novel.
The emerald cliff disappeared into the whirlpool-like mist. The narrow roads bent like ribbons. Glowing in otherworldly blue tones, the crescent with black sand appears and disappears with the tide. Then there is the highest peak on the island, the scenery on the mountain, which is named as a 360-degree view of the Cloud Forest Summit, from nearly 3,000 feet above sea level.
This is not the place to be a typical Caribbean beach resort; in fact, Saba has no real beaches to say. There is no all-inclusive resort, no cruise terminal, only a few hotels: 30-room boutique hotels, It is planned to open in the second half of this yearwill be just the fifth hotel on the island.
But don’t expect development to change the basic DNA of SABA.
Windwardside is one of the four major villages on Saba Island. Image source: Kai Wulf
Unlike its glittering Caribbean neighbors, the Saba parade lowered the inspiring drums. The Netherlands Caribbean Island makes it The top priority for protecting its landscapenatural and manmade.
Hikers will find 23 miles of well-maintained trails in rainforests, past orchid-filled ditches and climbing along steep stairs, old sidewalks originally carved by hand. The highlight of my trip was a short hike on the Mas Cohones trail which offers stunning views of the roofs of the hilltop town in Windwardside. Another bonus at the end of the hike is the ice-cold drinks at Colibri Cafe.
There are also dives – excellent dives. Saba Marine Park is one of the most beautiful underwater candied fruits in the Caribbean, with coral peaks, lava tunnels and abundant marine life.
Then there is the above Wells Bay, a truly amazing place that is popular among snorkeling and divers, many caves to explore.
The island’s diving tour operators are Sea Saba and St. Maarten diving adventures, which can explore diving sites within Saba Marine Park.
The Saba aesthetic is a white building with white shutters and red roofs. Image source: Laura Grier
The island is slower
SABA’s buildings are strictly regulated and are the source of pride on the island. Saba notes that most of the houses are white with green shutters and red roofs, a quaint and surprisingly effective task that brings a fairytale feel to the village, especially the capitals next to the wind and at the bottom.
Locals are proud of the town feel. After a day or two, they will say hello by their name and may invite you to a community event if you stick with it for long enough. Saba’s population hovers around 2,000, most of which live in four small villages.
Windwardside is probably the most popular village with tourists and has boutique stores like Jobean Glass Arts and Averytings. It is also home to the Harry L. Johnson Saba History Museum.
Installing a scenic trail starts next to the wind. Hike its 1,064 stone steps It is the only way to reach the top of the mountain.
I placed Windwards at my base during my time in Saba and stayed at the hotel in Juliana, a cozy local property with a pool and beautiful mountain views.
All in all, Windwardside has little interference. There is no chain of restaurants, nightlife is softened, and there are different bars to host happy hours each night. This ensures that each agency takes turns to attract customers.
There are no fast food restaurants, only locally operated restaurants such as Brigadoon or Rainforest ro. Rendezvous. In Brigadoon, Thai shrimp with sweet spicy curry and lemongrass coconut sauce was excellent, and the shrimp and grilled pineapple skewers and Rendezvous’s Mahi-Mahi were great too.
The landing zone of Yrausquin Airport is widely regarded as the shortest in the world. Image source: Kai Wulf
Tourism Infrastructure
Saba added enough infrastructure to welcome more curious travelers without compromising the untapped charm that defined it.
The Black Rock Port project began with the reconstruction after Hrika and is now a major effort to improve accessibility and support sustainable growth. The new port will complement the existing Bay Terminal Terminal by hosting non-cargo ships, including cruise ships, which will help boost tourism. (Currently, Seadream Yacht Club and IYC Cruises are the only routes on the island to call for. Saba can also be reached by St. Maarten and Statia’s Ferry).
Black Rocks, developed by Ballast Nedam International Projects, is committed to sustainability through coral rehabilitation projects. Construction is expected to begin this year and is expected to be completed in December 2026.
