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Saba... Dutch West Indies... Adventure and more…..

A visit to Sint Maarten is incomplete if a visit to neighboring sister island Saba isn’t included in your itinerary. And the fastest way to get there is of course with Winair offering 5 flights daily. The best-case scenario if you are only visiting us for a day is to fly over on the first flight of the day and return to Sint Maarten on the last flight. This will give you ample time to sample the delights of Saba.

SABA: A FAIRY-TALE ISLAND WITH IT’S HEAD IN THE CLOUDS AND ITS FEET PLANTED FIRMLY IN THE DEEP BLUE CARIBBEAN SEA…….

Discovering this little gem of an island is truly a step back in time, to a simpler life, touched by progress but treasured enough to be handled with care. There are no beaches to speak of on this 5 square miles of heavenly rock where steep mountainsides sweep up and plunge abruptly to the sea, creating some of the most memorable and dramatic scenery anywhere. The Sabans, all 1700 of them, live a gentle lifestyle, where change comes slowly and with a measured pace. The island got it’s full-time electricity in 1970 and it still uses the age-old method of cisterns to store rainwater collected from the guttered rooftops. Neat, little picture-book villages are real here, and the green, red or brown shutters and red-roofed white house with their gingerbread trim naturally fit in with the mountainside among the lush foliage of palms, hibiscus, bromeliads, wild orchids and pines.

The Saban ladies still produce delicate, handmade lace, and the island’s artists working in oils, pastel watercolors, clay and colorful cotton take their inspiration from their surroundings. Mt. Scenery, the island’s highest point and the highest point in the Kingdom of The Netherlands, rises to 2,855 feet, challenging hikers to try their skill and endurance, while the surrounding sea with its Pinnacles entices divers to explore the marine life that abounds in the blue depths. The underwater sea mounts (pinnacles) rise from the bottom of the ocean floor to varying heights and are home to some of the most pristine coral anywhere.

Very conscious of its underwater treasures, Saba has strict rules which govern the protection of the marine environment. The Saba National Marine Park was established in 1987 to preserve and manage the island’s marine resources. This assures the health of the undersea environment and sustains dive tourism which provides a major contribution to the island’s economy. One of the few self-sustaining marine parks anywhere in the world, the Saba National Marine Park raises its revenue through very reasonable visitor fees, souvenir sales and donations. The Saba National Marine Park and the Saba National Park (parks, nature trails, etc.), are administered by the Saba Conservation Foundation, a not-for-profit organization with a mission to contribute to the development and preservation of the island’s natural and cultural heritage. The Foundation also encourages the preservation of historic buildings and promote relevant scientific research and education. The Foundation is responsible for meeting the major expense of nature management and most funds are raised through private contributions and of course with the assistance of the Island Government of Saba.