Welcome to the Unspoiled Queen of the Caribbean!
You must look carefully to spot the island of Saba on an atlas. A five-squaremile dot in the Caribbean Sea forms part of the Leeward islands. Pure and unspoiled.
Saba embodies the old Caribbean. It’s safe, friendly, charming, and with exquisite natural beauty – both above and below the waterline. Unlike any other Caribbean destination.
Although Saba is only five square miles, she has several ecosystems, from a desert climate to a tropical rainforest. The island is worldrenowned for its eco-tourism, scuba diving, hiking trails, deep-sea fishing, snorkeling, and active, creative community.
Whether you’re planning to visit Saba for a more extended visit or a day trip: a different Caribbean adventure awaits!
Get enchanted by Saba’s rare beauty
The 1,900-strong population of Saba is proud to call their island the Unspoiled Queen.
Saba is an exceptional eco-friendly holiday destination. You will find overwhelmingly beautiful and pure nature, a fabulous underwater world, and a local population that adds a whole new dimension to the concept of hospitality. Because Saba has remained unnoticed by mass tourism, the island still exudes an authentic
atmosphere. Explore this rare Caribbean beauty and discover all her highlights.
Discover Saba’s abundant lush trails
Saba has 20 different hiking trails that traverse through the various biomes. Trails can vary in intensity and variety, with options to hike the island’s cloud forest, tide pools, historic ruins, and rich natural wonderland. Hike to the top of Mt. Scenery and experience the unique cloud forest –the island’s highest peak in the Dutch Kingdom at 877 meters. Enjoy the lush and often rare tropical foliage, wild orchids, and birds while spectacular views unfold. After the hike, you can obtain a certificate of achievement at the Tourist Office.
Indulge into Saba’s underwater wonders
Discover one of the top dive spots in the world! The island offers interesting diving for every experience level. The Saba Marine Park circles the entire island: from the high-water mark to a depth of 60 m (200 feet). This includes the highly varied seabed and overlying waters, which spread itself across 1300 hectares of the underwater world. The exceptional character of the underwater world of Saba comes from its volcanic origin. You will find bizarre-looking pinnacles in one place, which are a rarity. Lava tunnels with warm water currents attract specific types of fish in the following. Divers miss nothing; visibility is sometimes over 90 meters!
Marine conservation has a high priority on Saba. It is one of the most prolific underwater spawning grounds for brilliantly colored fish, lobster, turtles, sharks, corals, and more.
Explore Saba’s creative community
A part of Saban’s hidden treasure is its long tradition as an inspiration and muse for the colony of artists that live and create on the island.
From jewelry and glass making to tiedye and textile: art is expressed in all forms on Saba. Visitors with a penchant for arts and crafts can spend time creating alongside the artists with various workshops and classes. In addition, visitors can also learn how to create Saba Lace, a type of needlework that dates back to the 1800s. Get inspired!
Experience Saba’s history
Saba’s rich history dates back over 3000 years, when the Cibony first lived on the island. Over the years, many different types of artifacts have been uncovered through archaeological excavations. Visitors that want to learn more about Saba’s rich history and view these artifacts can visit the Saba Heritage Center and the Harry L. Johnson Museum.
Enjoy Saba’s delicious cuisine
Saba might be just five square miles, but our restaurants are genuinely world-class. Foodies will savor regional and international gastronomic options, from casual to stylish. Fresh seafood is abundant, particularly the famous Saba spiny lobster, an island specialty. On weekends, relax and enjoy a delicious cocktail during the happy hours.
Don’t forget to take some Saban yumminess home, like our locally made Saba rum, Saba Spice, hot sauces, or guava jelly.
Experience Saba’s accommodations and hospitality
The island has accommodations to suit every style and budget-from intimate boutique hotels to luxury villas and charming cottages. The facilities are of a progressive standard. Almost all guest rooms have an uninterrupted view of the sea. And there is no question about the level of hospitality and customer friendliness of the Sabans. They are famous for it. With open arms and inviting smiles, they welcome you and show you the island they proudly call home.
As true hospitable Caribbean people, the Sabans love to invite you to the many festivities their calendar is richly filled with. Traditionally, the entire population takes part without exception. And guests are more than welcome to join the festivities. ‘The unspoiled queen’ retains her grace. The people of Saba will make your visit special.
Top 5 things to do
Don’t let the size of the island fool you! From diving between spectacular formations and structures deep underwater to hiking through the rainforest up to a volcano: there are many things to see and do on Saba. Be sure to tick this top 5 off your bucket list!
#1 Diving and snorkeling
Diving
Saba plunges below the sea as steeply as it rises above. From shallow patch reefs to deep underwater seamounts, the Unspoiled Queen offers dive sites suitable for any diver’s experience level. You can dive all year round, with seasonal differences in water temperature and surface conditions. Due to the steepness of the coastal zone, shore diving is prohibited. All diving must be done with one of Saba’s licensed dive centers.
Find an overview of all the dive spots at www.sabatourism.com/diving/
Snorkeling
The island amazing snorkel zones. Some popular spots include Torrents Point, Wells Bay, Cove Bay, Fort Bay, and Tent Bay. Beneath the sea, you will encounter stunning, diverse, and well-protected sea
life. The Hawksbill turtles have also been known to swim along with snorkelers. An experience you won’t forget! Visit the dive shop for more information on guided snorkel trips.
#2 Hiking
Hiking on Saba is a rewarding experience. The nature above the waterline is as unique and varied as that which lies below. The 43-hectare Saba National Park alone has five tours. Walk through the cloud-forest environment to the top of Mount Scenery. Explore the secondary rainforest and dry evergreen forests lower down the slopes. Enjoy grassy meadows with scattered shrubs closer to the sea. Behold the steep cliffs and bluffs seen throughout the island, with several sheer walls rising over 100m (330ft). Saba offers more than enough variation!
To allow you to see everything with your own eyes, to feel it, and to smell it, the Saba Conservation Foundation has set out 15 different adventure walking tours. The difficulty level varies, but most trails are easily accessible without a guide. If you don’t want to miss anything of the most beautiful spots while hearing all about the amazing ecological systems on the island, then guided walks are highly recommended. Organized hikes can be arranged through the Saba Conservation Foundation.
All trails can be found at: www.sabatourism. com/hiking/
#3 Explore the 4 villages
Wedged between the valleys of the Mount Scenery volcano, you can explore the four villages of Saba: Zion’s Hill, Windwardside, St. Johns, and The Bottom. All towns are picturesque and traditional, with charming white gingerbread and red-roofed cottages. Each village is connected to the only main road Saba knows, ‘the Road that
tions of seabirds, as well as species that are found only in this part of the world. The population dynamics of the Red-billed tropicbirds are yet to be fully comprehended. Recent estimates indicate that Saba’s steep cliffs provide nesting grounds that may hold a significant percentage (up to 33% to 40%) of the world’s population. Be sure to pack your binoculars! Visit www.sabatourism.com.
Eco-tourism and sustainability efforts
Saba is a unique eco-tourism destination with a Green Destinations’ Silver Quality Coast Award. Saba’s Unspoiled Queen slogan comes also from the preservation and conservation of its natural assets.
The Saba Conservation Foundation is a non-governmental organization that is concerned with the conservation of the natural and cultural heritage of the island.
could not be built’. Rent a car to go on an adventure yourself. Or enjoy an island tour that can be provided by our talented and friendly taxi drivers. Visit sabatourism.com for more details.
#4 Arts & crafts shopping
Skillfully crafted souvenirs, handmade jewelry, colorful art, and other creative goods: Saba has produced many extraordinary artists. Do you love to be creative yourself? Then, indulge in the many workshops our local artists offer in their galleries and shops.
The Saba Marine Park established in 1987 circles the entire island: from the high-water mark to a depth of 60 m (200 feet). A zoning plan divides the park for various recreational and commercial uses. A system of permanent mooring buoys facilitates diving and prevents damage to corals.
And while you’re there, let shopping on Saba surprise you! What better way to remember your trip to Saba than a one-of-a-kind piece of Caribbean art!
Ready to get inspired by our creative community? Check all the activities at www.sabatourism.com/activities/
#5 Birding
Whether looking out over the island’s steep cliffs or hiking through Mount Scenery’s lush rainforest, you will encounter many beautiful bird species on Saba. The island is home to at least 100 bird species, many of which are migratory birds that visit the island to rest and feed before continuing their journey.
Birdlife International has identified the island’s entire coastline as an Important Bird Area (IBA) – for a good reason. The area supports globally important popula-
The “Saba National Land Park”, is a 43-ha pie-shaped tract of land on the north coast of Saba, formerly owned by the Sulphur Mining Company. The area has important biological, geological, and historical values. It encompasses all vegetation zones present on Saba, an abandoned sulfur mine, hot springs, and it is an important nesting area for Red-billed tropicbirds and several other species of seabirds.
Eco-tourism has been the standard over the years. Saba has explored various ways to become a more sustainable destination. From goals to make 100% of the electricity generated by renewables, to projects to restore the health of the coral reefs.
Solar Park/Renewable Energy, the entire island of Saba is powered by solar energy from 2 solar parks and battery storage. The solar park produces between 35 to 40 percent of the total production. On a day with optimal sun the island is completely powered by solar and battery power between 8 am and 5 pm.
To protect Saba’s natural resources for the next generations, residents of Saba and businesses have different garbage bins to recycle glass, plastic, cardboard, and metals. A ban on single-use plastics is also in effect.
Ocean conservation projects have a high priority on Saba. Projects such as the Diadema project aims to restore long spined sea urchin
populations on the coral reefs around Saba and St. Eustatius. The other project is the artificial reef project, Nature management organizations want to know how artificial reefs can optimally contribute to the restoration of the coral reef ecosystem including on the Saba bank.
“Leave no trace, only footprints.” Respect for nature, respect for local lifestyles and customs. So, the next generations can enjoy the beauty of Saba for a long time to come.
Visit www.sabatourism.com/saba-sustainability/ to read more about Saba’s sustainability efforts and products.
Events on Saba
Saba has various events during the year such as carnival, Saba Day, the Saba Triathlon, other sporting events, and culinary events. For more information and a schedule, please visit www.sabatourism. com/saba-island-events/
The Unspoiled Queen of the Caribbean, an environmental learning destination
The stunning Dutch Caribbean island of Saba, a leader of conservation in the Caribbean, and a champion of environmental awareness, annually a month-long event called “Sea & Learn” takes place throughout October. Each year the event is organized with the sole purpose of helping others to understand the fragility of the environment and the importance of its protection. It features an impressive line-up of hands-on activities, lectures, and discussions all designed to spotlight the island’s natural beauty as well as learn what is being done to protect it. Visit www.seaandlearn.org/ for other amazing projects.
Getting to Saba
The Edge offers day trips: Tuesdays and Fridays (Sundays based on seasonality). In addition, day trip packages are available! info@stmaarten-activities.com www.stmaarten-activities.com
The Makana Ferry departs from Bobby’s Marina in St. Maarten, you can also depart from St. Eustatius or St. Kitts: info@makanaferryservice.com www.makanaferryservice.com
WinAir Daily flights from St. Maarten. +1 721 545 4237 www.fly-winair.com
Yachting Information
Visitors wishing to travel to Saba via yacht have two designated anchorage zones within the Saba National Marine Park: The Ladder Bay to Wells Bay area and just outside of the Fort Bay Harbor. Upon arrival, you must visit the harbor building at Fort Bay to clear Customs & Immigration, visit the Harbor Office, and finally check in with the Marine Park office.
For more information you can visit the following website for the Fort Bay Harbor: www.sabaport.com/
Saba C-Transport, N.V. is available to act as agents for any type of vessel including mega yachts, small cruise lines, fuel tankers and commercial vessels. Just contact us and we will take care of all your clearance needs, arrange island tours, hiking, diving, snorkeling, photography tours, birding tours, fine dining and concierge services. Please visit the following website for more information and to contact Saba C-Transport: www.sabaferry.com/yacht-information
Getting around
Friendly taxi services are available to help you get around Saba during your trip. Visit www.sabatourism.com for more details.
Contact the Saba Tourist Bureau if you need assistance or have any questions: tourism@sabatourism.com, and check out our website www.sabatourism.com for more ideas, example itineraries, and tips!
