Choose Adventure Over Glitz

Free-spirited travelers will find themselves in an oasis while visiting the easy-going island of Saba. This carefree paradise destination is so relaxed that they don’t even practice daylight savings time. Saba has been purposefully maintained as a largely uninhabited island in an effort to preserve the natural beauty of the surrounding nature. Visitors won’t find towering mega-resorts on this island, but rather a small collection of four different villages that are operated by inviting locals.

Famous discoverer Christopher Columbus first spotted the island of Saba in 1493, but it wasn’t until 1632 that Europeans first set foot on the land. With rocky coastlines and no proper beaches, the island was largely avoided by exploring sailors. Yielding no potential for a booming sugarcane industry, Saba was mainly inhabited only by pirates. Today, the island remains seemingly untouched and relies on tourism as well as agriculture to keep their economy alive.

Getting There

Traveling to the island will kick start your vacation with adventure. Saba can only be reached by plane or boat. Most travelers choose to journey to the island by flying into St. Maarten, then catching a ferry ride from the Pelican Marina in Simpson Bay to Fort Bay on Saba. The boat ride only lasts about an hour, and will provide you with an interesting perspective of the island’s natural scenery as you approach the coastline. The two main ferry transports are the Dawn II, which operates on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and The Edge, which runs Wednesday through Sunday.

Entry Requirements

To gain entry to Saba, residents of the United States and Canada are required to carry either a valid passport or birth certificate and photo identification. Alternatively, a voter registration card may be used in lieu of a birth certificate. There are no official customs, but travelers must show proof of a return or continuing flight ticket.

Geography

Located between the islands of St. Maarten and St. Eustatius, this volcanic outcrop has a landmass of a mere five square miles. This island has no proper beaches, as the entire coastline is rocky. The island’s highest point is at the tip of Mount Scenery, which soars 2,885 feet into the sky. Saba is known for its lush vegetation and beautiful natural landscape.

Climate

The weather conditions of Saba are pleasant throughout the year. Summertime sees temperature averages of about 80 degrees Fahrenheit, while winter dips down as low as 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The island receives about 42 inches of rainfall annually, which assists in maintaining a bearable climate during the hot summer months. Naturally, these temperatures vary as you travel higher in elevation up the mountainous Saba terrain, so travelers may want to bring a sweater along when trekking up Mount Scenery. The small island of Saba is occasionally battered by passing hurricanes between the months of June through December, so travelers are urged to keep an eye on weather reports for the area prior to their vacation.

Health and Safety

Travelers will find themselves relatively worry-free when it comes to the crime and health in Saba. Although the island is tiny in size, they have ample medical facilities, including a hyperbaric chamber for injured divers. As always, tourists should be conscious of what they are eating, particularly concerning seafood. Visitors to the island will be comforted by the noticeable lack of crime in Saba, but it is advised to always apply common sense to ensure safety. Avoid displaying expensive items or jewelry, and always make sure your doors are locked. Those planning a day trip to the nearby island of St. Martin should take note that Saba’s neighboring island experiences a more significant level of crime.

People

The small number of people that inhabit the island of Saba are primarily of British descent. A large portion of the island’s younger population is said to have abandoned the island to seek employment and alternative lifestyles, so tourists may find that the community seems to consist of either very young children or the elderly. The islanders are known as being extremely hospitable, but travelers are advised to dress modestly in respect for the locals’ traditional values. Tourists who approach natives with respect will find that the locals are friendly and willing to share their laidback perspectives on life.