Saba

Key facts

• Region: The Caribbean
• Sovereignty: Non-sovereign territory administered by the Netherlands
• Capital: The Bottom
• Currency: US dollar (USD), adopted on 1 January 2011
• Languages: Dutch (official), English and Saban English
• Main airport: SAB — Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport
• Best time to visit: December to April, the dry season; diving and hiking are the main draws and both depend on settled weather

Overview

Saba is a special municipality of the Netherlands and the smallest of the SSS islands, a volcanic island rising steeply from the sea. It has essentially no beaches; its appeal is hiking on Mount Scenery and diving in its protected marine park. Air service to Saba is very limited, and many visitors arrive by ferry from Sint Maarten instead. The island uses the US dollar.

Airports

Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport (SAB) is Saba's only airport, and its runway is among the shortest in the world used by commercial aircraft, so it accepts only small planes. Scheduled service is limited and typically connects to Sint Maarten. The main alternative is the passenger ferry from Sint Maarten, which takes roughly an hour and a half.

Main cities

The Bottom is the capital, a small village in a central valley with the government offices. Windwardside is the main visitor village, on the hillside, with most guesthouses and restaurants and the trailhead for Mount Scenery. Hell's Gate, St. Johns, and Zion's Hill are the island's other small settlements along the road.

Places to go

Mount Scenery, reached by a steep trail of roughly 1,000 steps from Windwardside, is the highest point in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Saba National Marine Park surrounds the island and protects coral pinnacles and walls, with known dive sites such as Third Encounter, Eye of the Needle, and the man-made Ladder. The Saba Conservation Foundation maintains the hiking trails, including the Sandy Cruz and Elfin Forest routes. The Bottom's Dutch Reformed church and the island's historic sulphur mine ruins are minor points of interest.

Getting there

Cheapest cached round-trip fare into Saba, refreshed every 6 hours:

Where to stay

Practical information

Frequently asked