After our time in Guadeloupe, we made our way up the Eastern Caribbean to St. Kitts and Nevis where we anchored for the night, on our way to Saint Martin. We arrived in Saint Martin and anchored on the Dutch Side in Simpson Bay, happy to be settled after traveling for two days. We spent about three weeks in Saint Martin, enjoying both the Dutch and French sides of the island as we waited for a good weather window for a passage to the U.S. Virgin Islands.
While anchored in Saint Martin, our friends, Craig and Bobbi, suggested we take a ferry excursion to the Dutch island of Saba. It happened to be Craig’s birthday, so we were excited to celebrate it with him on this special island tour. The tickets on the “Edge” high-speed ferry were $90/person, which included the round trip ferry ride plus ginger ale!
The 90-minute ferry ride from Saint Martin to Saba was nice and smooth as the easterly wind and waves were behind us. As our ferry got closer to the island, we saw some mooring balls getting pounded by the sea swell. It’s no wonder most cruisers don’t anchor around Saba. There is no marina, as of yet, and no protection from the wind and the waves. Once off the ferry we had to check in with customs and immigration and get our passports stamped. It was a pretty easy process as the ferry personnel arrange for a quick check-in and check-out for its passengers.
Bobbi rented a 4-hour taxi tour for the four of us. Vincent, our taxi driver, is originally from The Netherlands, but he’s lived on Saba for 30+ years. He knows practically everything there is to know about the island, including all the residents. I believe he said there are about 1,900 people who live on the island.
We learned that Saba is a special municipality of the Netherlands, and is only five square miles in size (13 sq. km). It is essentially established on top of a dormant volcano called Mount Scenery. The main port is at sea level, at “The Bottom,” so in order to explore the island, we had to drive high up the steep mountain in a zigzag fashion.
The terrain is stunning and the island is as clean and well-maintained as it gets. Because of its remote location and the lack of an international airport, Saba usually attracts wealthier tourist and celebrities who can afford to arrive in private jets. The small homes, shops, and resorts are embellished with ornate Dutch designs, pastel colored, and red roofs. There is an abundance of brightly colored flowers and healthy vegetation on the island, making it a place of beauty.
Vincent told us about the Saba Marine park, a world renowned dive site, which is home to stunning coral formations, turtle sanctuaries, dolphins, and sharks. There are also offshore underwater mountains created by volcanic activity which is a diver’s wonderland. Of interest, Saba was featured in the original 1933 King Kong movie and served as a backdrop for the gigantic gorilla’s “Skull Island” home. Saba offers hiking and nature trails throughout the island. It has been known as the “Unspoiled Queen” of the Caribbean and is an island paradise for those who are able to visit this secluded gem.
After touring the island’s attractions for a couple of hours, we stopped for lunch at The Tropics restaurant at one of the local boutique resorts. The food was delicious, and the ambiance was just as delightful! After that, we walked to the main shopping district in town with boutiques, eateries, galleries, clothing stores, a coffee shop, and real estate office.
We had an amazing day touring the winsome island of Saba. I highly recommend Vincent as a taxi driver and tour guide. He imparted to us a wealth of information on the island and what it’s like to live there. This is one of the most beautiful and peaceful places we’ve visited, with a mix of old and new, ancient and modern, energetic and relaxing, adventurous and yet slow and steady. This is a day-trip we will never forget, and likely a place we’ll never have a chance to see again. We will relish the memories.
