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The
Caribbean Islands - Saba True to its nickname, "The Unspoiled Queen of the Caribbean," Saba is testimony to nature's awesome creative power. The island rises precipitously out of the sea, the tip of an ancient submerged volcano. Its cap is covered with a rich rain forest, and its rugged edges are surrounded by underwater gardens and mountains.
A pristine eco-paradise, Saba offers no intrusive signs of civilization, only a few tiny villages where red-roofed cottages cling to hillsides. Nature lovers could spend days getting acquainted with the round, five-square-mile island. It is a place for serious naturalists who want to delve into the mysteries of its ecosystem. Hikers who want to examine flowers in a wild setting and divers who come to study the tiniest details of a coral head will find Saba a fulfilling destination. Visitors seeking solitude will also be attracted to the island hideaway, where there are plenty of opportunities for peace and quiet.
Traveling The Road is the best and, in fact, only way to get around the island. Since it is the sole thoroughfare on Saba, its name is quite appropriate. Following the island's topography, The Road ascends and descends, and visitors may feel like they're riding a roller coaster. Along the route, there are lush banana plantations and breathtaking vistas.
From the airport in Flat Point, The Road snakes through the villages of Lower Hell's Gate, Upper Hell's Gate and English Quarter. Charming white houses accented with colorful shutters, bright red roofs and gingerbread trim give the quaint villages a picturesque quality. The Holy Rosary Church is a stone building with medieval characteristics that was built in 1962. Behind the church is the Community Center, where village women sell items embellished with handmade Saba lace.
The Road leads next to Windwardside, Saba's second-largest village. At an elevation of 1,968 feet, it's a high point on the island. Narrow passageways wind upward through the hillsides, where neat little houses and shops are perched. Among the noteworthy buildings is the Church of St. Paul's Conversion, a colonial structure with a red-and-white steeple. Nearby craft stores sell many unique souvenirs. The Saba Museum is located in the former home of a Dutch sea captain; it is furnished with antiques and maintains its 19th-century character. There is a mahogany four-poster bed with a carved pineapple design, lace curtains, an organ and other collectibles. The kitchen has a hearth and a rock oven. There's also a small exhibit of pre-Columbian stone tools and several mementos from the hurricane of 1772. Outside the museum, a bust of Simón Bolívar has been mounted to commemorate his visit to the island in 1816, when he came seeking recruits to fight in the region's battles for independence.
Just beyond Windwardside is an access point to Mount Scenery. Eons ago, the 2,855-foot-high mountain was an active volcano. It is extinct now and a profusion of vegetation covers its sides. To make it easier to reach the summit, Sabans have carved 1,064 steps out of the mountainside. The climb is a great day's outing. Signs identify the plants alongside the stone stairs, including orchids, begonias, ferns, elephant ears and various palms. Situated in a round valley 820 feet above sea level,
The
Bottom is Saba's capital and the official residence
of the governor. Located there is the Wesleyan Holiness
Church, a stone building with white fretwork that dates
back to 1919. Also in The Bottom is a lookout point
called The Gap. From there, visitors can descend 524
steps to Ladder Bay, the landing site used by Saba's
first settlers to haul their possessions up to The Bottom.
The Road, which starts at Flat Point, ends at Fort Bay.
Located there are ferry docks and scuba-diving operations.
Activities:
Saba has no beaches; however, those who
enjoy scuba diving and snorkeling will be thrilled with
the Saba Marine Park. It was established in 1987 to
protect marine life and it encircles the entire island
to a depth of 200 feet. There are 29 dive sites off
Saba's coast. Because there are both shallow and deep
dives, snorkelers and divers have a treasure trove of
underwater jewels to explore.
The steep drop-off allows for diving near the shore; underwater visibility often reaches 200 feet. The reef structures are amazing--lava flows, caverns, mountains, ledges and walls--and the volcanic black-sand bottom provides a dramatic background for viewing colorful fish and sponges. Dive shops on Saba offer certification courses, marine ecology classes and even underwater photography sessions. Both diving and snorkeling trips are available.
On the surface,
visitors can enjoy pleasant cruises around the island
while sipping a cocktail and watching the setting sun.
Half- and full-day deep-sea fishing excursions are also
offered. Saba has 18 botanical hiking trails that allow
nature lovers to investigate different regions of the
island. The most popular one is the trail to the summit
of Mount Scenery. Getting there means a walk through
the rain forest, where some of nature's most impressive
foliage is on display.Upon reaching the summit, hikers
are rewarded with a breathtaking vista of the islands
of St. Eustatius, St. Maarten and St. Kitts.
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