It was 8:55 p.m., a week before my trip to Tokyo and I was hovering over my laptop with a steady hand on the mouse. The website I was on clearly stated: "Reservations may be booked from 9 p.m., 7 days in advance at the earliest."
A first-timer’s guide to Saba, a tiny Caribbean gem
04.03.2024 - 14:57 / lonelyplanet.com
A visit to Saba (SAY-bah) feels like you’ve moved past the velvet rope from the general-admission area of the Caribbean and into the VIP section.
Your introduction to this tiny volcanic island – 5 sq miles (13 sq km), with 2000 residents – begins with a bang: a landing on the world’s shortest commercial runway, at a mere 400m (1312ft). Flying into Saba isn’t for the faint of heart (so don’t tell mom).
But for both aviation enthusiasts and adventure seekers, it’s the kind of experience that comes with immediate bragging rights. (For those a little less keen to take the 12-minute flight from Sint Maarten, there are ferries from that island, and from Sint Eustatius.)
However you decide to get there, Saba’s hiking, underwater wildlife and culinary scene provide a gateway to the island’s traditions, culture and way of life. Best of all, you’ll be able to enjoy such pleasures without fighting for space on a trail or beach.
That is, until the word gets out.
Before COVID-19, Saba averaged between 10,000 and 15,0000 visitors per year; post-COVID, the number has settled around 10,000. Though no visitor will ever encounter large swarms of tourists at one time, anyone who comes has to reserve early for accommodation (there are just 124 rooms on the entire island), car rental and other amenities before they’re all booked up.
The busiest times for the island are during Carnival (the last Monday in July), Saba Day (the first Friday in December) and the late-year holidays, when the island really comes alive – and everything books up quickly. These events draw not just visitors, but Sabans coming home from abroad.
The weather is lovely all year round. Things get a little warmer during June, July and August, and cool down at year’s end. The terrain here is hilly, which means temperatures are always cooler at higher elevations.
Like all Caribbean islands, the threat of hurricanes during the season, from June to November, is a yearly concern. (The last major hurricane to hit Saba was Irma, in 2018.)
Since the world doesn’t stop during this multi-month period, don’t let the threat deter you. Simply make sure to purchase trip insurance, and keep an eye on weather forecasts as your trip approaches.
Three to five days is an ideal timeframe for visiting Saba. This petite island encourages a slower pace – so lingering at a lookout point on a hiking trail to truly “take it all in,” or relaxing by the pool at the villa you rented, is time well spent.
That said, day trips via ferry from the neighboring islands of Sint Maarten and Sint Eustatius are a popular option.
Start the day in Windwardside village and grab breakfast at Bizzy B Bakery. If it’s a weekday, you’ll find the area buzzing as locals stop by to grab loaves of
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