Saba is an overseas territory of the Netherlands Antilles. It is a
special municipality of the Netherlands and does not belong to the
Schengen area.
Saba is an almost circular island of volcanic
origin, 3.6 × 3.9 km in size. The sea around the island is relatively
deep. At a distance of 500 m from the shore, the water depth is also
about 500 meters. This means that navigating close to the shore is easy,
but the island can only be reached by boat in good weather. Saba also
includes the uninhabited rocky island of Green Island, which lies a few
hundred meters north of the main island and is home to rare bird
species.
Today, the residents, who are about half white and half
colored, grow vegetables and fish. Some of the men also work in the oil
industry on Aruba. The highest point on the island is Mount Scenery at
884 m. The two towns of Hell's Gate and St. John's are mainly
residential areas. Tourism is an important source of income; around
30,000 overnight guests come to the island every year.
1 Fort Bay. The port in Fort Bay consists of the port
facilities themselves, a few restaurants, diving excursion providers,
other industrial businesses and the only gas station on the island.
2
Zion's Hill (Zions Hill, Hell's Gate). The settlement formerly known as
Hell's Gate is located in the northeastern part of the island. The
airport is located below on the coast.
3 The Bottom. The
administrative buildings and facilities such as the hospital and police
are located in the main town of the island above Fort Bay. There are
also a few hotels and restaurants as well as the starting points of some
hiking trails.
4 Windwardside. In Windwardside, which is located
roughly in the middle of the island directly on the slopes of Mount
Scenery, most of the hotels, other accommodations, restaurants and bars
on the island are located. The town is the center of tourism, houses the
tourist information office, the trail shop for hikers and is the
starting point of most hiking trails.
In pre-Columbian times, the island was only visited by
Indians from time to time. To date, however, no evidence has been found
that dates back to before 800 AD. Archaeological excavations in the town
of The Bottom, near the Anglican Church and at Spring Bay, however, show
that the Carib Indians were there for a time. They called the island
"Siba". On his second voyage, Columbus discovered this island on
November 12, 1493, as did Sint Eustatius. However, due to the difficult
waters, no Spanish conqueror ever set foot on it.
Sir Francis
Drake recorded the island in 1595. In 1624 and 1626, it was mentioned by
the Dutchmen Pieter Schouten and Piet Heyn. In 1632, an English ship ran
aground; the crew found water and fruit but no people. In 1635, the
island was taken over by Pierre D'Esnambuc for France.
In 1640,
Dutch people, who originally came from the Dutch province of Zeeland,
began settling the island from Sint Eustatius. They founded Tent Bay and
"De Botte", today's The Bottom. The island was initially administered by
the West Indian Company (WIC). On the surrounding islands, the islanders
became known as good shoe and boot makers on the neighboring islands.
By 1665, the population had grown to 250; they were Dutch, English,
Irish and Scottish. In the same year, the British occupied the island
and deported all residents, with the exception of 54 Englishmen, to Sint
Maarten.
In 1679, the English gave up the island again. It was
now administered from Sint Eustatius. In 1698, the French occupied Sint
Eustatius and tried in vain to take over the island of Saba. Between
1679 and 1781, the island remained continuously under Dutch control.
During these years, cotton, sugar cane and various other foodstuffs were
grown. In 1700, 500 people lived on the island, about a third of whom
were slaves. In 1715, there were four rum distilleries on Saba. In the
18th century, the governor of SURINAM in Paramaribo was responsible for
the island.
In 1781, the island was captured by Sir James
Cockburn on behalf of Admiral Rodney. The island changed hands several
times until 1795. Then, together with Sint Eustatius and Sint Maarten,
it was firmly in French hands until 1801. In 1801, the English occupied
the island together with Sint Eustatius and Sint Maarten, but just one
year later, all three islands had to be returned in the Peace of Amiens.
Until the Treaty of London on February 21, 1816, Saba changed hands 12
times again. During this time, it was a base for pirates for many years,
then it finally passed into Dutch hands. From 1845 onwards it was
administered from Curacao. A lieutenant governor was appointed who was
supported by two advisors who were elected by the island's population.
When the Netherlands abolished slavery in 1863 there were 1,200
whites and 600 slaves. By 1880 the population had grown to 2,000 and by
1915 it was almost 2,500. When the oil refineries opened on Curacao and
Aruba, many residents of Saba went there to look for work. By 1960 the
population had fallen to under 1,000, only to rise slightly again today.
In 1936 the Dutch colonies in the Caribbean received a new
parliament, called the Staten. It initially had 15 members. The three
islands of Saba, Sint Eustatius and Sint Maarten could only send one
member together. From 1942 onwards the colonial status was gradually
reorganised. Willemstad became the administrative headquarters for all
Dutch possessions in the Caribbean. Until 1948, only about 5% of the
total population on the islands had the right to vote, after which
universal suffrage was introduced.
In 1954, the colonies were
granted complete self-government. The Staten parliament was increased to
22 members. In 1985, it was reorganized again. New elections were held,
and the elected representatives were now called senators. For the first
time, Saba and Sint Eustatius were given their own seat there. At the
same time, each island was able to choose its own national flag and
anthem.
Until the middle of this century, there were hardly any
paved roads on Saba. 800 steps led from Fort Bay to The Bottom. Even
today, a path from Windwardside to the summit of Mount Scenery takes
1,064 steps. After five years of construction, a cement road from Fort
Bay to The Bottom was completed under the direction of Josephus Lambert
Hassell, and it took another four years to expand it to St. John’s and
Windwardside. The first car drove on the island in 1947.
In 1959,
Rémy de Haenen, who ran his own airline on the island of Tintamarre near
St. Martin, landed the first plane on Saba. Construction of the airport
then began; the runway is just over 400m long. It was named after the
Dutch finance minister Juancho Yrausquin. There have been regular
flights to Sint Maarten since 1963.
There has been a continuous
power supply since 1970. The Leo A. Chance Pier in Fort Bay was
completed in 1972; the Sabanese L. A. Chance played a major role in its
planning and construction. A cargo ship from Sint Maarten docks in this
small harbor every week, supplying the island's population with fresh
food.
On October 10, 2010, Saba, along with Bonaire and Sint
Eustatius, became special municipalities within the Netherlands.
In October 1986, the Netherlands Antilles National Park Foundation (STINAPA) launched a two-year plan with the aim of turning the waters around the island into a national park. The project was financed by the WWF and the Dutch government, and the Saba Marine Park (SMP) was officially opened in 1987. It encompasses the entire sea surrounding the island from the high water mark to a water depth of 71 meters. There are only two designated anchorages for sailing ships in the national park, one in Ladder Bay and one in Fort Bay, where there is also an immigration office. Saba Marine Park, The Bottom, Saba, Tel. 43295. The Saba Conservation Foundation was founded in the same year. Its aim is to protect nature on the island and maintain the hiking trails. Information is available from the Tourist Office.
There are no major rivers or bodies of water on the island. The
tropical, humid climate ensures that hibiscus and oleander plants bloom
from a certain altitude, while the cloud-covered Mount Scenery is
covered with rainforest, mountain mahogany, mountain palms and tree
ferns, wildflowers and orchids. The coastal areas at the lower 200
meters are dry, however, and only have grasses, herbs and shrubs and a
few trees. Towards the top there is initially dry forest, which then
changes into wet forests.
The only natural danger to humans on
the island in the lower, dry regions is the manchineel tree, one of the
most poisonous trees in the world. The fruits are deadly and staying
under the tree in the rain can cause irritation and blisters on the
skin. The trees are marked with warning signs.
The animal world
is limited to a non-poisonous racer snake species, lizards, iguanas, and
small, brown tree frogs, as well as just over 60 species of birds. The
lizard species Anolis sabanus is only found on this island.
The tap water on the island comes from rainwater catchment basins. It is generally drinkable, but you should find out about it beforehand and boil it if necessary. Spring water can be bought in canisters in supermarkets. A seawater desalination plant is under construction.
Entry requirements: For citizens of Germany, Austria and Switzerland,
a valid passport and return or onward ticket is sufficient for a stay of
up to 90 days.
Exit requirements: The airport fee for departure is
US$5 within the Windward Islands, and US$20 for all other destinations.
Foreign exchange regulations: There are no restrictions on the import
and export of currencies. Credit cards are accepted in hotels and dive
shops.
By plane
Juancho Yrausquin Airport (Juancho E.
Yrausquin Airport, IATA: SAB). 400m runway, Tel. 416-2223, Immigration
Office, Tel. 416-3214. There is only regional traffic via this airport.
It is only served by WINAir. International flights can be reached in
SINT MAARTEN. The flight time to SINT MAARTEN is 15 minutes.
WIN Air
agent: D. Johnson Travel, Windwardside, Tel. 416-2212
WIN Air, Flat
Point, Tel. 416-2255
WIN Air, Sint Maarten, Tel. (599) 545-2568
http://fly-winair.com
By
ship
The fast catamaran "The Edge"
travels daily from Pelican Marina, Simpson Bay, SINT MAARTEN to Saba.
Departure from SINT MAARTEN at 9 a.m., departure from Saba at 3:30 p.m.
The journey takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Reservations in SINT
MAARTEN: Tel. 42640, Fax 42476.
Makana Ferry operates its catamarans
on several days of the week from Saba to Philipsburg on Sint Maarten, to
Sint Eustatius and on to Saint Kitts.
https://makanaferryservice.com/
Rental cars
Drive on the right!
The maximum speed is 40 km/h on
country roads and 20 km/h in towns! The road from the airport in the
northeast to Fort Hill in the southwest, which took many years and was
painstakingly built, is 15 km long. There are about 250 vehicles on
Saba. The only gas station is in Fort Bay, opening hours: Mon-Fri 9:00
a.m.-2:00 p.m., Sat 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Rental prices: per day,
40-47 US $, Jeep 50 US $, per week, 220-230 US $, Jeep 288 US $
Taxi
Taxi drivers are also the best guides on the island.
Eddie’s Taxi
Service, Tel. / Fax 416-2640, Mobile Tel. 526-9086
Wayne’s Taxi
Island Tour, Tel. 416-2277
Fare for 1-4 people from the airport
to
Booby Hill 15.00 US $
Fort Bay 24.40 US $
Mountain Road End
15.00 US $
Sandy Cruz 12.50 US $
St. John’s 17.50 US $
The
Bottom 20.00 US $
The Level 16.25 US $
Well’s Bay 35.00 US $
Windwardside 12.50 US $
Zion’s Hill 10.00 US $
Fare for 1-4
people from Windwardside to
Booby Hill 6.25 US $
Fort Bay 15.00 US
$
Mountain Road End 6.25 US $
Sandy Cruz $10.00
St. John's
$6.25
The Bottom US$10.00
The Level US$7.50
Well's Bay $18.75
Zion's Hill $7.50
Fares for 1-4 people from Fort Bay to
Airport US$24.50
Booby Hill $17.00
Mountain Road $18.00
Sandy
Cruz $19.00
St. John's $10.00
The Bottom US$7.50
The Level
US$18.00
Windwardside $15.00
Zion's Hill $20.00
Island tour,
duration approx. 2 hours: US$50
1 Harry Luke Johnson Museum, Windwardside. It was built in 1840 as a residential house, the kitchen has not been changed. It is mainly filled with the legacy of a Dutch captain and is dedicated to the island's history and everyday life. The building stands in the middle of a romantic landscape-style garden, which is used as a public park for picnics, and in the past also for Sunday croquet games and Easter egg hunts. There is a bust of Simon Bolivar in the immediate vicinity. Open: Wed-Sun 10:00-15:00, Tue 9:00-12:00 (only when cruise ships arrive). Price: $2.
There are no sandy beaches on Saba's coasts. There are rocky beaches in several bays. However, a lot of flotsam and seaweed can be washed up on these. For this reason and because of the large waves and difficult to walk on stones, swimming on the beach is not necessarily recommended.
To protect the sea, Saba has established a "Marine Park" in
collaboration with the World Wildlife Fund, the Prince Bernhard Fund and
the Dutch government. This national park serves to protect the seabed
around the island. There are 26 designated diving areas.
Saba Marine
Park, Fort Bay, P. O. Box 18, The Bottom, Tel. 416-3295, Fax 416-3435.
There are a number of hiking trails from the car-free era, all on
private property. Other trails were later set up for tourists or made
accessible again. Hikers are asked to keep the trails clean and not to
leave them. The "Saba Conservation Foundation", founded in 1987, has put
up information boards on several trails, marked the course of the trails
and in some cases improved the accessibility of the trails with aids
such as sides, railings, steps or wooden raised paths. In Windwardside,
the Saba Trail Shop sells equipment and provides up-to-date information
about the trails. A visit to the Trail Shop before hiking is recommended
for the information alone.
The local hiking guide Hiking on Saba
- A Guide to the Trails of Saba by Tom van't Hof from 2017 is
recommended for every hiker. It is also rented out in some hotels.
Flat Point Trail, time: 10 minutes, difficulty level: easy. Marked
by color markings on rocks, ruins of a sugar factory, view.
The
Ladder, time: 30 minutes, difficulty level: difficult. 524 steps lead to
the old jetty by the sea.
Sulphur Mine Trail, time: 20-30 minutes,
difficulty level: medium. The trail begins behind the church of Hell's
Gate, at the crossroads to Mary's Point take the descending path to the
Sulphate Mine, which approaches the Cave of Rum Bay. The path to Mary's
Point is not marked, there is a risk of getting lost!
Sandy Cruz
Trail, time: 15-20 minutes, difficulty level: medium. The trail begins
above Hell's Gate, is marked by white paint markers and leads into the
rainforest.
Mount Scenery Trail, time: 60-90 minutes, difficulty
level: difficult. There are 1064 steps on a marked hiking trail at an
altitude of 870m. There are several huts and information boards on the
hiking trail. From the highest point in the Netherlands, if the weather
is clear in the morning, you have a good view of the nearest islands.
Shoes with rubber soles or tennis shoes are important for this hike, as
the path is slippery. It goes through the rain and cloud forest.
Maskerhorne Hill Trail, time: 40 minutes, difficulty level: easy to
medium. First you leave Windwardside on the Mount Scenery Track. After
10 minutes of hiking through dense forest, you reach a small farm. Here
you turn left onto Maskerhorne Hill, from which you can overlook
Windwardside. The path is narrow and dirty.
Crispeen Track, time:
60-80 minutes, difficulty level: medium. The path begins just behind the
last houses in the village of The Bottom. After 15-20 minutes past
fields, you reach a group of houses (Crispeen), this section of the path
is very overgrown. From here the trail continues on a more difficult
path through the rainforest, past fields over a wooded ridge to
Rendezvous where you meet the hiking trail to Mount Scenery.
Dutch is the official language, most residents also speak English. Spanish is also spoken.
Saba is famous for the hand-woven lace that is made by women here in
an old tradition.
Rum liqueur from El Momo - "Saba Spice" is a local
liqueur with a 77% rum base. Locally made liqueurs are also available
from various suppliers at occasional markets or some shops.
Crime is unknown on Saba.
The climate on the island varies greatly depending on the altitude at which you are. While it is rather dry and hot down near the coast, it becomes increasingly humid and a little cooler as you go up to Mount Scenery. It rains more frequently here and Mount Scenery itself is often shrouded in clouds.