Saba Travel Guide

Introduction

Saba's siblings, such as St. Maarten, are known for gambling casinos, beaches, and plush resorts, and little St. Eustatius remains locked in a time warp. Saba has no casinos, no beaches to speak of, and is a bit of a sleepy backwater -- and therein lies its charm.

Saba is different from all other islands in the Caribbean, in that it is the top of a mountain (the rest of the landmass is undersea), with winding mountain roads and little villages clinging to its sides. More and more divers are flocking here to the last of the "virgin" dive locales, with some of the best sites in the Lesser Antilles.

An extinct volcano with no flat land, cone-shaped Saba is 13 sq. km (5 1/4 sq. miles) of rock carpeted with lush foliage-like orchids, giant elephant ears, and Eucharist lilies. At its zenith, Mount Scenery, it measures 870m (2,854 ft.). Under the sea, the volcanic walls continue a sheer drop to great depths.

Unless you're a serious hiker or diver, you might confine your look at...