Saba is a five square mile island located in the northeastern Caribbean Sea, 28 miles southwest of its international hub St. Maarten, a 12 minute flight or 90 minute ferry ride away. Formerly part of the Netherlands Antilles, in 2010 Saba became part of a special municipality of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, along with the islands of St. Eustatius and Bonaire.
Saba has four main villages, The Bottom (Saba’s capital), Windwardside, St. John’s and Zion’s Hill (aka Hell’s Gate). All are well kept and bristling with old Caribbean charm. Gingerbread houses with immaculate gardens, and clean and safe streets await your exploration.
The Bottom
is Saba’s capital and home to Saba University School of Medicine. (Medical students and faculty make up almost a quarter of the island’s entire population.) You’ll also discover several small restaurants, bars and grocery stores in the village. Drive to Well’s Bay and see the old Customs House that sits atop “The Ladder,” the rugged steps that formed Saba’s route to and from the sea long before the road was built. Climb up and down the steps once and you’ll get a true appreciation of how tough life was for early Sabans.
Windwardside
Windwardside is the most tourist-oriented village. Drop by the Saba Tourist Bureau and say hello, you’ll be within close proximity to three of the island’s hotels and home to many vacation rental cottages. You’ll have no trouble passing a day wandering through small streets, exploring the museums and shops, and a bite to eat is never far away. If you’re up for some exercise stop by the trail shop, pick up a map and a keepsake and then ascend the Mt. Scenery Trail to climb to the highest point in the Kingdom of the Netherlands!
Zion’s Hill (A.k.a. Hell’s Gate)
Zion’s Hill is the first town you’ll reach after leaving the Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport. Hell’s Gate was officially named “Zion’s Hill” after complaints from the church forced the Island’s government to change the name. However, “Hell’s Gate” is still used by many Sabans and visiting tourists today. Hell’s Gate is home to the Holy Rosary Church, a stone structure built in 1962. Hell’s Gate is about 1000 feet above sea level. Lower Hell’s Gate is home to a now-closed sulfur mine where visitors may explore with caution. Hell’s Gate is also the start of the Sandy Cruise trail which one can take. The trail takes roughly 2 hours to complete and gives stunning views of Diamond Rock and the Saban coastline..
St John’s is one of Saba’s smaller villages. Before entering our Capital, The Bottom, you must drive through this quaint neighborhood. Here you can ask your Taxi to make stops to capture some of our best scenic shots on the island. On a very clear day, you can see our neighboring islands St Eustatius, St Kitts, Nevis and, if you’re lucky, even Montserrat! From this vantage point high above the Caribbean Sea, ships and boats can be seen coming and going to Fort Bay Harbor. St. John’s played a big role in the island’s history. If a vessel was approaching someone from the village would signal to residents in The Bottom to let them know visitors would soon arrive. Be sure to check out Crispeen Track, it will certainly take you back in time and give you a real feeling of the old St John’s
