The Caribbean Islands are some of the best places in the world to spend your holidays. However, if you want to have more fun without roaming around, you must visit Sint Eustatius and Saba. These are small yet beautiful islands full of life, entertainment and all you need to rock your vacation. These two islands are extended on a small area of 21 km2 and 13 km2, respectively, with a collective population of just around 5000 citizens. The official language of these islands is Dutch, but most people can also understand and speak English as well, so communication is not a problem during your stay. These islands and Bonaire are termed Caribbean Netherlands or BES islands and administrated by the Netherlands. Even you can find a colour scheme and logo harmony in the Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius flag. Yet looking at the Bonaire Sint Eustatius and Saba map, you will find them separated by waters. The reason might be that once you reach any of them, you can get to the remaining two easily. The current article will provide you with brief information about these islands that will help you know most of the travel things to do while planning your trip to Sint Eustatius and Saba.
Visa and Entry Policies
If you are a citizen of Canada, Europe, the USA or the UK, you don't need a visa to enter Sint Eustatius and Saba's borders. Also, they can extend their stay for a maximum of 180 days. Whether you want to get there through the Sint Eustatius flights or plan to make your journey by travelling in the sea, you have to have a passport. However, the passport should be valid for at least up to three months from the date of your departure. Other nationals can get the visa quickly by contacting their nearby Dutch Embassy, which could be processed within 15 days. Also, you can acquire a short-time visa starting from £30. One of the stranger things about a Caribbean visa is that you can get multiple entries to different islands' countries. One can spend a total of 90 days per year on the Caribbean Islands. However, the stay in any single country must not be more than 30 days which means you can get a chance to see all the amazing places on Bonaire Sint Eustatius and Saba map with a single visa.
Law and Order Situation
When you plan your trip, one of the top travel things to do is check your vacation destination's security situation. As nobody wants to spend his/her time at a place, they might encounter specific threats. You will be glad to know that Saba and St. Eustatius's crime rate is least compared to the other Caribbean. However, that doesn't mean you are in paradise; you still need to guard your valuables even in the St. Eustatius hotels and paid accommodations. Nevertheless, if you get into any unforeseen situation, the governing authorities will always help you. You can also get instant police assistant just by dialling 911. In case of any medical emergency, the authorities have to provide you with first aid and medical help without asking about any coverage. In certain situations, the rules will help you in:
- Reporting the crime
- Contacting your family
- Getting justice as per local law
- Getting a replacement of lost or stolen passport
- Making arrangements for your way back home
- Meanwhile accommodating you in Sint Eustatius hotels
I guess it is enough to ensure you safe travel and stay in these beautiful islands of the Caribbean.
Beauty below and above water
The whole of the Caribbean is famous for its extreme beauty and looking at the Bonaire Sint Eustatius and Saba map, we will see the whole Netherlands surrounded by water. You can even find the Sint Eustatius flag depicting where an island is in the middle of the flag. Sunny weather makes it possible for you to view the above water and explore the other world that lies beneath the water. Marine Life!
National parks
Saba National Marine Park: This park is well equipped with all the facilities for aquatic activities like fishing, diving, boating and even swimming. You will also get to see hot springs where you can even dive. So, this park will provide you with the chance to view the underwater corals, sponges and least know marine life. Statia National Marine Park: It is one of the amazing parks of St. Eustatius, which is most popular for diving. Diving here is to be done within the allowed area as it is a home of much diversified natural marine life, and you can come across octopus, lobsters, turtles and even sharks.
Party at Beaches
Vacations are meant to relax your body and soul, and there is never a better way to do so than by getting amused by nature. Sitting beside water on a beautiful beach, taking a walk on the wet sand and having a family picnic is what most of us find relaxing. You can get several chances of doing so during your stay here. The most beautiful beaches that are always crowded with tourists include Zeelandia, Oranje Bay Oranjestad Beach and Corre Corre Bay. You will also find many restaurants and Sint Eustatius hotels around these beaches.
Things to do in Sint Eustatius and Saba
The trip to these small islands is adventure travel, and you will find a vast number of things to do here, but what most of the tourist get attracted to are:
Scenic Natural Sites
If you are scared of water or don't enjoy diving, you can still make your trip memorable by exploring the naturally occurring sites within this area.
Mount Scenery Trail
It is one of the most popular hiking trails in the Caribbean and a very rewarding one. Although the tracks are slippery due to moss and mud but the trip is worth trying. On your way to reaching the top, there comes the point standing where you can see the whole of Saba and its neighbouring islands clearly on a bright sunny day.
The Quill Hiking Trail
Choose among the eight different trails reaching up to 600 meters above sea level volcanic cone. On your way to reaching the top, you will come across thick and dense forests, rest places and a huge variety of wild fruits and trees, more than enough to feast your eyes.
Statia Bicycle Trip:
One of the finest ways to witness the highlights of islands is to avail of bicycle rides. This trip is a fully organized tour of different places lasting for 2-3 hours normally. You can get rental bicycles for that and a paid guide to help you explore much in the least time.
Food and Night Life:
These islands are much calmer and static places, and you will not find much gathering around. So, if you want to dine in perfect peace, you can get a chance to enjoy your meal with your partners; you must land on this piece of Earth. However, this doesn't mean that you cannot have fun even though some of the restaurants offer nightclubs and bars for those who want to enjoy it.
Shopping is one of the must travel things to do:
Although you will find these islands much smaller than other Caribbean islands but the art and craftwork you will get here is worth mentioning. Apart from these arts, you can also find fine quality liquor, clothes and even home decor items that will make the perfect gift for your family.
Attractions that you cannot overlook
The St. Eustatius and Saba islands got something for everyone's taste. You will find the historic Catholic churches in Saba and Sint Eustatius, forts and museums here. Miriam C. Schmidt Botanical Garden is where you can see multiple reptile animals and plant species as well as some unseen birds and insects. Fort De Windt and Fort Oranje are historical sites and an ideal place to dine. You can also call for a picnic on these spots on a bright sunny day. Boven National Park, where you can hike, will end at a volcano that was last erupted around 1600 years back. The whole route is adventure travel with properly marked tracks. Catholic churches in Saba and Sint Eustatius are one of the biggest attractions for tourists, and the most popular of them all is Sacred Heart Church and Holy Rosary Church in Saba. So, whether you want to calm your quest for knowledge, view the ancient warfare of the Caribbean, or feel the old catholic church's spirituality, you can find that all and much more things to do within these islands.
Final words
Now knowing where is Sint Eustatius and Saba and how to get there, you need to plan your vacation there. Also, if you don't want to spend much money to have fun, book your ticket to the Sint Eustatius flights has fun exploring the area as the chances of getting lost are very rare on these small islands.