Windwardside

, known as "the Unspoiled Queen" due to the protection of its unique ecosystem, is a 13-km² (5 sq mi) volcanic island in the Leeward Islands. Since it is not a reef island, it does not have the sandy beaches most notable in the Caribbean, but rather mostly cliff faces and rocky shore. The island, however, attracts tourists for its diverse and vibrant ecosystem and the unique diving experiences (pinnacle diving, wall diving, etc.)

In 2025, the population of Saba was about 2,150 people spread into four major villages, and included the 200-300 medical students attending the Saba University of Medicine. The medical school houses a hyperbaric chamber, which coincides nicely with Saba's extensive diving draw.

Politically, Saba is a "special municipality" fully integrated in the

By Plane

Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport Saba is a 15-minute plane ride from Saint Martin 's Juliana International Airport, the regions largest airport with flights to the US and Europe. is the airline used to get to and from Saba, and flights occur about 5 times a day (wind permitting). Opened in 1963, Saba's airport is a 400-metre (1,300-foot) length of runway sitting on Saba's biggest flat piece of land, a cliff-ringed promontory known as "Flat Point". Though it may appear dangerous, there have been no deadly crashes since the airport opened in 1963. The runway is marked with a large white X at each end signaling that it is not to be used by most commercial airplanes. In fact, pilots need special training to land here, and Winair is the only airline serving the airport, using the DHC-6 Twin Otter. The danger comes from the airport's location in relation to the rest of the island. The side by which aircraft come in is flanked by a large cliff that the plane flies directly towards, before banking hard left, in order to line up with the runway. The airport is 18 m (60 feet) above the ocean, and sheer cliffs on both sides of the runway lead to those rocky depths. There is a risk of an airplanes over-shooting the runway and falling into the ocean. A crosswind will cause airplanes to abort landings, as the rough turbulence can give even good pilots a hard time. The airport's excellent safety record should put travelers at ease about this landing, which is undertaken 5 times daily. The airport is the shortest international runway in the world. The airport has a bar, no air-traffic-control station, and the airport manager is known by pilots for paying very close attention to every incoming flight, and if he rates a landing as a little too sloppy, he will most assuredly come out and complain to the pilot in no uncertain terms.

By Ferry

Two boats share the ferry service to and from Saba and St. Maarten: . As of 2015, both are featured on StMartinbookings where live availability and schedules for the two can be compared. Windwardside +599-416-2299

By Car / Road

There is a car rental place in The Bottom called Caja's Car Rental ; however, you might want to pay attention to how the locals drive on the road before you decide you want to rent a car. Depending on the car, rental rates are $40-50 per day or $220-288 per week. There's just one gas station on Saba, located in Fort Bay and open M-F 09:00-14:00 and Sa 09:00-12:00 on Saturday. The traffic is on the right and speed limits are 20 km/h in the villages and 40 km/h outside them. If you stay in Windwardside, you can walk to anywhere in Windwardside, and likewise for any of the other villages. But if you stay in one village and want to get to the next, it's probably best to just call a taxi or get a ride in some way. Some of the grocery stores will offer delivery service to where you stay, but be sure to ask if they offer this service before you start buying. Walking along The Road to the Bottom is not particularly pleasant, since traffic is fast and the road is narrow. A pleasant alternative, if somewhat steep, is the walking trail which leaves the Road at the Saba trail shop and meets up with it again directly uphill from the Medical School. Hitchhiking The people on Saba are very friendly, so hitchhiking from town to town isn't rare. Taxi drivers have even been known to pick up hitchers, not charging them for the ride if that's the direction they're going anyway.

Josephus Lambert Hassell was the engineer who, in 1938, designed and supervised the building of the road from Fort Bay to The Bottom. Over the next 23 years, 14 km of road was painstakingly laid by hand and wheelbarrow by locals. It is said the men of Hell's Gate put in the most effort on the project because their village was the farthest away from Fort Bay. However, the creation of the airport later on Flat Point meant that the main point of arrival on Saba was now diametrically opposite: in the northeastern tip, rather than in the southwest. Taxis can be called to travel from one town to another, and considering the treacherous nature of The Road (narrow, steep and often ringed with high stone walls), it is probably not wise to try to walk it. The taxi rates from town to town are strictly regulated, so, your likelihood of being hustled is slim. Airport to Windwardside: $16 + $3 per bag. Windwardside to The Harbour: $21 + $3 per bag (March 2025).

• With an altitude of 862m, Mount Scenery has the highest elevation in all of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. There is a hiking trail to go up the mountain that starts just outside Windwardside. Walk past the tourist office and let them know. It is best to hike up in the morning as the peak is often fogged in during the afternoon.
• Road) from Windwardside leads up to
• which has a few things to see. JoBean's Glass Studio is on that road, as well as a Guava tree orchard.
• Built as a home for a Dutch captain in 1840, nowadays it is a museum with most of the original furniture and paraphernalia intact. Outside of it there's a bust of Simon Bolivar.

Saba is one of the top destinations in the world to go Scuba diving due to its sheer underwater cliffs, pinnacles, and the multitude of diving locations surrounding the island that each offer a unique experience. The people in the local dive shops are very friendly and great at teaching inexperienced people how to dive. They can take someone without th [... truncated ...]

Dining options in Windwardside range from casual beachside eateries to upscale restaurants. Local Caribbean cuisine features fresh seafood, tropical fruits, and international influences. Many restaurants offer outdoor terrace dining.

Beach bars and cocktail lounges are popular, serving tropical drinks and local beers. Happy hour is common at many establishments. Fresh fruit smoothies and local rum-based cocktails are widely available.

Budget: Hostels and budget hotels offer affordable accommodation starting from around €30–60 per night.

Mid-range: Comfortable hotels and B&Bs are available in the €70–130 range, often within walking distance of the town center.

Upscale: For a more luxurious stay, boutique hotels and higher-end properties offer premium amenities from €140 per night.

Souvenir shops and local boutiques offer gifts and local crafts. Duty-free shopping is available at the airport. Local markets provide fresh produce and artisanal goods.

• Other parts of the island — Explore more beaches, national parks, and local communities
• Nearby islands — Day trips by ferry or small plane to neighboring Caribbean islands