Yes, you read that correct. If you follow on Instagram, you probably noticed that I went to Saba in the Dutch Caribbean. And like most people, I had no idea that was a thing.
About 5 years ago, my childhood best friend moved to Saba. This is the girl I’ve known since I was in elementary school, super long time! We grew up together, I was the Maid of Honor at her wedding and now the God Mother of her son! Needless to say, I was sad to see her move SO.FAR.AWAY. But, what I didn’t realize was I was gaining a home away from home.
Saba is the most peaceful Island I have ever visited. And the people?! Even better. You cannot go out without waving at everyone as you drive by, saying hello to everyone in the stores or knowing anyone for that matter. It’s quite different from Florida. My favorite part has got to be the water and THE VIEWS. Those views you saw on Instagram… 99% of the time was from Casey’s front yard. Can you believe that?
Saba is a tiny 5 square mile Island in the Dutch Caribbean, if you were to look it up on a map.. you might never even be able to find it. I literally zoom in about 500 times LOL. That could be another reason I love it. My best friend lives there, it’s BEAUTIFUL and so unknown. The people who do know about it, know how to enjoy it. Wine in the clouds, small pastry shops, no franchised restaurants, hiking trails galore and the most amazing diving (which I will write about tomorrow!)
I am lucky to have a friend live there that can show me around and help me learn the Island, but if you’re interested in going there are quite a few options!
Visiting Saba Dutch Caribbean:
Getting to Saba
This is the coolest part.
You fly into SXM – St Maarten. Which is an experience in itself. You fly 10 feet over Sunset beach. If you’ve never seen it, you must. There is a restaurant right next to the beach that allows you to see all the planes coming in.
After that, you’ll take WinAir from St. Maarten to Saba. I have a plane obsession – No. 1 thing on my bucket list: Fly an airplane. You’ll take a 16 seater plane from SXM to Saba for about 15 minutes. The landing.. would be scary for anyone not fond of planes. You land on the shortest commercial runway in the world, only 400m. If you follow on Instagram, you know how obsessed I was!
Where to stay:
What to do:
Learn to Dive!
I have never experienced anything more calming than scuba diving. Although at times my heart was racing out of fear, floating through the water is beyond relaxing. Check out my blog post about how amazing Sea Saba was on my first ever dive.
See: Learning to Dive with Sea Saba
Hike :
The first trail I ever hiked was Mt. Scenery in 2013. Which, is basically the top of a dormant volcano. It’s 90 minutes to the top and the views are amazing. I would say it’s a pretty challenging hike. I hiked it alone and fell 3 times.. I guess I was feeling brave that day.
The top reminds me of Jurassic Park! Got to love it.
There are a ton of hiking trails throughout Saba, some hidden and some off the main road, but all worth the effort. Nothing beats the views.
What to eat:
Bizzy B Bakery
I went to Bizzy B EVERYDAY.
I’ll throw it out there this is by far my favorite place on the Island. Freshly baked pastries, sandwiches and amazing lattes. First of all, they had me at lattes and second of all, IT IS SO AESTHETICALLY PLEASING. Which makes it better in my eyes.
Long Haul
Yummy spot for pizza in Windward Side! This was my welcome-to-saba-meal and I was not mad about it.
Chinese in Windward Side
Authentic Chinese food to satisfy those cravings. Thankfully, I didn’t have to drive here. It’s up a steep road that would scare me driving up it, but the food is worth it!
Bottom Bean Cafe
A super cute Cafe in The Bottom. Great place to stop for afternoon beef fajitas on the way to the beach, known for their burgers. Super popular with the students attending the med school.
The Hideaway
YUM. Ate here twice & wow. Their cheeseburgers and caesar salads are amazing. Tastes so fresh compared to home.
The Hideaway is also a really fun place to have a drink with friends. Much like I did with Casey on our last night together.
Tropics
This place. This is where Casey held the party after the baptism. This is also the place that made me feel like I was drinking wine in the clouds. If you decide to visit, try the croquettes – fried roll of potatoes, fish, veggies and more.
Shopping:
Kokona
This shop is what dreams are made of! Located in Windward Side. Full of goodies from local artisans and beautifully decorated. I really wish I would have gone back to take pictures of the please because I was so impressed.
You can find items from home decor to candles and handcrafted Saba Lace. I love a good local boutique & Kokona did not disappoint. I got to meet Lynn, one of the owners, who explained her idea behind the boutique and I was beyond impressed.
Have you been somewhere that isn’t well known, like Saba? I’d love to here about it below!
7 Comments
Stacey
These pictures are gorgeous! I love the one with the pink flowers. This looks like a wonderful place to visit!
May 30, 2017 at 8:26 amIsabel
Beautiful photo’s of the island!
May 30, 2017 at 9:56 pmTiffany C
Thank you Isabel!
May 30, 2017 at 10:06 pmCasey
Missing you already but thankful for the time we had. Until next time ♡
May 30, 2017 at 10:08 pmTiffany C
Can’t wait!
May 30, 2017 at 10:32 pmWendy
Loved reading about your experience and seeing the beautiful photos. We absolutely LOVE Saba! My husband discovered it when searching for a Dive destination years ago. Since then, we have returned 5 times. My husband is a recreational pilot, and we continue to be thrilled by the flight in and out! The diving never disappoints — thank you Sea Saba! Your take on the island and people reflects our experience as well. Time to book return trip……👍🏻
June 3, 2017 at 8:45 amTiffany C
Wow that is amazing! I am in shock by how many people know and love the Island! It’s such a beautiful place! Also, my number one item on my bucket list is to fly a plane. How cool that your husband is able to!
June 4, 2017 at 5:50 pm