9 Best Things To Do in Saba: Gin & Tonics to Turtles

Inside the Winair plane at Saba’s airport

If you’ve ever been to Kauaʻi, you know the view I’m talking about. The legendary Napali Coast with those razor-sharp green cliffs plunging straight into the Pacific.

That’s the closest comparison I can make to Saba.

It feels like a scaled-down, Caribbean version. Steep. Dramatic. Almost vertical in places.

And the wild part? You don’t admire it from a distance. You fly straight into it.

We took the quick 12-minute flight from Sint Maarten and landed on a runway that’s just 1,312 feet long. It holds the title for the shortest commercial runway in the world, which sounds slightly terrifying until you realize the pilots do this all day.

Before you even step off the plane, you’ve already had one of the most memorable experiences on the island!

Entry requirements for Saba: you should probably love the outdoors.

If you don’t enjoy hiking or being underwater, this island might feel… quiet. There are no sandy resort beaches. No cruise ship crowds. No all-inclusive wristbands. What Saba offers instead is raw, protected nature both above and below the surface.

If you’re a diver, you’ll be very happy here. Saba has around 30 world-class dive sites, with dramatic drop-offs and pinnacles.

If you’re more like us and prefer to snorkel, you still have great options. My husband and I are avid snorkelers, and we booked a trip with Sea Saba. We saw more sea turtles than we could count.

Saba rewards travelers who like to move. Hike hard. Swim often. Be outside all day.

If that sounds like your kind of trip, you’ll love it here.

Saba is basically one big, steep green mountain rising out of the sea, so naturally, the hiking is excellent.

There are trails all over the island, and they range from manageable walks to quad-burning climbs. Whether you hike every weekend or just occasionally lace up your boots, you’ll find something that fits your level.

The most famous hike is Mount Scenery, the highest point in the Dutch Kingdom.

Yes, the Dutch Kingdom. Saba is officially part of the Netherlands, which is easy to forget since English is widely spoken and U.S. dollars are accepted everywhere.

We chose the Sandy Cruz Trail, and it ended up being one of the most scenic hikes we did. Lush vegetation, dramatic views, and that slightly wild feeling Saba does so well.

Pro tip: wear proper hiking shoes. The trails can get muddy fast, and those steep sections are not forgiving if you’re sliding around.

If you’re celebrating something special, or just celebrating the fact that you made it to Saba, the Bird’s Nest is one of the most romantic dinners on the island.

The Bird’s Nest has a private dining platform tucked into old mango trees at Queen’s Garden Resort, overlooking the valley below.

It felt intimate and a little hidden, like you’d stumbled into a secret treehouse with white tablecloths.

My husband and I stayed at Queen’s Garden Resort over Christmas one year and booked the Bird’s Nest on Christmas Day.

We had a full tasting menu, Champagne, and festive touches that made it feel extra special. The staff truly went out of their way with decorations and thoughtful service.

Unfortunately, Queen’s Garden Resort is currently closed for extensive renovations and is expected to be for the next few years. I’m really hoping they bring the Bird’s Nest back when they reopen!

Yes, Saba’s “Road” is actually one of the attractions.

They literally call it “The Road That Couldn’t Be Built.”

Engineers once claimed it was impossible because the island is so steep and rugged. But a determined local, Josephus Lambert Hassell, disagreed. He and other Sabans built the concrete road by hand anyway.

The best way to experience it? Let someone else drive.

There are only about 10 taxi drivers on Saba, and we quickly decided we were not about to rent a car and test our nerves.

Our favorite drivers were George and Cyril, who navigated the tight turns like it was second nature while sharing bits of island history along the way.

Some sections are so narrow that two cars simply cannot pass at the same time. It reminded me of when we rented a car in Madeira. Endless twists. Sharp turns. 

This time, I was very happy to be the passenger!

If you’ve read any of my other posts, you know I will always find the best cocktail in town.

When we booked Queen’s Garden Resort, I had my eye on their famous bartender, Duco, known for his serious gin collection and properly made gin and tonics.

Of course, by the time we arrived, he had moved on.

Luckily, he was just down the road at Chez Bubba Bistro, so we grabbed a table for Taco Thursday. The place was packed, locals and visitors shoulder to shoulder.

We ordered every taco and paired them with several of his crisp, perfectly balanced G&Ts. No regrets.

Unfortunately, Chez Bubba has since closed, which is such a loss for the island’s food scene.

That said, Saba still has some really solid dining options.

We had a fantastic seared tuna at The Hideaway. Perfectly cooked, fresh, and simple in the best way. Great cocktails too!

So while spots may come and go on a small island like this, you can absolutely still eat and drink well in Saba.

If you’re anywhere in the Caribbean, chances are you’ll be sipping a rum cocktail at some point. Rum, made from sugarcane, is woven into the region’s culture.

Saba has its own local twist: Saba Spice.

It’s a spiced rum that’s smooth, slightly sweet, and perfect as a nightcap after a long day of hiking or diving. We tried it neat first, then in a cocktail, and both worked.

Curious what’s actually in it and where to try it on the island?

Be sure to read my full Saba Spice blog post for all the details.

There are four main villages on Saba.

The one you’ll likely spend the most time in is Windwardside. It’s the island’s main hub, with most of the shops, restaurants, small museums, and several hotels all clustered together.

It’s also where you start the hike up Mount Scenery, which involves 1,064 steps to the highest point in the Dutch Kingdom.

Before you begin, stop by the Trail Shop at the base of the trail. They’ll give you a map and helpful tips.

We had dinner in Windwardside twice during our stay, once at Chez Bubba Bistro and once at The Hideaway. Both were great choices. The food was genuinely good.

This is the one hike I regret skipping.

We only had two full days on Saba.

One was for snorkeling, and the other was dedicated to the Sandy Cruz Trail, which is one of the longer hikes on the island. That didn’t leave much room for anything else.

I walked to the start of the Ladder Bay Trail and looked down. Eight hundred hand-carved stone steps.

Before Fort Bay became a proper port, everything had to be carried up those stairs. Supplies, furniture, all of it. It’s wild to think about.

But we had already walked from Queen’s Garden Resort down to The Bottom, and on Saba, every “down” means a steep “back up.” My legs were already feeling it.

As much as I wanted to squeeze it in, I knew two major hikes in one day would have pushed it.

I’ve heard that when the sea is calm, you can snorkel at Ladder Bay after the hike. If you’ve done the combo, I’d love to hear how it was!

→     Saba is safe and has virtually no crime.

→     The locals are genuinely friendly. Just kind, helpful people who seem happy to chat.

→   There’s a real sense of pride here. We didn’t see trash anywhere. The island is well cared for.

→     Everyone knows each other.

→   Hitchhiking is common and considered relatively safe. We didn’t do it ourselves, but locals often slow down and offer rides if they see you walking those steep roads.

→   Yes, there are snakes. But they’re harmless, so no need to panic on the trails.

If you love raw natural beauty, big hikes, and genuinely friendly locals, Saba will absolutely win you over. It feels untouched in a way that’s getting harder to find in the Caribbean.

We spent 4 days and 3 nights here, and honestly, I wish we had added at least two more. There’s more to explore than you think for such a small island.

If you’re short on time, don’t skip these two: hiking and diving/snorkeling. Those are the heart of Saba. The trails give you the views. The water shows you a whole different world.

We paired Saba with neighboring St. Martin, which made for the perfect balance of adventure and beach time.

If you’re planning a similar trip, check out my St. Martin and Saba itinerary for exactly how we structured it.

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What are your favorite things to do in Saba?

Let me know in the comments below!