The
island of Saba is a fine example of ecotourism
in action. Tourism is relatively new to
Saba, considering the airport opened in
1963, and the pier was completed in 1972.
Being so small and so remote, few travelers
visited before the 70's. Those who did
were themselves well-traveled and found
Saba to be a truly unspoiled paradise.
Locals were filled with pride as these
visitors marveled at Saba's unique beauty.
Saab
Conservation Foundation Yearly less than
25,000 tourists come to Saba, and those
who do treat the island and her people
with respect and admiration. Even though
the island has modern facilities and technology,
their attitude is strongly conservative
towards their nature, development and
industry. They love their island as much
as you will.
As
part of our commitment to our environment,
we have established the Saba Conservation
Foundation to preserve and manage our
natural and cultural heritage. The Foundation
oversees the running of the famous Saba
Marine Park.
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Nature
Trails & Walks
The Tourist Office, the Saba Conservation Foundation
and many local supporters have adequately marked
and maintain trails for easy trekking. Some
trails need a guide, all the better to fully
appreciate the botanical and historical parts
of Saba. Everyone can easily hike over and into
Saba's rain forest, tidepools, historic ruins,
and rich nature wonderland. Even a walk along
Saba's winding road will lead you to a magical
view, and a memorable vacation.
Birding
Paula Litzel, Evette Peterson and local bird
expert Mandy McGehee were all smiles when they
returned from a morning of birding in March
2002. They discovered the first Red-billed Tropicbird
chick return since their work began 5 years
ago. After many a dawn start, hair raising cliff
walking, bird bites and twisted ankles, the
team feels rewarded for their efforts with what
may be scientific proof of McGehee's original
hypothesis. By banding the birds, marking nest
sites and recording all hatchlings, McGehee
has collected years of data, waiting for this
day of proof. Her study shows that Red-billed
Tropicbirds leave the nest at the young age
of 85 days and go off to sea for 4 or 5 years
and they do not land except to rest on the ocean
surface. At this mature age, they return to
their original nesting area, perhaps thousands
of miles from their travel, to mate and lay
their eggs.
In
February 2002, the first verified chick return,
was found in a new nest only a few meters from
where he/she was hatched almost 5 years ago.
A second returning chick, hatched in early 1998
was found 2 weeks later. McGehee is also looking
to ascertain if the Red-billed Tropicbird mates
for life. Saba's dramatic cliffsides and lack
of coastal development make Saba not only a
great place to study this bird but a key nesting
area to keep the species from becoming endangered.
Saba
provides interesting birdwatching. Saba's "birder"
is Martha "Mandy" Walsh-McGehee: "A
Guide to the Birds of Saba" is her work
in progress.
© Lynn Costenaro, Sea Saba
Dive Center, 2003
Climbing
Ever wonder what dive instructors "in paradise"
do on their day off? With years of experience
climbing other areas of the world, diving instructors,
Stuart Gow and Laura Shepherd found the mecca
of outcroppings on the island of Saba just too
tempting. They shipped down their rock shoes
and chalk bags and are now instrumental in expanding
this 5-square mile island's tourism product
to include Bouldering and Rock Climbing. Saba's
geology equates to a rock climbers nirvana.
If you've been to Saba you know this volcanic
wonder without beaches is home to dramatic dropoffs
that make for fantastic diving. Topside, outcroppings
and boulders are within easy access from the
many groomed hiking trails and in some cases,
right on hotel properties.
Stuart
and Laura are working with the Saba Conservation
Foundation to produce the first guidebook that
will not only map out a variety of routes and
climbs but also outline safety regulations and
conservation concerns to assure this activity
is in harmony with Saba's ecological policies.
Concentrating on single pitch climbs and bouldering,
many different challenges have already been
created with only time and manpower determining
when more will be official. Grades are from
5.7 to 5.10a on the sport climbing routes and
V0 to V2+ on the boulder problems. So if you
climb at home, be it indoor gyms or big wall
climbs, bring along your rock shoes and chalk
bag and discover the Caribbean's newest, hottest
rock! Perhaps you can put up a new route or
two yourself!
Enter
into any of the shops within the villages and
you'll be invited into conversation. You'll
find beautiful, delicate linen items with hand-drawn
threadwork designs. Artists find Saba a perfect
inspiration for their work. many watercolours,
photographs, jewelry and books are displayed
in two art galleries.
While
in Windwardside, ask your driver to drop you
off at the Windwardside parking lot. Then stroll
the main drag through Windwardside's mini-mall.
Its here you'll find take-home souvenirs, tasty
boutiques, dive shops, the tourist office, an
art gallery, two restaurant/bars, a supermarket
and a bank. Just a turn will take you to the
post office and yet another bank as well as
another dive shop-hotel-restaurant-bar. The
Mini Mall is where you'll pick up charming remembrances
of the beauty of Saba.
Each
village has several small and individually unique
restaurants. Most of them offer outdoor dining
as well as a friendly bar. You'll want to sample
them all though, because there is a wide variety
to choose from, American, European, Chinese,
Italian, and that delicious blend of Indonesian
and West Indian Creole. Each restaurant becomes
a gathering place for conversation anytime,
day or night. Weekends will always find an "island-wide
party", that means everyone is invited.
It may also be disco music, steel band drums
at poolside, or a barbeque at the bay under
the stars. Click here for a full list of restaurants
on Saba
Links
& Sources:
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