St Eustatius: the undiscovered pearl of the Caribbean
We need to catch you up on this St. Eustatius. An island in the Caribbean that has not yet been discovered by the hordes of tourists. Who, what, where? The official name is St. Eustatius, but we may say 'Statia'. We all know Curaçao, Aruba, Bonaire, Jamaica or the Dominican Republic, but fortunately there are also islands in the Caribbean that are less known. And Statia falls exactly into this category. Time seems to stand still here, because what most of the Caribbean looked like 25 years ago is exactly what Statia still looks like today. Result? A holiday completely away from all the stimuli and hustle and bustle and everything under the motto 'nothing is required, but so much is possible'. After two days everyone waves goodbye to you on the street. St. Eustatius is part of the Netherlands, it is a special municipality and falls under the BES islands (Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba).
Here you will not see large cruise boats with thousands of passengers mooring for the day, but rather small fishing boats and the local Makana ferry. Statia is about the same size as Vlieland, but without dunes. Too bad about those dunes, really, but what if we told you that the Netherlands has a volcano? Called the Quill (the pit), and she has been sleeping for about 4000 years. Provides a beautiful sight, but the Quill also provides a rocky coastline and green hills. There is even a tropical rainforest hidden in the crater. And an island wouldn't be an island if you couldn't swim there. There are two beaches on Statia with black sand and beautiful clear blue water (thanks to the Quill). Oranjestad is the small colonial town of the island, good for an afternoon of fun and an interesting piece of Dutch history.
Statia has several small hotels and B&Bs, but there is only one resort on the island. And that resort might be reason enough to go to Statia. The resort is located at the foot of that dormant volcano and the Atlantic Ocean. A brash Caribbean atmosphere is guaranteed here. Each room has a large outside terrace and views of the sea and the beautiful gardens. Numerous flowers and plants create a colorful oasis around the entire resort. And there's a good chance you'll spot a hummingbird during your breakfast.
Read more? Golden Rock Resort you find out Bart Boekt!
Hi ha hiking! Nothing is nicer than starting a morning with a beautiful walk in nature. This part of the Caribbean Netherlands is just a bit nicer than the often rainy part where we spend most of the year. In fact, entire books have been written about hiking on this island. And the walk to the top of the dormant volcano Quill is one for the books. You can walk to the top in about 45 minutes. Pinky promise that the view will not disappoint you. You can even walk into the crater. So take walking shoes in your suitcase.
In addition to the various trails on the Quill, there are also other beautiful walks to take. To the botanical garden, for example, or how about the Natural Pools? You can immediately take a refreshing dip.
As quiet as it is above water on Statia, it is busy underwater. The marine park of St Eustatius is larger than the island itself, and you will not be surprised that there is fantastic diving and snorkeling here. So all you water fanatics, take note, because there are a total of 36 dive sites, from volcanic lava fingers (there they are again) to nourishing coral reefs, wrecks and drop offs. In 2022, the marine park was even awarded the best diving spot in the Caribbean by National Geographic. Put on diving goggles, put a gas bottle on your back and start diving. At least, let the friendly people from Statia Divers, the diving school of the Golden Rock Resort where you can dive with and also get your PADI, help you.
And what is so nice here, there is no mass tourism. So don't swim behind a turtle with 20 others. Is diving not really your thing? Don't worry, you can also snorkel very well there!
Now that you are in the Caribbean atmosphere, did you know that Statia is the ideal island to explore the surrounding neighboring islands? Island hopping it is. From Amsterdam you fly directly to St Maarten. Wonderful to spend a few days there first, both on the French and Dutch sides. Then you let the hussle and bussle behind you you leave with the ferry or the local airline from the Caribbean Winair to Statia.
And from there there are plenty of options. Pick & Mix: for example, you can enjoy a stroll on St Barth. You can even see St. Barth from the Golden Rock Resort. The slightly less well-known but beautiful St. Kitts is also just a 45-minute boat ride from Statia. Be sure to visit Old Road Rum for the best rum tour (ask for Bonjovi). One more and that is Saba: a Dutch pearl and very easy to reach by ferry from Statia.
On Sint Eustatius you will find no traffic lights and only one roundabout
Everything here breathes pure nature, but that does not mean that there is no culture to be found. On the contrary even. Here lies an impressive piece of history. St. Eustatius was discovered in 1493 by Christopher Columbus. The island changed hands 20 times until the Dutch regained control. In 1756, the port city of Oranjestad was introduced as a free trading port without customs duties. This made the port the most important trading post for the West India Company and one of the largest ports in the world. And There you go, This gave Statia the nickname 'Golden Rock' or 'Golden Rock'. Because of this important port function, the Americans also came to St Eustatius for the first time with their 'Stars and Stripes' flag, while they were at war with the British during their independence. The Dutch on St. Eustatius were the first in the world to recognize the sovereignty of the United States and welcomed them. This is still celebrated on the island on November 16 with Statia Day.
So also check out rich culture, and a cultural tour through Oranjestad is highly recommended!
Culture check, nature check, but where are we going to chill? Of course on the beaches, but especially at the island's beach club. Located at the foot of the cliff, fifty meters high, is Bobbie's Beach Club. The most colorful place on the island. Here you have a panoramic view of the sea where you can sunbathe under the sun deck. Or take a dip in the saltwater lagoon where hammocks and swings provide the necessary cooling.
Fun fact: this is the largest saltwater lagoon in the entire Caribbean. And you can also enjoy a portion of it at the table. There is a sushi bar with freshly prepared sushi and crispy pizzas from the traditional pizza oven. And how about Caribbean barbecue dishes? DJ or live music in the background and the holidays are on. Bobbie's Beach Club is open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
For a really good restaurant we sit down at Breeze, the gem of the Golden Rock Resort. The name says it all, here there is a nice breeze with a beautiful panoramic view. In terms of looks, we give it ten points, with the fantastically beautiful marble bar where you can enjoy your rum punch for hours (highly recommended anyway). This gem is located on the grounds of the Golden Rock Resort.
We already said it, Oranjestad is good for a day of entertainment. On the quiet way anyway. So please take your time to look at everything. And be sure to take your time for a pit stop at Barrel House. A cozy, small-scale restaurant in Oranjestad. Literally on the seaside, you can enjoy international dishes with a local twist. This restaurant is located in the old headquarters of the West India Company. Highly recommended for lunch or dinner.
