"A view towards St. Eustatius from Fort Brimstone at St. Kitts" by Jukka via Flickr Creative Commons


Since St Eustatius is a tropical island in the Caribbean Sea, it is no surprise that the enticing warm waters provide excellent opportunities for water sports, such as diving, boating, and fishing. In fact, the entire island is surrounded by a marine park, which stretches from water level to 100ft below the surface, all packed with an amazing abundance of aquatic life.

The island is a haven for nature enthusiasts. It is easy to get around the eight-square-mile land area of St Eustatius, and many people take the opportunity to go hiking when here. The undisturbed interior offers excellent birding, and there are many well-marked that are lovingly maintained by the St Eustatius National Parks Foundation.

St Eustatius is, first and foremost, an excellent scuba diving destination. You can hire equipment from the Golden Rock Dive Center, which also provides full PADI instruction and certification. If you prefer, you can rent snorkeling equipment for an equally enjoyable, but vastly less expensive, underwater excursion. The company provides boat transportation to the best underwater sites.

St Eustatius is also a premier spot for hiking, due in part to the 2,000ft dormant volcano, known as the Quill. Statia Holiday offers guided tours through the mountainous rainforest and to the volcano summit. The firm provides transport to the Quill National Park from anywhere in the island, and lunch is provided. Visitors can also arrange daytrips to Boven National Park, a set of hills formed from ancient solidified lava. The park is also famed for its stunning views of nearby St Maarten Island, about 68 miles to the north.

The crater of the Quill provides excellent birding opportunities, with rare species such as the red necked pigeon and the purple throated Carib regularly spotted. Visitors can contact Stenapa in Oranjestad to organize a ranger-led tour.

As St Eustatius is an island, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy a day out on the Caribbean Sea. Golden Rock can arrange fishing excursions, or you can charter a boat for the day to experience the tranquil pleasures of independent seafaring. You can also book a ride on a power boat, departing from Oranjestad, with Statia Holiday. The company offers an around the island tour that allows guests to witness the island’s splendor from the sparkling Caribbean Sea. The tour includes free drinks and snacks.

To experience all aspects of St Eustatius’s natural splendor, take an island tour with Statia Holiday. The fully-guided excursion takes in the hills and remnants of the dormant Quill volcano in the north, the vast plains in the center of the island, and finishes with a trip to the south to see a more recently-formed volcano. Transport and lunch are provided.

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