Strait Passage

Caribbean Island Guide · SAB

Saba

A steep volcanic island with one road, a small airport, and marine-park diving.

Cove Bay on Saba: the bay, the shore facilities, and the island's hills rising into cloud behind
Cove Bay on Saba: the bay, the shore facilities, and the island's hills rising into cloud behindPhotograph by CareAhLine, CC0 1.0 (creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/), cropped to 16:9 and resized, via Wikimedia Commons.

Overview

Saba is a special municipality of the Netherlands southwest of St. Maarten. Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport (SAB) has a 400-metre runway, Fort Bay is the seaport, and villages sit along the steep road between the coast and Mount Scenery.

Known for

  • Mount Scenery and rainforest trails
  • Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport’s 400-metre runway
  • Saba Marine Park diving
  • The Bottom and Windwardside villages

Things to do

  • Hike the Mount Scenery trail
  • Walk through Windwardside and The Bottom
  • Dive with an authorised Saba Marine Park operator
  • Follow the road down to Fort Bay

Plan the connection

The arrival point matters as much as the island name. Confirm these details before locking a same-day flight, ferry, or activity.

Pack for the actual activity

Mount Scenery can be wet and cooler than the coast, while dive departures use Fort Bay. Bring suitable footwear or dive documentation rather than planning both as casual beach stops.

Reserve specialist activities

Use an authorised marine-park dive operator and check current trail conditions before hiking. A transport booking does not reserve a dive boat or guide.

Keep baggage details accurate

Saba’s scheduled aircraft are small and helicopter charters have payload limits. State passenger count and baggage accurately when requesting the connection.

Getting to Saba

Scheduled and charter aircraft connect St. Maarten with Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport (SAB). Ferries connect Fort Bay with St. Maarten and, on published schedules, other northern Leeward islands.

West Indies Helicopters operator locations: Saba

Scheduled ferry request

Makana Ferry

Bobby's Marina, Philipsburg to Fort Bay

Adult fare published from $84.50 one way

Same-day return published from $115.25

Departures published from St. Maarten

  • Sunday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 17:00
  • Friday at 14:00
  • Saturday at 16:00

These are reference fares and times. We confirm the selected date and total before booking.

Go to the ferry request

Private charter request

Helicopter charter

Request the same corridor by private helicopter. The operations desk confirms the aircraft, baggage limits, availability, and USD price before booking.

Request a helicopter

Scheduled ferry request

Request the Makana Ferry to Saba

The operations desk confirms the operating day, fare, baggage allowance and availability before anything is booked.

Choose a travel date to send the request.

No charge is created. The operations desk replies with availability and a confirmed USD quote.

Prefer to talk? Call (305) 339-4339 or email [email protected].

Saba FAQs

How do you get to Saba?

Scheduled and charter aircraft connect St. Maarten with Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport (SAB). Ferries connect Fort Bay with St. Maarten and, on published schedules, other northern Leeward islands.

What is Saba known for?

Saba is known for Mount Scenery, its 400-metre airport runway, protected diving in Saba Marine Park, and the villages of The Bottom and Windwardside.

What is the gateway to Saba?

The main gateway is Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport (SAB) and Fort Bay Harbor.

What should I arrange before travelling to Saba?

Pack for the actual activity: Mount Scenery can be wet and cooler than the coast, while dive departures use Fort Bay. Bring suitable footwear or dive documentation rather than planning both as casual beach stops. Reserve specialist activities: Use an authorised marine-park dive operator and check current trail conditions before hiking. A transport booking does not reserve a dive boat or guide. Keep baggage details accurate: Saba’s scheduled aircraft are small and helicopter charters have payload limits. State passenger count and baggage accurately when requesting the connection.

Can Strait Passage arrange a helicopter to Saba?

Yes. West Indies Helicopters lists Saba in its charter form. Strait Passage requests live aircraft availability and returns a confirmed USD quote before booking or payment.

Is there a ferry from St. Maarten to Saba?

Makana Ferry publishes service from Bobby's Marina, Philipsburg to Fort Bay. Its published adult fare starts at $84.50 one way. Strait Passage confirms the operating day, fare, and availability before booking.

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NEV

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EUX

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SKB

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EIS

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Request transport to Saba

Request the published ferry or compare it with a private helicopter. The operations desk confirms the selected service before booking.

Go to the ferry requestRequest a helicopter quote