Getting around Saba

Saba

Saba is a tiny island, which you could easily walk all the way around if it wasn't formed by one single very steep mountain.

There is literally no flat land on Saba except for the airport. All the roads are either very steeply uphill or very steeply downhill.

Car rental

If you are going to spend more than one day in Saba and don't want to rely on other drivers or taxis, the easiest way is to rent a car.

While there are no international car rental companies operating on the island, local car rental company Morgan Car Rental offers a good service with a very clear website and booking system.

Reservations and current prices can be found on the website: icssaba.com/car-rental.

Car prices are fixed and do not depend on the season. For the smallest car, pay 55 usd per day.

Operation and petrol stations

The traffic on Saba is very sparse and you practically can't get lost here. There is only one main road on the island connecting the airport to all the villages (Zion's Hill, Windwardside and The Bottom) and the harbour.

A car is especially handy in the evening if you are returning from restaurants or places where you can get a good view of the night sky.

There is only one single petrol station on the island near the harbour (location on google.com/maps).

The petrol station is open on weekdays from 8:00 to 12:00 and from 13:00 to 16:00. On Saturdays it is open from 9:00 to 12:00 and closed on Sundays.

Taxi

The only form of public transport is taxis, of which there are about 10 around the island.

You are quite unlikely to catch a taxi on the street, so you need to book a taxi at your hotel or call the phone numbers of individual taxi drivers, which are available on Saba's official tourist website: sabatourism.com/getting-around.

Taxi prices are fixed by local ordinance and the price is not negotiable. Payment is in cash and US dollars only.

  • Airport - The Bottom: 22 usd
  • Airport - Windwardside: 15 usd
  • Airport - Harbour: 28 usd
  • Airport - Zion's Hill: 12 usd
  • Port - The Bottom: 10 usd
  • The Harbor - Windwardside: 18 usd
  • Harbor - Zion's Hill: 22 usd
  • The Bottom - Windwardside: 12 usd
  • The Bottom - Zion's Hill: 17 usd
  • Windwardside - Zion's Hill: 10 usd

If you travel together as a couple, you will only pay one fare. For each additional person, depending on distance, there is an additional charge from 4 usd to 7 usd.

Hitchhiking

You can travel around Saba by car completely free of charge by hitchhiking.

Hitchhiking is very common on the island and even inexperienced travellers need not hitchhike.

If you set off on foot along the road, some drivers will even stop for you of their own accord.

If you actively hitchhike, you are virtually guaranteed to be stopped by 80-90% of passing cars. Traffic is quite busy in the Zion's Hill - Windwardside - The Bottom section.

Fewer cars drive towards the airport or harbour and virtually no cars drive towards Well's Bay.

On foot

If you don't mind steep hills, Saba can be explored on foot. You can walk on roads where traffic is not too heavy and drivers are considerate, or on hiking trails.

A map and description of the hiking trails can be found in the Activities section.

You don't have to worry about stray dogs running loose on foot, which is common on other Caribbean islands. The locals keep their four-legged pets in fenced gardens and, if you take your dog for a walk, they must be kept on a leash at all times, according to the ordinance.

Public transport - buses

There is no public transport in Saba except for three school buses.

However, these only carry school children according to designated lists and tourists cannot ride these vans.

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