Reserved and relaxed, St. Eustatius has neither wild party crowds, nor throngs of thong clad beach bums. But that could be precisely the reason travelers seeking a peaceful Caribbean sojourn are drawn here.
St. Eustatius’ geological showpiece is “The Quill” a dormant volcano that spikes 2000 feet into the blue Caribbean sky. Hikers can ascend to the peak of the Quill, then climb down into its lush, forested crater. Exotic flora flaunts itself in a verdant explosion of leafy extravagance – fig and banana trees, ferns and orchids, ginger and raspberries. Wildlife scurries and soars throughout St. Eustatius’ veritable Garden of Eden. Iguanas, butterflies, tree frogs and exotic birds accompany visitors to the crater. For a uniquely St. Eustatius style experience, one can join the locals in a moonlight crab hunt in the Quill’s crater, nabbing the tasty crustaceans during their nightly forage. Nicknamed “Statia”, St. Eustatius has a number of sites relevant to its history. The capital, Oranjestad (not to be confused with the capital of Aruba, also called Oranjestad), perches on a cliff overlooking the ocean. The cannons of 17th century Fort Oranje line the cliff-side, silently guarding against gentle Statia’s non-existent foes.
