Destination Guide: Travel to St. Eustatias

It is new and relatively undiscovered. It is slowly becoming more welcoming of tourists and open to the idea of a large number of visitors. Still, it is relatively unknown to the common American traveler. If you want a great time in the Caribbean where you will not have to fight the droves of tourists that frequent the other islands, head to the small island of St. Eustatius. The positives are all there for travelers. It retains a strong sense of culture while allowing for some fun to go on during your visit to the island. In a word, this island can be described as beautiful. That, in itself, is reason to travel to small isle of St. Eustatius.

Its eighteenth century heritage earns this island the nickname "The Golden Rock", and it still has some of that. The island features some spectacular volcanoes, both active and otherwise, that are cool for travelers to view. In general, these volcanic areas mean that the beaches in St. Eustatius are not the best out there. The island, however, does not need these great beaches in order to be an excellent tourist destination. They have much to offer in the way of culture, dining, and nightlife that more than make up for the inadequacies in the beach department.

The main attraction of "Statia", as the locals call it, is the great expanse of area for hiking and backpacking. While there are some nice beaches for swimming on the east side of the island, that is not the best thing going. Instead, travelers opt to hike their way through the countryside of the island. Amazingly, there are trails that will take hikers right around the volcanoes and give them a glimpse of some of the majesty that the island is happy to deal out. Specifically, many hikers like to hike near the dormant volcano called Quill, that is nestled nicely in a bunch of tropical trees and other wildlife.

Oranjestad is the largest village, and there one can find all of the culture that he or she needs. The village is divided into two parts, with each one having a distinct difference. The people are friendly, but they are not exactly modern. There, you can find lodging and some great local food.

If you are into hiking and the outdoors, this trip is a must. Hiking near and around the volcanoes is always a thrill. Add in the bonus of being able to soak in some of the culture of the country and it makes for an excellent situation for travelers.