Mélange Travel & Lifestyle Magazine October 2019 | Page 232

St. Eustatius:
A Well - Kept Caribbean Secret
S
ometimes you find yourself
aching for a trip that would lend
you some quiet, quality time to
yourself - a solo travel escape,
and you browse destinations hoping
you would find one that will give you
the opportunity to recharge before
resuming your hectic city lifestyle. You’re
invited to pack your bags and head to a
well-kept Caribbean secret - the isand of
St. Eustatius.
This is a small Dutch-Caribbean island
filled with history and eco-treasures,
discovered by Christopher Columbus
in the late 1400s. Locally known as
Statia, it was the first nation to officially
recognize the then brand-new United
States of America in 1776. Statia’s
history has rendered it an open-air
museum which gives you an additional
reason to visit. There is so much to
discover on this gem and, you can
comfortably explore without the
discomfort of crowds.
This small island is home to less than
5,000 people, which makes it pleasantly
calm and quiet, but not boring. It is
the kind of island to which one can
quietly slip away to escape from the
vagaries of city life, enjoying every
minute you quietly spend here. There
is enough to do to keep you occupied,
but not overwhelmed. This will be an
unhurried respite. Don’t expect chain
stores, shopping malls, or international
fast food joints. In St. Eustatius, you
will find yourself at one with nature
within an environment of comfortable
simplicity, where crime is non-existent
and strangers are made to feel quite at
home.
Although you may have chosen Statia
simply to enjoy a brief solitude, you will
find exploring the island’s rich history,
visiting the many ruins and chatting
with its friendly people can add to the
pleasure of your stay. You can also:
(1) Hike the Quill - Statia’s Mini
Rainforest
The Quill is Statia’s dormant volcano.
A winding trail leads you to the top,
where you will discover a stunning view
of neighbouring islands. At the foothills,
you will find a variety of botanical plants.
There are multiple routes taking you to
the top of the Quill: the Couchar trail,
Around the Mountain trail, Panorama
Point trail, Mazinga trail, Botanical
Garden trail, and Crater trail, all offering
a different perspective of the island’s
floral and fauna.
(2) Descend into the Quill’s Crater
When you get to the top of the Quill, you
can be adventurous and descend into the
crater.
(3) Go Diving
Seemingly undisturbed, the depths of St.
Eustatius’ ocean remains true to nature.
Divers get to enjoy the extraordinarily
diverse marine life, explore shipwrecks,
coral reefs, and marvel at the wondrous
assortment of colour that lies beneath.
Give it a try. You may even find a historic
blue bead!
(4) Experience Statia’s Culture
The island of St. Eustatius also celebrates
its culture and history with an annual
carnival that takes place every summer.
Dancing, music, parades, pageants, parties,
food and a lot of socializing happens
during this time. Easter is also a time
when you’ll find the island in a celebratory
mood as it observes this special Christian
season. Throughout the year, there are
also events such as concerts hosted by
private organizations; and the tourism
organization’s Sustainability Conference
held in September.
If you’re not averse to a busier, more
vibrant Statia during your vacation, then
by all means, visit their website to keep
abreast of what is taking place at a specific
times durig the year and head on over.
The friendly staff at the Tourist Bureau will
be happy to furnish you with whatever
information you may need to make your
stay memorable.
Statia is what the doctor orders for tired
executives, overworked secretaries, stay-
at-home Moms who just need a moment
to themselves and retirees looking for that
special place to escape from the cold. So,
look them up - www.statia-tourism.com
and follow them on Facebook, but hurry -
your secret vacation is waiting!