St Eustatius / Special Interests

By Nigel Tisdall

Life on St Eustatius is slow, quiet and as stimulating as you want it to be. Wonderful natural scenery, uplifting sea views and a friendly atmosphere ensures individual interests can be pursued at leisure.

Art & Artisans (including Photographers)

The arts scene on St Eustatius is low key. You can find paintings, jewellery and handicrafts such as handpainted calabashes and decorated coconut shells on sale at various tourist-orientated outlets, but there is nothing worth a special trip.

Beach

St Eustatius has beaches, but they are unimpressive by Caribbean standards with dark volcanic sand and in some places dangerous undercurrents.

Cruise

St Eustatius is not a cruising destination, although it is visited at times by smaller ships such as those operated by SeaDream Yacht Club and Grand Mariner. All cruise ships anchor out of the harbour then use tenders to bring their passengers ashore.

Family

St Eustatius is not a major holiday destination for families. Its black sand beaches are unattractive with no lifeguards or facilities and in some places it is dangerous to swim because of the currents. The hotel accommodation is limited and there are few self-catering alternatives. There are no dedicated family attractions either, but should you find yourself here with a child you might still have a rewarding time walking, snorkelling and visiting the Miriam C. Schmidt Botanical Garden which has educational areas devoted to the five senses. A few days here can also be balanced with time on St Martin/St Marteen, which has plenty of good beaches and family activities to offer.

Golf

There are no golf courses on St Eustatius. Some alternatives are the rather run-down Mullet Bay Golf Course on St Maarten, or for top class facilities head to the Greg Norman-designed Temenos Golf Club on Anguilla.

Spas & Wellbeing

There are no spas on St Eustatius but there is a French therapist, Véronique Beureuse, who offers treatments. She is based in Statia Lodge, White Wall, t 318 4411.

Yacht Charters

St Eustatius has no marina – yacht charters can be arranged through companies based on St Martin/St Maarten and St Kitts, or try contacting a dive operator such as Golden Rock, t 318 2964.

For more detailed information and recommendations for individual areas of interest please select a Special Interest category below or from the menu bar.