Sint Eustatius and the Quill

Sint Eustatius, affectionately known as Statia, is a quiet, unspoiled island in the northeastern Caribbean, dominated by the strikingly perfect cone of the Quill, a dormant volcano whose deep crater cradles a lush tropical rainforest. Hiking up the Quill and down into its verdant crater, alive with giant trees, ferns and birdsong, is the island's great natural adventure. Once, remarkably, one of the busiest and richest trading ports in the world, Statia wears its extraordinary history in the atmospheric colonial ruins of its old town, Oranjestad, tumbling down to the sea. Ringed by pristine, protected dive reefs rich in marine life and historic shipwrecks, and blissfully free of crowds, Statia is a genuine hidden gem for hikers, divers and history lovers.

What you actually see

• The Quill - the perfect volcanic cone and its rainforest crater.
• The crater hike - the trail down into the lush crater.
• The colonial ruins - the historic old town of Oranjestad.
• The dive reefs - the pristine reefs and historic wrecks.

When to go

December to April, the dry season, brings the most settled weather for hiking the Quill and diving, avoiding the wetter, stormier months; the tropical climate is warm year-round. Clear conditions are best for the crater hike and the reefs.

Honest expectations

Statia is small, remote and very quiet, with few facilities and no crowds, reached by small aircraft, so it suits hikers, divers and history lovers seeking tranquillity rather than resort comforts or nightlife. As an unspoiled island crowned by the Quill's rainforest crater, ringed by pristine reefs and rich in remarkable history, though, Sint Eustatius is a genuine hidden gem.

Nearby

The islands of Saba and Sint Maarten lie nearby.