Windward Side: Trails, Art and Culture

Windward Side gives travelers practical points of reference for planning: a trail marker and information about guided hikes are available at the Mt. Scenery Trail; the town is also home to a museum, an art gallery, and workshops. For other plans on Saba, island-wide conditions relating to the coast, diving, and hiking trails are also important. This lets you compare information about the town with the things that interest you on your trip.

Hiking and getting your bearings

If you hike uphill from Windward Side toward Mt. Scenery, the trail marker sign is on the left at the trailhead. The Saba Conservation Foundation’s Trail Shop is near the hiking trail entrance and offers information about guided hikes. On Saba, the Mount Scenery Trail is a challenging hike of about two and a half hours; access is in Windward Side, opposite the Trail Shop. Check the latest trail notices before setting out and plan around the approximate time required.

The Saba Tourist Bureau is in the heart of Windward Side, directly opposite Breadline Plaza. There, you can get information about activities, events, and travel on Saba. If you plan to visit the bureau for specific travel plans, confirm in advance what information is currently available.

Museum, art, and crafts

The Harry L. Johnson Museum is at the end of Park Lane in the historic district of Windward Side. It is housed in a 19th-century cottage that belonged to a sea captain. On Saba, the museum is also set in a landscaped park with a children’s play area and gazebo.

The five square art gallery in Windward Side displays and sells original paintings, drawings, sketches, giclées, and prints, as well as sculptures, wood carvings, folk art, and greeting cards. Its offerings therefore include a range of visual and handcrafted art forms.

At Marie De Saba’s workshop, unique handmade jewelry is made from seeds that Marie grows in her garden or collects on Saba. The workshop is in a typical Saban cottage in Windward Side, overlooking the museum grounds; it is also the home of its owner, Marie. The materials used may vary. Marie De Saba also offers jewelry repairs; contact her directly to ask about current offerings before visiting.

Community work and youth activities

Every Thursday from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m., a group of women works together at Lambee’s Place in the heart of Windward Side, creating new Saban works. Visitors can sit down and watch the women work and create. As this activity is tied to the weekly schedule, confirm that the session is currently taking place before visiting.

The Saba Heritage Center in Windward Side organizes weekly activities for young people. These include skeleton reconstructions, photography workshops, excavations, camping trips, lessons in tree identification, workshops, and an exhibition on the use of indigo. These activities are intended for young people; if you are planning a visit, ask about the current program.

More topics on Saba

The Saba National Marine Park was established in 1987 to protect and manage Saba’s marine resources. Saba has no typical Caribbean beaches, but it does have several sandy coves whose shape changes with the prevailing swell. Shore diving is prohibited on Saba; dives must be arranged with one of the island’s licensed dive centers. The Road is a local attraction and can be explored by taxi.

Hiking trails also vary in terms of time required and terrain. The Mount Scenery Trail is challenging and takes about two and a half hours. The easy Flat Point Trail to the tide pools takes 30 minutes, starting from the road below the airport toward Cove Bay and leading to a rocky edge overlooking the pools. Reaching the pools requires a steep scramble over rocks. Check the latest trail notices and sea conditions before visiting the Flat Point Trail.

For the broader travel overview: Saba.