St. Eustatius

Unlike visitors to most islands in the Caribbean, who seek out sand and sunbathing, those who find St. Eustatius (known locally as "Statia") come for the stellar offshore scuba diving. Thanks to the Sint Eustatius National Park Foundation, or Stenapa, many of the reefs and wrecks around the island are protected and remain relatively unspoiled by reef degradation and over-tourism. Stenapa also protects the island's national park, which offers a collection of marked trails around Statia's extinct volcano. Oranjestad, the main town, has some quality historic sites depicting the island's intense colonial history. Formerly part of the Netherlands ...

Unlike visitors to most islands in the Caribbean, who seek out sand and sunbathing, those who find St. Eustatius (known locally as "Statia") come for the stellar offshore scuba diving. Thanks to the Sint Eustatius National Park Foundation, or Stenapa, many of the reefs and wrecks around the island are protected and remain relatively unspoiled by reef degradation and over-tourism. Stenapa also protects the island's national park, which offers a collection of marked trails around Statia's extinct volcano. Oranjestad, the main town, has some quality historic sites depicting the island's intense colonial history. Formerly part of the Netherlands Antilles, Statia's main language is Dutch, but most residents also speak English. Because it lacks beaches and flashy resorts, tourists don't flock to St. Eustatius, which means hotel and diving rates stay steady and cheaper than most Caribbean islands.

About the Expert

Debra Landau has written eight Lonely Planet guidebooks, including books on the USA, Caribbean, and the South.