Transport : On the Northern Islands

Transport : On the Northern Islands

Transport on Anguilla

Bus

There is no such thing as public transport on Anguilla, though hitchhiking does tend to work, sometimes.

Car

Anguillians drive on the left. Temporary driving permits are obligatory, and can be purchased on presentation of a foreign or international driving licence. Validity of these permits is three months and they can be acquired at the police station in The Valley, Road Bay of the port of Blowing Point.

Transport on Saba

Before construction of the island’s unique road (built in 1950 with the help of the entire population, supervised by a Saba inhabitant), only three habitations were approachable on the island: The Bottom (altitude of 200 m), Windwardside and Hell’s Gate, all of which were accessible partly on foot, by a steep range of heaven bound steps. Although WIndwardside is by all means more accessible today, those thousand steps are still there to mount to reach the peak of Mount Scenery, a beautiful spot to view the entire island, as well as neighbouring archipelagos.

On arrival to the island, catching a taxi is a practical option for those spending only the day in Saba, especially as roads are quite steep and dangerous thus renting a car is not the best alternative. Taxies cost around 12$ per person for a load of 4 people, which is quite a good bargain considering car rental prices. Their tours begin at The Bottom, and proceed to Windwardside, where you can take a stroll following a trail on the beach. Hell’s Gate is last on the list, from here you can gaze at the world’s smallest airport, one of the island’s greatest prides. Drivers are open-minded, do not hesitate to tell them if you would prefer to spend more or less time at a certain location, even a complete change of programme is possible if the destinations are not to you liking.

Car

You can rent a car or simply walk around, scooters and buses are not available on the island. You may also try your thumb at hitchhiking, though it might be difficult to find people going your way. The island provides only one service station, which closes its doors at 3 p.m. A day’s rental is likely to cost around 45$, gas and taxes included. Note that cars can sometimes be “out of stock”, as it happened to one of our readers: on arrival to Saba, he was told that no vehicles were available despite his reservation a few days earlier. If prices are reasonable, it is best to hunt down a middleman in Saint Maarten or Saint Barth, in order to ensure the possibility of complaints in case of necessity.

Transport on Saint Kitts and Nevis

Car

They drive on the left. A temporary driving permit can be purchased at the police station for 50 EC$, valid for a year, although tariffs and validity may change from day to day. You also have the possibility of catching a “common taxi” (a minibus), of renting a car (from 40 US$/jour), or a scooter, or taking a taxi. Common taxies drive all around the islands for a fare of around 1-1.5 US$.... a reasonable price and a folkloric experience to ride with all that loud music surrounding you… All you need to do is raise an arm to indicate the direction in which you wish to go, and the taxi will immediately come to a screeching halt. Rental prices are also acceptable, and services are good, although we would advise you to rent only in local or international agencies with a certain standing: as long as there are no problems, everyone is happy, but not so much so in the alternative case… A small piece of advice for taxies and other shops or establishment: pay attention if the price is set in US$ or EC$. As any connoisseur of the island will tell you: drivers tend to announce only at the end of your trip that the tariff set in the beginning of the ride is to be paid in US$.

Transport on Saint Eustatius

Car

They drive on the left and the international driving permit is accepted. Renting a car is possible in about ten local agencies.

Taxi

There are only a few taxies on the island, ask around on arrival to the airport.