St. Eustatius

The map says St. Eustatius, but the locals just call it Statia. This small island earned the nickname “Golden Rock” for its historically lucrative maritime commerce and was once the busiest port in the Caribbean. Coveted by the major European powers for its strategic location at the junction of major trade routes, Statia changed hands 22 times between the Netherlands, France, England and Sweden before becoming a special municipality of the Netherlands.

Today, the island is a quiet oasis that welcomes a limited number of travelers seeking an alternative to cruise ship crowds and high-rise resorts. Heritage, relaxation, diving and nature are the major attractions, from historic forts and a restored Colonial-era district to a wooded peak that rewards hikers with a garden hidden inside a dormant volcanic crater.