Haiku House
A Japanese-inspired hillside retreat perched above the rainforest
Why Go
Imagine a 16th-century Japanese country house dropped onto Saba's steepest ridge — all fine red cedar, soft light and forest hush — with a private pool angled at the open Caribbean. That's Haiku House, and it has become the island's most quietly talked-about hideaway.
The Experience
You climb the twisting road up Troy Hill until the pavement seems to run out, and then Haiku House appears among the ferns and flamboyant trees like something meditated into being. The villa was inspired by traditional Japanese country architecture and built almost entirely from tropical hardwoods (red cedar chief among them), so the interiors smell of warm wood and feel more temple than hotel. Interior designer Jan des Bouvrie — one of the Netherlands' most celebrated decorators — laid it all out with a restrained, sculptural hand: low-slung furniture, natural linens, and long sightlines that pull the eye straight through the rooms and out to the sea. Three ensuite bedrooms open onto private terraces, a fully kitted kitchen encourages long, slow dinners at home, and the pool and Jacuzzi sit on a deck where the only real soundtrack is bird call, wild chickens in the brush and the wind moving through Mt. Scenery's cloud forest just above you.
What to Try
Book the whole villa for a small group — it sleeps six across three ensuite bedrooms — and treat it as a private residence rather than a hotel. Start mornings with coffee on the pool deck watching cloud drift off the peak, spend afternoons hiking or diving Saba's marine park, and reserve at least one evening for a cook-in: fresh fish from The Bottom, a bottle of something cold, and dinner on the terrace as the lights of Statia flicker on across the water. Ask about adding car rental to your booking when you reserve — the hill is too steep and remote to be without wheels.
Insider Tip
Haiku House usually goes on a three-night minimum, but the real sweet spot is a full week (roughly $4,250 all-in vs. $695/night) — you'll need the extra days just to slow down to Saba's pace. Request the master bedroom on the seaward side and leave the shoji-style doors cracked at night; the trade winds do the air conditioning for you, and you'll wake up to the rainforest rather than a fan.
The Practical Stuff
Location: Troy Hill, above The Bottom, Saba (Caribbean Netherlands). Access: 10-minute flight from Sint Maarten into Juancho E. Yrausquin (the world's shortest commercial runway) or the daily ferry; a rental car is essentially required — the driveway alone will defeat a taxi. Layout: 3 bedrooms / 3 ensuite baths, full kitchen, living and dining, private pool and Jacuzzi, wraparound terraces. Rates: from ~US$695/night, ~US$4,250/week (all-in), 3-night minimum. Best booked well ahead — there is only one Haiku House. Bring: reef-safe sunscreen, hiking shoes for Mt. Scenery, and a light layer for cool evenings at elevation.
Pair It With
- Amonhana Guide — A short drive down into The Bottom for a proper sit-down dinner when you don't feel like cooking at the villa.
- Angelina's Saba By OwAiChie — Casual local food and drinks — the easiest low-key lunch or sundowner between hikes.
- Barney's Ground Guide — Classic Saba viewpoint and walking spot; pair a morning hike here with a lazy afternoon back at the pool.
- Big Stone Guide — Iconic island landmark and photo stop that fits neatly into a half-day exploring on foot from Troy Hill.
- Big Rock Engineering Guide — Handy local transport/logistics contact for the days you'd rather not tackle Saba's switchbacks yourself.
