Hummingbird Villa
Saba's only private gated estate — two cliffside acres, six-island views, room for twelve
Why Go
Perched above the Caribbean on two walled acres just outside Windwardside, Hummingbird Villa is the closest thing Saba has to a private resort. Where most of the island's lodging leans cozy-and-communal, this is the property you book when you want the whole show to yourselves — a gated seaside estate with a heated pool, a Great Room that opens through six sets of French doors, and sightlines that sweep from sunrise to St. Barth's, St. Eustatius, St. Kitts, Nevis, St. Maarten and Anguilla.
The Experience
The villa is built in traditional Saban style — white walls, red gingerbread trim, 20-foot ceilings — but the bones are quietly luxurious: five bedrooms and five baths spread between a main house, a poolside guest cottage and a den, sleeping up to twelve in comfort. WiFi and A/C throughout, but you won't want either; the trade winds do the work, and the soundtrack is tree frogs and surf on the rocks below. Everything is set up so you barely have to lift a finger. A daily maid service tidies quietly around you, the pantry is pre-stocked to your specs, and the owners will arrange airport pickup at Juancho E. Yrausquin (the world's shortest commercial runway, about fifteen minutes away by winding road). It's a five-minute walk down into Windwardside village for a coffee or a lobster dinner, and a five-minute climb back up into your own private world.
What to Try
Order in from a private chef for at least one night — the villa can arrange catering, and eating a multi-course Caribbean meal on the pool deck as the lights of St. Eustatius flicker on across the channel is the whole point of splurging on a place like this. Book the in-villa massage service after a day of hiking Mt. Scenery. And if you're a diver, take advantage of the dive package: Saba Marine Park's pinnacles are a short drive down to Fort Bay, and there is no better decompression than a soak in your own hot tub afterward.
Insider Tip
The address reads 'Windward Side' but the estate actually sits in English Quarter, on the cliffs just east of the village — which is why the sunrise views are unmatched and why you'll want the airport transfer on arrival (Saba's roads are steep and the last stretch to the gate is easy to miss in the dark). Ask the owners to stock the pantry with local rum, fresh fish and produce from Barney's Ground farm before you arrive; grocery runs on Saba are limited and you'll be glad you skipped the errand.
The Practical Stuff
Location: English Quarter, a 5-minute walk uphill from Windwardside village. Getting there: fly into SAB via St. Maarten, then take the villa's arranged transfer (about 15–20 minutes of switchbacks). Capacity: 2–12 guests across 5 bedrooms and 5 baths. Included: daily maid service, welcome drinks, airport greeting, WiFi, A/C, pool. On request: pantry stocking, private chef, massage, dive packages, wedding coordination. Price point: high-end — this is Saba's top villa rental and books months out, especially around dive season and the holidays.
Pair It With
- Amonhana Guide — A short walk down into Windwardside for a relaxed dinner when you don't feel like bringing in a chef.
- Angelina's Saba by OwAiChie — Classic Saban food and drinks in the village — an easy, casual first-night meal after you land.
- Barney's Ground Guide — The island's hillside farm plot; ask the villa to source produce here for your pantry stock.
- Battery Corre Corre Guide — A short hike to a historic coastal battery — good sunrise walk before breakfast on the pool deck.
