Orchid Cottage: A Private Hillside Hideaway in Windwardside
A two-bedroom garden cottage on Saba with an outdoor rock-walled shower and full ocean views.
Why Go
Tucked into the orchid-filled gardens of Juliana's Hotel on Park Lane, Orchid Cottage feels less like a rental and more like a Caribbean secret handed to you by a friend. You get your own cottage with a covered veranda staring straight down at the sea and up at Mount Scenery — and an outdoor shower carved into a rock formation that alone justifies the trip.
The Experience
Windwardside is Saba's picture-postcard village of white cottages with red roofs and green shutters, and Orchid Cottage slots right into that palette. The two-bedroom layout is set up for couples who want extra room or small families who want space to spread out: a queen master, a second room with twins that push together into a king, both air-conditioned, plus a living/dining room in soft Caribbean tones. What makes it memorable is the outside — a private courtyard, a covered veranda with a lounger and dining table, tropical plants and orchids in every corner, and that open-air stone shower tucked behind a rock wall. In the mornings you walk five minutes down the lane to Juliana's Tropics Café for the included breakfast; in the evenings you climb back up to the Tipsy Goat Bar for a rum punch as the light drops over the Caribbean.
What to Try
Cook one night in — the kitchen is fully kitted out and there's a gas barbecue on the deck, so pick up fresh fish in the village and grill it while the sun sets over the sea. Shower outside at least once in the rock enclosure (it's the story you'll tell when you get home). And do at least one breakfast on the veranda rather than at the café — the view of Mount Scenery in the morning cloud is worth the slower start.
Insider Tip
Book the cottage for a stay that includes a Wednesday or Saturday — those are the days Windwardside's main street is liveliest, and everything you need (bakery, small grocery, a handful of restaurants) is a flat five-minute walk downhill. Ask Juliana's in advance to stock the fridge with basics before you arrive; the village shops close early and you'll want that first-night bottle of wine already chilled when you land after the ferry or the famously short flight.
The Practical Stuff
Address: Orchid Cottage, Park Lane 7F, Windwardside, Saba (Caribbean Netherlands). It's part of the Juliana's Hotel property, so check-in and breakfast happen at the main hotel a short walk away. Pool, restaurant (Tropics Café, closed one day per week), and bar are shared with hotel guests. Free WiFi, daily maid service, air conditioning and ceiling fans in both bedrooms. Two bedrooms sleep up to four; ideal for one couple wanting space or a small family. Rates aren't published — contact Juliana's directly, and book well ahead in high season (December–April) as Saba has very limited inventory. You'll want a rental car or scooter to reach the trailheads and dive shops, though the village itself is walkable.
Pair It With
- Amonhana Guide — A short walk into Windwardside for a relaxed dinner when you don't feel like firing up the cottage's barbecue.
- Angelina's Saba By OwAiChie — Casual local food and drinks in the village — perfect for a low-key lunch between hikes.
- Battery Corre Corre Guide — One of Saba's historic coastal battery sites, an easy add-on outing to pair with a morning on the veranda.
- Barney's Ground Guide — A classic Saba viewpoint and walking spot that pairs naturally with a cottage stay focused on nature and quiet.
