Quill Gardens Boutique Hotel
A ten-room garden retreat tucked at the foot of Statia's sleeping volcano
Why Go
On an island where cruise crowds never land and the loudest sound is the wind moving through the rainforest, Quill Gardens is the kind of small, personal hideaway that makes Sint Eustatius feel like your own secret. Ten rooms, a pool ringed by tropical planting, and a covered terrace where guests eat family-style under a turquoise ceiling — it is more Caribbean farmhouse than resort, and that is exactly the point.
The Experience
The property sits on Road to English Quarter, just outside sleepy Oranjestad and quite literally at the base of The Quill, the dormant volcano whose crater rainforest defines the island's skyline. Rooms are studio suites or one-bedroom apartments (each about 30 m²) with king beds, kitchenettes or full kitchens, private balconies, strong Wi-Fi, and eco-conscious bath amenities — comfortable and quietly stylish rather than showy. Days here have a slow, deliberate rhythm: breakfast on the covered terrace, a morning hike up The Quill or a two-tank dive on Statia's protected reefs, a long afternoon by the pool, and dinner back at that same communal table where guests, divers and the occasional visiting scientist end up trading stories. Because there are only ten keys, the staff learns your name by the second morning and your coffee order by the third.
What to Try
Book a room with a Quill-facing balcony so you wake up staring straight at the volcano — then actually climb it: the trailhead is a short drive away and the crater rim gives you a 360-degree view over the Caribbean and neighbouring Saba and St. Kitts. Order the fresh catch at dinner on the terrace (menus change with whatever came off the boats that day), and take advantage of the on-site pool as your afternoon decompression between a morning dive at the Aquarium site and a sunset walk down to Fort de Windt.
Insider Tip
Direct bookings through the hotel's own site include a complimentary breakfast and often a room upgrade or late checkout that OTAs won't match — always email or call the property directly. And ask the front desk to pre-arrange your dive pickup and Quill hiking permit (a small STENAPA nature fee is required for the trail); they'll handle it in one go so you don't lose half a morning sorting logistics in town.
The Practical Stuff
Address: Road to English Quarter 53, Oranjestad, St. Eustatius (Caribbean Netherlands). About a 5-minute drive from F. D. Roosevelt Airport and roughly 1 km from Oranjestad's historic Upper Town. Ten rooms, adults-oriented feel, on-site pool, covered restaurant/bar, free parking and Wi-Fi, air conditioning and ceiling fans. Rent a small 4x4 or scooter to reach dive shops, beaches and trailheads — taxis exist but are limited. Payment in USD; power is 110V/60Hz (US-style plugs).
Pair It With
- The Quill (volcano hike) — The signature Statia experience literally rises behind the hotel — a rainforest-clad crater climb you can start straight after breakfast.
- Aquarium Dive Site — One of Statia Marine Park's showcase reef dives, easy to arrange through the hotel and perfect for a pre-lunch two-tank morning.
- Baby Beach Guide — A quiet, low-key stretch of coast for an afternoon swim once you're done hiking or diving — very Statia, very uncrowded.
- Fort de Windt Guide — A short, atmospheric detour to a cliff-top ruin with sweeping views toward St. Kitts, ideal at golden hour after a pool day.
- Oranjestad Historic Core & Fort Oranje — Walk the cobbled Upper Town and 17th-century fortifications to round out the volcano-and-reef days with a dose of Statia's Golden Rock history.
