ST. EUSTATIUS MAP

HOME    MAP    BASICS    HISTORY    NATURE

Statia is located in the northeastern Caribbean and covers 11.8 square miles. It's 150 miles east of Puerto Rico, 17 miles southeast of Saba and a 20 minute flight from St. Martin. All visitors must present a valid passport. Birth certificates and drivers licenses are no longer accepted.

There is no scheduled boat or ferry service to Statia. Travelers arrive at Franklin Delano Roosevelt Airport (EUX), half a mile from the capital of Oranjestad. Direct flights aren't available from North America, so visitors usually connect through Princess Juliana Airport in St. Martin. Winair operates 5 daily flights from St. Martin; Caribbean Sun Airlines operates daily flights from San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Taxi dispatch is at the airport. Taxis don't have meters: rates are fixed and should be checked before departure. There are over a dozen car rental agencies; a valid drivers license is required. Driving is on the right-hand side of the road.

The Antillean Guilder is tied to the U.S. dollar at a rate of US $ 1.00 = ANG 1.80. The dollar is widely accepted throughout the island. There are no customs duties. Visitors leaving Statia pay a departure fee of US $5.65 for destinations within the Dutch Caribbean and $12.00 for anywhere else.

The climate is generally dry and sunny. Light northeast trade winds bring constant cool breezes and sufficient moisture to keep the average daytime temperature at 80-85 degrees. April, June and September are the rainiest months.

Dutch is the official language used in government administration and schools, but English is spoken everywhere. The island's atmosphere is casual, so informal summer wear is the general dress code. No wearing bathing suits off the beach, though.