Rapid Travel Chai

Saba’s Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport (SAB) is famed for its dramatic cliff-top setting and shortest commercial runway in the world at 400m.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgw8_8C63hU]

WinAir operates the only scheduled service on their fleet of DHC-6 Twin Otter 300.

There are a few flights each day, however I had limited time and it is a quite a steep and pricey ride up and down the island so could not squeeze in a dedicated plane spotting trip.

Instead, perhaps foolishly, I checked in for my departing flight, cleared immigration (they have you stay in the lobby anyway) and then scampered up the road and onto the hill overlooking the runway. I knew that WinAir immediately turns the plane, with departing passengers boarding the moment arrivals are off, so I balanced viewpoint with what I thought I could sprint back down to the airport.

I got this video, then dashed, backpack in tow, through the scrub. Oh my goodness prickly pear cactii hurt. I staggered down to the terminal with spines still in my legs and droplets of blood forming. That was after taking a nasty tumble on Mt Scenery early that morning. The passengers had already boarded and looked at me in disbelief.

But I got this video.

In this series:

• Northern Caribbean Island Hopping Itinerary
• St Maarten – Caribbean Vice
• Video – Maarten Airport Golf Cart Tarmac Transfer
• St Martin – The Quiet Side
• Anguilla – Discretion Island
• Saba – Kong Island of the Caribbean
• Video: Landing at Saba Airport, Shortest Commercial Runway in the World
• St Barth’s – Gorgeous People, Pricey Hamburgers
• St Kitts – Plantation Splurge and Mega Fortress
• Nevis – Is An Hour Enough?