Destination Weddings and Honeymoons

It's somewhat ironic that most visitors come to Saba, a soaring volcano peak that reaches into the clouds, just to go the opposite direction - diving hundreds of feet down into the bottomless depths of Saba's marine park. More than 30 sites encircle Saba, many of which are pinnacles or vertical walls that extend into limitless underwater canyons.

Don't pack a beach bag if you're going to Saba, because there aren't any beaches on this little Dutch isle in the Windward chain. Round as a wheel of Edam cheese and just as mild, Saba soars nearly 3,000 feet out of the water. The capital, The Bottom, is slightly inland and, oddly, upward. At 820 feet above sea level, it is one of the lowest villages on this steeply pitched island.

A rain forest thrives in the crater of Mount Scenery, an extinct volcano in the center of the island that reaches 2,900 up from sea level. Hikers access this lush jungle - the place where the original Tarzan movie was filmed -- by climbing the 1,064 steps to the top.

The island offers an unusual variety of venues for a unique ceremony. Recent tourist weddings have taken place on board a yacht moored in the Saba National Marine Park, on the spacious meadow at the Johnson Museum in Windwardside, in the graceful wrought iron gazebo at Queen's Garden, around the pool side at Juliana's, and at sunset in private villas with wonderful sea views. Saba's churches are also available.

MAJOR ATTRACTIONS

• Diving the pinnacles of the Saba Marine Park
• Drinking Saba Spice, the local spiced rum concoction
• Bringing home Saba lace, hand-stitched by the island women