Episode
Where to Go in 2026: The Five-Square-Mile Caribbean Island That's Nothing Like Its Neighbors
- Podcast
- Unpacked by Afar
- Published
- Jan 16, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 1301
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Summary
It's a shiny new year, so this month on Unpacked, we're diving into Afar's Where to Go list: 24 emerging regions and overlooked locales to explore this year. Places like Saba, a tiny Dutch Caribbean island with no beaches, no cruise ports, and the world's shortest commercial runway—just 400 meters long. What it does have: lush volcanic landscapes, 20 hand-built hiking trails, and a population of just over 2,000. In this episode, host Aislyn Greene talks with Bianca Bujan, a Vancouver-based travel journalist who shares the thrilling 12-minute flight from St. Martin, the island's gingerbread-house architecture, and why her teenager called it his favorite trip ever—despite spotty wifi and no beaches. Plan Your Saba Getaway Stay Juliana’s Hotel in Windward Side, a boutique property The Scenery Hotel, a new luxury boutique hotel opening in 2026 at the base of Mount Scenery Eat and Drink Tropics Cafe at Juliana's Hotel—popular with locals Try Saba Spice, a local handmade spiced rum served on ice Time your visit for the Saba Rum and Lobster Festival in November See and Do Hike Mount Scenery, technically the highest point in the Netherlands Try the Mas'Cohones Trail for spectacular views with a less strenuous climb Book a guided hike with Crocodile James, a local legend, via the Saba Conservation Foundation Join a Sea and Learn Foundation workshop for hands-on experiences like wild clay pottery with locals Resources Follow Bianca on Instagram or read her work on her website Explore Afar's Where to Go in 2026 list Follow us: @afarmedia Listen to All the Episodes in our Where to Go 2026 Series E1: This Island in the Bahamas Promises Pink Sand, Historic Hideaways, and Perfect Solitude E2: Why Peru's Second City Might…