St Eustatius Weather, climate and geography

Weather and climate

Best time to visit

Hot, but tempered by cooling trade winds. The annual mean temperature is 27°C (80°F), varying by no more than two or three degrees throughout the year.

Required clothing

Tropical lightweights and cottons are worn throughout the year. Umbrellas or light waterproofs are also advisable.

Geography

Politically, St Eustatius is one of three Windward Islands in the former Netherlands Antilles; geographically it is part of the Leeward Group of the Lesser Antilles. It lies 286km (178 miles) east of Puerto Rico, 171km (106 miles) east of St Croix, 56km (35 miles) due south of St Maarten and 14km (9 miles) northwest of St Kitts. On the south end of the island is an extinct volcano called The Quill, which has a lush rainforest in the crater. Twice a year, sea turtles clamber up onto the black volcanic sands that rim the island to lay their eggs; giant land crabs hunt on the beaches every night.