Tiny in Size, Big on Fun: Five Islands and What They Offer

Some of the Caribbean's smallest islands really let you get away from crowds.

Just getting to them can be an adventure. Hundred-foot cliffs line Saba's quarter-mile-long airstrip, for example, making for a white-knuckle landing. Ferries are the main and sometimes only way to islands, including St. John, and you generally don't need a reservation. From unspoiled beaches to ruins of sugar plantations, here's what five of the smallest islands offer:

NAME: Saba

SIZE: 5 square miles

POPULATION: 1,700

GETTING THERE: Fly to St. Maarten, then either fly (12 minutes) or take a ferry (80 minutes). The only airline that goes to Saba is Winair ( http://www.fly-Winair.com, from $82 round trip); ferries are the Edge ( http://www.stmaarten-activities.com, $100 round trip) and the Dawn ( http://www.sabactransport.com, $80 round trip).

BEST FOR . . . Divers, who can explore Saba Marine Park, and hikers.

WHAT TO DO: Shop for Saba lace, made locally since the 1870s, and Saba Spice rum-and-herb liquor. . . . Visit the Harry L. Johnson Museum, a former sea captain's cottage with Victorian furnishings and artifacts from archaeological sites. . . . Cut loose at Carnival, the last week of July. . . . Choose from 15 eateries, ranging from Pop's Place Snack Bar to the elegant Willard's.

LODGING: About 120 rooms are available in 8 small hotels, several villas and 14 cottages. Options include Scout's Place and Hotel ( http://www.sabadivers.com; rooms from $106). Daphne's Cottage ( http://www.sabadaphnecottage.com; $130), built in 1850, is in a Windwardside neighborhood. The House on the Path ( http://www.houseonthepath.com; $175) is 1,500 feet above the sea and a 5-minute hike from neighbors and vehicles.

INFO: http://www.sabatourism.com; 011-599-416-2231

NAME: Anguilla