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This is one of the first tall trees you can spot along the Quill Trail. The gum tree (Bursera simaruba) is easily identified by the reddish-brown bark which exfoliates in thin, small flakes. As this looks very much like a tourist who spent too much time in the Caribbean sun, this tree is locally called the tourist tree.

The trunks of younger trees often have a green colour underneath which sets a wonderful contrast to the red flakes - especially when the sunlight shines through. When photographing or filming, play with different angles and views to create your very own unique travel memories. Book a guide to learn more about the flora and fauna along the hiking trails of St. Eustatius: statia-tourism.com/contact.

Gum trees can grow up to 30 meters and attract birds and butterflies. In this case, the tree trunk is used by termites. Termites are a group of insects which consume a wide variety of decaying plant material from wood via leaves to soil humus. This is an important ecosystem service (decomposing). They are often called white ants, even though they are not related to ants. You hardly ever see them out in the open as they create their own protected path - just like a tunnel. All you see, are the black lines along the trees like in this picture.

Paper wasps (Polistes sp.) can be found attached to branches or trunks along the trails in the Quill national park on Statia. Also known as jackies they are harmless when left alone. However, they do have a stinger and will use it when pushed into a corner or feeling the need to defend their nest.

The nests are the reason Polistes are called paper wasps. First, the insects gather fibers from plant stems and dead wood. Then, they mix these fibers with their saliva. Finally, they use this grey or brown papery material to construct their nests.

The cells of the open comb are used for brood rearing. On the back, there is a stalk which attaches the nest to a branch or other structure. Interesting detail according to Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paper_wasp): "Paper wasps secrete a chemical which repels ants, which they spread around the base of the anchor to prevent the loss of eggs or brood."

In general, lots of insects are threatened by human activities in particular the way we industrialized our agriculture. Pesticides, fungicides, herbicides and fertilizers are killing blindly. Same as in the sea, a lot of creatures and their functions aren't even known or their role within the ecosystem understood.

We are not only part of nature, we also depend on functioning ecosystems and stable conditions for our survival. Survival of the fittest doesn't mean there will be a last species standing after killing off the rest. It emphasizes how adapting and evolving create roles and links within nature and life on this planet.

A new series of short films brings the Statia 'The Caribbean's Hidden Treasure' to you. Whether you are exploring  St. Eustatius from the comfort of your home,  are planning to  visit or are cherishing the memories of your last trip, these clips  were created for you. The main attractions of our incredible island are nature, relaxation, history and diving embedded in a tranquil, safe, friendly and laid-back environment.

The first film starts off in Lower Town Oranjestad. We walk through Upper Town and end at the top of Rosemary Lane from where you enter the Quill National Park. There are two routes to take you from the Caribbean sea to Upper Town, the current economic and administrative center of Oranjestad.

Tompi Trail is the shorter path. It leads up the cliff between Blue Bead Restaurant and St Eustatius National Parks (STENAPA), while the Bay Path coils up from the center of Oranje Bay to the Catholic Church and Fort Oranje.

The latter was started by the French before the island‘s heydays. Already a busy trading center within the region, the economy really took off in 1756 after the Dutch declared Statia a free port. Without any customs duties, Statia turned into a hub for all kind of goods — legal and illegal. Statia offered neutral ground for business in the middle of British (Jamaica, St. Kitts, Barbados, Bermuda), French (Saint-Domingue, Sainte-Lucie, Martinique, Guadeloupe), Spanish (Cuba, Santo Domingo, Puerto Rico) and Danish (Virgin Islands) territories.

There is a chance to meet one of the flagship species of Statia right at the beginning of this trail. The Lesser Antillean iguana (Iguana delicatissima) likes to hang out on the trees and roofs of STENAPA. Sometimes one or multiple are clearly hanging out in the sun, other times hide   camouflaged in the trees. You can always ask one of the employees or volunteers for help find one. Young iguanas are bright green, but they become more greyish-brown when growing older. Iguanas are almost exclusively herbivores and play an important role within the ecosystem as distributors of seeds.

From STENAPA, the quickest access to the Quill is via Tompi Trail. It is a sand and gravel path with wooden boards forming steps at the steep parts up the cliff. Anybody with difficulty keeping their balance profits tremendously from a (hiking) stick and good shoes with good grip on this part. The rest of the route is paved ground. The Bay Path is steep too and more exposed to the sun.

After coming up Tompi Trail, take a look at some ruins to your right. In the distance, there is the round base of a mill and some walls stick out of the area mainly covered in Coralita (Antigonon leptopus), an invasive plant which is rapidly spreading across Statia. Despite the beautiful pink or white flowers, this fast-growing, climbing vine, originally from Mexico, causes a threat to native species. Ground surveys indicate that 15-33  percent of the island is covered with Coralita. According to the DCNA (Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance), satellite imagery will improve monitoring and thereby support a targeted approach to keep Statia‘s biodiversity high. On 'Kerkweg', the paved road, Tompi Trail unites with Bay Path Route. Turn right there and then left onto Rosemary Lane.

Coming from the harbour, there is a shortcut right behind the Old Gin House which meets the steep and winding Bay Path. Alternatively, you can continue walking towards the green gate with the sign “Don‘t let the goats in, no matter what they tell you” and begin the climb from there. How many people have passed by these stone walls? In the evening, the path is lit by old-style street lanterns.

To the right, there is Claes Gut, a series of walls and drainage allowing excess rainwater to flow to the sea. On the left, the Roman Catholic Church is coming into sight. While the church was built in 1910, the bell tower dates back to the 1980s. There is a whole series of beautiful old houses ready to tell their story, including the one where the Tourism Office is located.

You can book a historic city tour or buy the “Historical Walking Tour Guide” at the Museum. In this article, we focus on two of the oldest buildings on the island: Fort Oranje and The Dutch Reformed Church. The Fort was built by the Dutch on the location of a French Fort dating back to 1629. Surrounded by stone walls, there was one major entrance with a drawbridge over a moat. Instead of sewage water, the moat was overgrown with acacia bushes spreading their long thorns. Only a small  part of that moat is still visible today.

Following Kerkweg will bring you to more interesting sights such as Wilhelmina Park and the Dutch Reformed Church. Built in 1755, the church repeatedly lost its roof due to hurricanes, and is preserved without one now.  The tower of the church was the tallest building on the island and  was used to help navigate ships in and out of the harbour back in the day. If you have the time before continuing to Rosemary Lane, stroll around to look for the graves of many interesting figures from Statia‘s history, like commander Jan de Windt and commander Johannes de Graaff.

Fort Oranje from the Catholic Church in the evening sun (photographer: Nicola Jaeger)

We recommend taking the time to discover the remnants of history in Upper and Lower Town, either on your way to or back from the Quill. However, you can also combine the Bay Path and Tompi Trail in one walk to create your own little hiking loop. Especially during the early morning and late afternoon, you will be rewarded with golden light adding to the captivating scenery and views awaiting you.

You can buy your trail tag at Statia Tourism (Opening hours: Monday to Thursday 8 am to 5 pm, Friday 8 am to 4.30 pm) or STENAPA (St. Eustatius National Parks) along the way or purchase it online. It is valid for one calendar year and serves as the entrance to both the Quill as well as Boven National Parks. The money is used to maintain the trails and protect the national parks for future generations. Leave nothing but footprints. Take nothing but memories.

Papaya Inn and Papaya Blue offer a variety of room types, depending on the traveller’s needs. Mine had a kitchenette, separate W/C and shower room, wardrobe, spacious living area, king-sized bed. It opened onto a delightful patio. Standard features in all rooms include that much-needed air conditioning, free wi-fi, mini fridge, flat-screen TV and Netflix! True to the name, all rooms offer a lovely burst of papaya colour in the décor. For me, one of the nicest touches was the note left among the swan towels and fresh purple blossoms on my bed. The note welcomed me personally and provided all the relevant details for my stay, all with a conveyance of warm hospitality.