San Andrés y Providencia, western Caribbean · Colombia
A Caribbean island closer to Nicaragua than to Colombia, famous for its Sea of Seven Colours, coral reefs, Raizal culture and sandy cays.
San Andrés is a small island, about 13 km long, in the western Caribbean, about 775 km north-west of Colombia's mainland and just 190 km from Nicaragua. It belongs to an archipelago with Providencia and Santa Catalina, and the whole area is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Seaflower. The islands were settled by English Puritans in the 17th century and by enslaved Africans, and today the Raizal people speak an English-based Creole and follow Protestant traditions, giving San Andrés a different feel from the rest of Colombia.
The island is famous for the Sea of Seven Colours, a shallow lagoon whose water shifts from white and turquoise to deep indigo. Boat trips visit Johnny Cay, a palm-covered sandbank with a beach bar, and Acuario, where you can snorkel in clear water with fish. Around the island, a ring road passes the Hoyo Soplador blowhole, the West View diving platform, and the small village of San Luis.
San Andrés is a duty-free island, and can be crowded with domestic tourists at peak times. It is best for beach and water activities, with warm sea all year, and it is a flight from Bogotá, Medellín or Cartagena. For a quieter alternative, Providencia, a smaller island nearby, is more remote.
Why visit
San Andrés is Colombia's Caribbean island escape, with clear water and easy snorkelling.
Shades of turquoise.
Johnny Cay and Acuario.
Diving and marine life.
English-Creole traditions.
Caribbean weather.
Main attractions
Most sights are a boat ride or a ring road drive away.
A small cay with a white beach and palms, reached by boat, with restaurants and clear water.
Tip Go early to beat tour groups.
Shallow spots for snorkelling with fish.
Tip Combine with Johnny Cay.
A blowhole where seawater shoots into the air when the waves are strong.
Tip Best on windy days.
A diving platform and snorkelling spot with steps into the water.
Tip Bring water shoes.
A small reef with a shipwreck.
Tip Snorkel at low tide.
A quieter east-side village with a beach.
Tip Good for lunch.
Things to do
San Andrés is about water.
Johnny Cay and Acuario.
Tip Book a morning trip.
Coral reefs.
Tip Choose a certified operator.
Circle the island.
Tip Drive slowly.
A Caribbean fish and coconut stew.
Tip Ask for the local version.
In the lagoon.
Tip Go early.
In the town centre.
Tip Check prices.
Local food
San Andrés' food is Caribbean and Creole.
A coconut milk fish and root vegetable stew.
Where to try it Local restaurants.
Classic Caribbean.
Where to try it Beach restaurants.
Black crab.
Where to try it Restaurants.
Raizal dessert.
Where to try it Bakeries.
Tropical.
Where to try it Stalls.
Accommodation
Stay in the north or east.
Transport
San Andrés is reached by air.
The island is small.
When to go
The island is warm all year, with a dry season and a wetter season.
Dry and breezy.
Hotter.
Busy with domestic tourists.
Wet, with hurricane risk in the wider Caribbean.
Worth planning around: Hurricane season.
Itinerary
Cays, the ring road and a dive.
Beach day.
Circle the island.
Reefs.
Travel tips
A few tips help you plan.
FAQ
By plane.
Yes.
Three or four.
It is part of Colombia, so the same rules apply.
Generally, with precautions.
December to April.
Keep exploring
Places that pair well with San Andrés, whether you have a few spare days or are building a longer route.
Bolívar, Caribbean coast, Colombia
A colourful walled port city with the Clock Tower, San Felipe fortress, Getsemaní's street art, Caribbean seafood, nightlife and boat trips to the Rosario Islands.
Don't miss Watching the sun set from the old city walls with a cold drink as the plazas fill with music.
Explore Destination — CartagenaMagdalena, Caribbean coast, Colombia
Tayrona National Park's hidden beaches and forest trails, the colonial port of Santa Marta, the cloud forest village of Minca and the multi-day trek to Ciudad Perdida.
Don't miss Reaching Cabo San Juan, a palm-fringed beach with a hammock hut on a rocky point, after a walk through the jungle.
Explore Destination — Tayrona and Santa MartaCundinamarca, Andean highlands, Colombia
Colombia's capital at 2,640 metres, with La Candelaria's colonial streets, the Gold and Botero museums, Monserrate, street art, restaurants and the Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral.
Don't miss Riding the cable car to the Monserrate sanctuary for a view over the vast city.
Explore Destination — BogotáRead next
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