Providencia & Santa Catalina

A quiet volcanic island north of San Andrés, ringed by seven-colour seas and a barrier reef, where you can snorkel at Crab Reef and walk the Lovers' Bridge to Santa Catalina to see the pirate-era fort and Morgan's Head.

Providencia and Santa Catalina (Providencia y Santa Catalina) are two Caribbean islands in the department of San Andrés and Providencia, Colombia, about 90 km north of San Andrés and closer to the coast of Nicaragua. The main island, Providencia, covers about 17 square kilometers. It is volcanic, with a peak of about 360 meters in the center. To its north, Santa Catalina is connected by the Lovers' Bridge. Both islands are surrounded by a barrier reef about 32 km long and form part of the UNESCO 'Seaflower' biosphere reserve. Residents are mostly Raizal people who speak Creole English, and life moves far more slowly than on San Andrés.

The highlights include the McBean Lagoon National Park and Crab Cay in the northeast, which are essential for snorkeling among the seven-coloured seas and corals. The Lovers' Bridge, Warwick Fort on Santa Catalina and Morgan's Head tell the story of Puritan colonization and the pirate Henry Morgan. Hiking to the summit gives views over the whole island and the reef. The southwest bay and beaches such as Manzanillo are good for swimming, Raizal home cooking and beach horse racing. Diving is another major attraction, and you can sign up with dive shops in Agua Dulce.

The best season is January to April, the dry season, when the seas are calmest and visibility is best. June to November is hurricane season. In November 2020, Hurricane Iota badly damaged the whole island. Most houses and infrastructure have since been rebuilt, but some facilities are still being restored.

Getting there: a small plane from San Andrés takes about 20 minutes (Satena and others), or a catamaran takes about 3 hours, which can be bumpy in rough seas. A tourist card fee must be paid on arrival. There are no large hotels on the island; family guesthouses are the main accommodation. You can rent a motorbike or golf cart to tour the island. Plan 3–4 days.

Top sights

Where to eat