San Andrés Island

A Caribbean island famed for its "Sea of Seven Colors," with Johnny Cay, island-hopping to the Aquarium, snorkeling at West View, and onward trips to Providencia.

San Andrés Island lies in the southwestern Caribbean, about 700 km from mainland Colombia and only about 200 km from the coast of Nicaragua, and is the capital island of the Department of San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina. Covering about 26 sq km and shaped like a seahorse, it has a ring road of about 30 km; the surrounding coral reefs and seabed of varying depths give the water layers of color from clear to emerald to deep blue, earning it the name "Sea of Seven Colors," and the whole archipelago is part of UNESCO's Seaflower Biosphere Reserve. The island's native people are the Creole English–speaking Raizal, whose Baptist churches, wooden Caribbean houses and reggae music make up a distinctive culture.

The island has three areas: the "Centro" (North End) at the northern tip is home to the hotels, duty-free shops and the Spratt Bight beach promenade, and is where island-hopping boats depart; La Loma in the central hills has the First Baptist Church and Big Pond; the San Luis coast in the southeast is quieter, while the west coast is rocky, with Morgan's Cave, West View, La Piscinita and the blowhole at the southern tip strung along the western ring road. The classic itinerary: on day one, take a boat to Johnny Cay and the Aquarium; on day two, rent a golf cart or scooter to circle the island; on day three, go diving or head out to Rocky Cay or the Bolívar Cays.

Getting there: direct flights from Bogotá, Medellín, Cali and Cartagena take about 1.5–2 hours; entry requires a tourist card paid at the airport or online (about COP 140,000; check the current year's rate). On the island you can take taxis, ride the buses that run along the ring road, or rent a golf cart (known locally as a "mula"). To reach Providencia, take a small plane (about 20 minutes) or a catamaran (about 3 hours).

Plan on 4–5 days. The dry season (Jan–Apr) is best; the whole island is duty-free, but prices are higher than on the mainland. When snorkeling, watch out for sea urchins and currents; the west coast is rocky, so wear water shoes; and don't take coral or shells.

Top sights

Where to eat

Itineraries