Isla de San Andrés Travel Guide

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by mircaskirca
 
  • local cuties
      local cuties
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  • San Luis beach
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  •   Isla de San Andrés
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  •   Isla de San Andrés
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Pro

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  Nice People. Very Safe. Nice beach, Excellent Food 


Con

rebel256 profile photo

  HEAT, don't drink the water, Street vendors 


In a nutshell

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  As they sing in a popular song there... "Please, take me back to San Andres." 

 

Explore Isla de San Andrés

Things to Do  

La Loma

La Loma, Isla de San Andrés

 mircaskirca Says:  La Loma is a little town in the central hilly region of San Andrés where traditional island life continues. It's where the natives (Raizal people) live. The Raizales are a Protestant Afro-Caribbean ethnic group speaking English Creole language of the archipelago. Most... 

San Luis

San Luis, Isla de San Andrés

 mircaskirca Says:  Visitors seeking a quiet alternative to the tourist-focused capital of San Andrés will enjoy San Luis. Located on the island's east coast, the so-called town has no centre and is in fact just a small village, a simple 3 km string of houses along the coast. This is a tranquil... 

West View - La Piscinita

West View - La Piscinita, Isla de San Andrés

 mircaskirca Says:  If you like snorkeling, don't miss the west coast of San Andrés. I think it's the best spot on the island to snorkel. Make sure to stop by West View at La Piscinita, a natural pool formed by island cliffs, where you safely swim among colourful fish. The place is described by... 

Johnny Cay

Johnny Cay, Isla de San Andrés

 mircaskirca Says:  Johnny Cay, sometimes called Islote Sucre, is the nearest small island to San Andrés and the most beautiful. It's a joyful place with coconut palms, famous for its calypso, reggae and socca music as well for its fresh fried fish and rum and coconut cocktails. It offers white... 

Haynes Cay

Haynes Cay, Isla de San Andrés

 mircaskirca Says:  A tiny layer of water (only about 60 m) separates Haynes Cay from Acuario so you can walk there on foot. Dense thickets of coconut trees provide plenty of shade not far from Acuario. This pretty, palm-covered islet is often part of a standard boat tour around San Andrés,... 

Restaurants  

Restaurante West View: Balneario, Terraza y Acuario

Restaurante West View: Balneario, Terraza y Acuario, Isla de San Andrés

 mircaskirca Says:  West View is nothing more than a short pier out into the ocean, from which some tourists feed the fish while others snorkel around in the water, watching the fish eat. A couple of slices of bread are included in the entrance fee. I spent one whole day here and had a good... 

Stanley's: Reggae Bar

Stanley's: Reggae Bar, Isla de San Andrés

 mircaskirca Says:  The inner area of Johnny Cay is a palm tree grove with a handful of little bars and restaurants (they all use the same kitchen to prepare the food) selling fresh fish and cold drinks. It's a joyful place with colourful wooden benches and tables, and plenty of shadow to enjoy... 

Monica's Place: Las Posadas Nativas

Monica's Place: Las Posadas Nativas, Isla de San Andrés

 mircaskirca Says:  I was staying in Monica's Place, owned by Caselita Forbes, part of the island's homestay programme Las Posadas Nativas. She offers an option with accommodation and breakfast, and other with all meals included. Since there were no restaurants close by I thought it would be... 

Transportation  

Flight from San Andrés to Cartagena

Flight from San Andrés to Cartagena, Isla de San Andrés

 mircaskirca Says:  Flights between San Andrés and Cartagena are operated by two airlines, Avianca and AeroRepublica. Most of the flights with Avianca have connection in Bogotá (or even Medellin) and there is one direct flight with Copa. I booked my flight at the same time as the one from Cali... 

Getting Around on the Island

Getting Around on the Island, Isla de San Andrés

 mircaskirca Says:  Getting around on the island is easy. There are lots of buses, taxis and motorbikes to take you were you need to go. Taxis are quite expensive (as anything on the island) but you get use to it. When the taxi takes other people on the same trip it's called colectivo and it's... 

Shopping  

Duty Free shops: Colombian Emeralds

Duty Free shops: Colombian Emeralds, Isla de San Andrés

 grandmaR Says:  One of the things that was included on the tour was a chance to stop and shop. But the weather was so miserable that we didn't want to do that. I actually did no shopping whatever on the island. I just took some pictures as we were riding by Since this is Columbia,... 

Local Customs  

People and Languages of San Andrés

People and Languages of San Andrés, Isla de San Andrés

 mircaskirca Says:  The culture of the archipelago of San Andrés is linked to its people, who have diverse ethnic origins. The Raizal, people of African and British origin, speak Creole (the language originates in English but it has its own phonetic, grammar and many expressions from Spanish... 

Rondón - Traditional Dish

Rondón - Traditional Dish, Isla de San Andrés

 mircaskirca Says:  Rondón is a rich, delicious traditional dish, very popular throughout the archipelago. The vast variety of seafood available to the people of San Andrés in combination with the foods they cultivate on their land, keep them well fed. In the past, preparing a meal rarely... 

Picturesque English-Caribbean Architecture

Picturesque English-Caribbean Architecture, Isla de San Andrés

 mircaskirca Says:  In contrast to austere concrete buildings of hotel blocks, restaurants and duty-free shops in San Andrés town, a native area of the centre of the island is notable for its traditional wooden houses and picturesque Caribbean architecture. The brightly painted single-storey... 

Warnings Or Dangers  

Dont be fool by cheap prices of some perfums

Dont be fool by cheap prices of some perfums, Isla de San Andrés

 imolinar Says:  I almost got fool and bought those perfumes that were incredible cheap, then I realize that were knock offs. If you think the deal is too good to be true, it is because they are knock offs or cheap quality stuff. 

Taxi Tour in the Rain

Taxi Tour in the Rain, Isla de San Andrés

 grandmaR Says:  We were to take a taxi tour of the island. Among the things we were supposed to see were * El Hoyo Soplador or Blow Hole a a sea water geyser at the southern end of San Andrés* La Cueva De Morgan or Morgan's Cave - a sea cave which is a popular attraction due to the natural... 

Sports & Outdoors  

Go Diving

Go Diving, Isla de San Andrés

 Goienaga Says:  San Andres island is the paradise for diving. San Adres uhartea paradisua da must uger egiteko, Koralak oso ondo daude beste toki batzuen aldean eta belakiak, batez ere, goi mailakoak dira. marrazoak ikusteko aukera ere badago eta otarrainskak eta amildegi ederrak ere... 

Snorkeling and Diving

Snorkeling and Diving, Isla de San Andrés

 mircaskirca Says:  Islands of San Andrés and Providencia have the largest coral reefs in Colombia, with more than 85 species of corals, as well as a rich marine life with over 270 fish species, sea turtles and sponges. Underwater visibility is remarkable and conditions are calm with minimal... 

Favorites  

Churches and Cemeteries

Churches and Cemeteries, Isla de San Andrés

 grandmaR Says:  In addition to lighthouses, one of the things I usually do when traveling is to look for cemeteries to document how people handle the deceased. Taking photos was difficult and the only cemetery that I got any photos of was San LuisOur driver said the Colombians were... 

Lighthouses

Lighthouses, Isla de San Andrés

 grandmaR Says:  Our taxi driver told us that there were seven lighthouses on the side of the island where the ship anchored. We could see two from the ship and saw 3 or 4 others on the tour of the island.My reference for lighthouses is The Lighthouse Directory. When we went to San Andrés,... 

The Place

Plan a Isla de San Andrés vacation with reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and Isla de San Andrés locals

Experience Isla de San Andrés
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Map of Isla de San Andrés
 

The People

 
Our Members Say
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 San Luis beach, the one located across the road from the Decameron San Luis, is a small but nice public beach. It is flat and has shallow waters, but it can be... 

 

Questions and Answers

chuckyV profile photo

Q:  seeking a hotel with an "in room" hot tub and adjacent rooms as well 

KShezz profile photo

A: You need the Sunrise hotel and look for a suite or a sunrise suite...these will not be cheap though! http://www.sunrisehotel.com/english.html See here for other... 

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Top Isla de San Andrés Writers

1

Isla de San Andrés

mircaskirca profile photo

 Historically tied to England, the archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina is located almost 800 km northeast of the Colombian mainland, just 150 km from the coast of Nicaragua.... 

2

THE SEVEN COLOURS OF THE SEA

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  in the Caribbean island of San Andrès . . 

3

What Happens in San Andres, Stays in San Andres!!

RWFAN profile photo

 I went to San Andres with my graduating class from college. When we first booked our trip I went online to try nad find some information about the island, and things to do while I was there. I was a... 

4

Island with no Overflights

grandmaR profile photo

 The archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia y Santa Catalina, identified by UNESCO as a World Biosphere Reserve, is located 480 miles (720 km) northwest from the Colombian Caribbean Coast. It is made... 

5

Isla de San Andres, Caribbean Colombia

Goienaga profile photo

 The beach is wanderfull and the water cristal clear. the people friendly and the places are really safe to travel anywhere. 

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