Your Complete Guide to San Andres Island in Colombia

Most visitors who consider going to Colombia don’t even know about San Andres Island. In fact, I hadn’t even heard of it and only stumbled upon it while looking for a more off-the-beaten-path destination in Colombia.

I’m so glad that I found out about this tiny island as I would have missed out on A LOT by not going, it would even be a great place for a budget honeymoon!

Despite being a Colombian territory, the locals don’t look like Colombians, but rather like people from the Caribbean. The culture of the island is also more Caribbean than Colombian and there is plenty to do to make this little slice of paradise worthwhile.

Crystal-clear waters gently wash up on the white sandy beach of San Andres Island with boats and a water scooter moored in the distance, highlighting a serene tropical paradise perfect for water sports and relaxation. — Some of my photos are from my first trip to San Andres – before I became a professional photographer. Hence a different quality 😉

Things to Know Before Traveling to San Andres Island in Colombia

The tiny island is a diverse mix of African descendants who actually prefer to speak English, due to the island’s early history. It’s also inhabited by Colombian immigrants who have come here to work in the tourism industry and a very small group of indigenous people.

The island is small and only takes around 1 hour to circle by buggy if you don’t make any stops.

Apart from shopping, San Andres isn’t the cheapest place. For one thing, you need to pay an entry fee as the island is considered a national park.

Accommodation on the island is way more expensive than anywhere on the mainland. But trust me – it’s worth the price!

Where is San Andres Island?

San Andres is a tiny island that belongs to Colombia, although geographically it’s closer to Nicaragua and Jamaica.

It’s located about 750 km (470 mi) northwest of Colombia in the Caribbean Sea and is just 26 km².

Due to the fact that it’s a Colombian territory in Costa Rican and Nicaraguan waters, San Andres is a duty-free zone. What makes it great for shopping! Goods there are cheaper than at any airport I’ve ever been to.

San Andres vs Providencia

Many people want to decide between visiting San Andres or Providencia Island. Truth to be told, it really depends on your travel style and budget.

While San Andres may seem off the path to foreign tourists, Colombians tend to treat San Andres as their well-known holiday spot with many youngsters partying.

On the other hand, Providencia is more exclusive and remote, even for locals which makes it more expensive and relaxed but has fewer things to do.

Breathtaking view from a high vantage point on San Andres Island, showcasing the lush green landscape, turquoise Caribbean waters, and distant coral islets that you can explore in this in this guide to San Andres Island

Is San Andres Safe?

I never felt unsafe on the island, but as anywhere you need to take precautions. Don’t wander off alone at night into a dark street, and I wouldn’t stay on the beach after hours.

Unfortunately, beach robberies in Latin America after dark happen sometimes, but during the day you’re absolutely fine!

The most unsafe thing in San Andres would be drinking tap water. Unfortunately, it’s not recommended to drink the water, so be prepared to either buy bottled water or refill your own reusable water. Alternatively, there’s always Lifestraw for those who want to drink water anywhere, anytime.

How to Get to San Andres, Colombia?

The only way to get to San Andres Island is to fly. Direct domestic flights depart from Bogota, Cartagena, Medellin, and Cali and take less than 2.5 hours. That being said, flights from Panama City are often the cheapest route and it only takes 1hr 15 mins!

NOTE: All foreigners are required to buy a tourist card before boarding the plane. It’s basically a fee for entering the national park of San Andres & Providencia. It costs 124,000 COP (~$30 USD) and can be only purchased at the airport and in cash.

Vibrant street life in downtown San Andres Island, with colorful storefronts, local businesses, and pedestrians, reflecting the island's rich culture and bustling daily life, essential for a comprehensive travel guide.

Things to Do in San Andres Island

Below is a list of all the most popular things to do in San Andres Island, most of which I did during my time here and can highly recommend. But if you’re looking for personalized travel advice, you can always connect with one of ViaHero’s trip planners. They’re Colombian locals who can give you local insight on how to explore their country.

Alternatively, for more organized tours check Viator here.

1. Enjoy the Beach

San Andres is a great place to chill for a few days and experience a different side of the Caribbean. The best part of the island is obviously its beaches.

The sands are almost pure white and the water is so clear you can easily spot fish swimming around. None of the beaches are overcrowded, despite the whole island being no larger than 26 km².
Some of the best beaches in San Andres include Spratt Bight, Johnny Cay, and Rocky Cay Beach, but if you’re feeling really adventurous, you could even try wakeboarding!

Aerial view of San Andres Island's shoreline featuring a bustling beachfront promenade lined with palm trees, beachgoers, and clear azure waters, which are just some things you can expect from this guide to San Andres, Colombia.

2. Take a Boat Cruise to Johnny Cay

If you’re looking for something a bit different, San Andres offers a lot of boat cruises and one of the best is a trip to Johnny Cay.

Johnny Cay is a small island off the coast of San Andres and is one of the most popular spots for tourists! Not only does this tiny island have one of the best beaches, but it’s just a 10-minute boat ride from town.

In addition to some incredibly blue waters and relaxing beaches, you’ll also find iguanas and lizards if you take a walk around the island and plenty of incredible aquatic animals.

NOTE: You need to make sure you know which cruise you’re booking because I thought I was booked to go on a pirate ship, but somehow I ended up on a small boat. If you haven’t pre-booked online, the easiest way is to walk to the port and jump on a cruise straight away, rather than booking with your hotel.

3. Spend a Day in El Acuario (The Aquarium)

Another must-visit Island around San Andres is Cayo Acuario, also known as the Aquarium of San Andres. Here you can hang out with exotic fish in some super blue water or relax on the tiny white sand beach.

Note that when I say tiny, I mean it. This island is more of a sandbar and can be crowded at times, but luckily you’ll be spending most of your time in the water here. I loved interacting with the manta rays and snorkeling in the nearby coral reefs.

A joyful tourist interacting with a stingray in the shallow, sparkling waters of San Andres Island, representing the unique wildlife encounters and marine activities available to visitors.

4. Stuff Your Face with Arepas

If you get a bit tired of the beach, you can easily rent a quad or bike to discover the island on your own. It’s a nice way to interact with the locals and eat homemade arepas, which I personally adored. I could eat them with chipotle sauce every day!

However, I must say that people who dislike seafood and cheese may experience some difficulties in San Andres.

If you fancy a luxury dining experience book a table at La Regatta. You’ll need to dress up and spend more than elsewhere, but the food and views are worth it.

Traditional Colombian arepas cooking on a griddle, a common culinary delight in San Andres Island, suggesting the rich flavors and local dishes travelers can savor.

5. Climb a Local Church

One attraction that’s not in the guidebook is the local church. Before you scroll down and skip this part because you don’t think a church is interesting enough, let me tell you something. It’s one of two churches I know of (another in Ecuador) that you can actually climb on.

My friends and I went to the church by accident only to discover that by using tiny ladders. We were able to climb to the top of it! While I was sitting on the roof I had the chance to see a beautiful panoramic view of the whole island. It was totally worth the visit!

A traveler's feet dangling over the edge of the church's rooftop on San Andres Island, capturing the thrill of exploration and the laid-back island lifestyle from a personal perspective.

6. Rent a Buggy

Public transportation in San Andres is similar to US public transportation, which is very bad, unreliable, and barely existent. Hence why the best way to get around the island is to rent a buggy or scooter. This is how we got to the church, off-the-path beaches, and beautiful viewpoints.

7. Go Scuba Diving

I’ve already talked about all the amazing reefs teeming with aquatic life around San Andres Island so it should be no surprise that it is also a great place to learn how to scuba dive!

There are plenty of tour operators that offer both group and private intro to scuba courses so you don’t even need to have any prior experience. But if scuba diving sounds a little too intense for you, you can also try