San Andrés Holidays
San Andrés
Holidays
The Sea of Seven Colours — Colombia's Caribbean island paradise with world-class diving and coral reefs
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Flight Time
10–11h to Bogotá, then 1h 30m domestic flight to San Andrés (ADZ)
Best Time
December to April and July to August (dry seasons — calmest seas and best visibility)
Country
Colombia
Suppliers
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San Andrés Holiday Guide
San Andrés is the most accessible Caribbean island destination from mainland Colombia — a 1h 30m domestic flight from Bogotá, with a distinct Caribbean identity and some of the best diving and snorkelling in the region.
The North End (El Centro) is the main tourist area — the highest concentration of hotels, restaurants and beach clubs, and the departure point for boats to Johnny Cay. The water at the North End beach is beautiful but the beach itself is narrow; Johnny Cay (15 minutes by boat) has the best sand.
The island is small enough to circumnavigate in a day — hire a bicycle, scooter or golf cart and do the island circuit, stopping at La Piscinita for snorkelling, La Loma for the view and Hoyo Soplador at the southern tip.
Providencia is worth the extra effort — a 20-minute flight from San Andrés, it has the most pristine reef in the Colombian Caribbean and a genuinely unspoilt atmosphere. Allow 2–3 nights.
San Andrés is best combined with Cartagena (1h 30m by air) as part of a Caribbean coast itinerary. The island is popular with Colombian tourists — book accommodation well in advance for the dry season (December to April) and Colombian public holidays.
We search across Travelpack and JTA Holidays for the best San Andrés deals — call us on 01282 960 460 for tailored advice.
Average Temperatures
Jan
27°C
Feb
27°C
Mar
28°C
Apr
28°C
May
28°C
Jun
28°C
Jul
28°C
Aug
29°C
Sep
28°C
Oct
27°C
Nov
27°C
Dec
27°C
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Call 01282 960 460Top 8 Things To Do in San Andrés
The coral reefs, crystal water, tiny cays, Caribbean culture and extraordinary marine life that make San Andrés one of the Caribbean's best-kept secrets.
The Sea of Seven Colours
The water around San Andrés is one of the most extraordinary natural spectacles in the Caribbean — a gradient of colours ranging from pale turquoise in the shallows to deep cobalt blue over the reef edge, passing through seven distinct shades of blue and green. The colours are caused by the combination of white sand, coral reef and varying water depths — the effect is most dramatic when seen from above (from the hill at La Loma or from a light aircraft). The entire marine area around San Andrés and Providencia is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve (the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve) — one of the largest marine protected areas in the Caribbean, covering 300,000km² of ocean. The water clarity is extraordinary — visibility regularly exceeds 30m, making it one of the best diving and snorkelling destinations in the Caribbean.
Diving & Snorkelling — Third-Largest Barrier Reef
The barrier reef surrounding San Andrés is the third largest in the world (after the Great Barrier Reef and the Mesoamerican Reef) — a 3km-wide reef system with extraordinary coral diversity and marine life. The diving is outstanding — wall dives dropping to 30m+, coral gardens, swim-throughs and wrecks (the Nicaragüense wreck is the most famous — a cargo ship at 25m, now encrusted with coral and home to a large population of fish). The snorkelling is equally good — the shallow reef areas around Johnny Cay and La Piscinita have excellent coral and abundant fish (parrotfish, angelfish, sergeant majors, trumpetfish, moray eels). Several dive schools on the island offer PADI courses and guided dives; the diving is significantly cheaper than in most Caribbean destinations.
Johnny Cay — The Perfect Caribbean Island
Johnny Cay (Cayo Johnny) is a tiny coral island 1.5km north of San Andrés — a perfect crescent of brilliant white sand surrounded by the most beautiful turquoise water in the archipelago, with a small coconut palm forest in the centre. The island is a natural park and day-trip destination — boats run from the North End of San Andrés every morning (15 minutes). The snorkelling around Johnny Cay is excellent — the coral reef is in good condition and the water is crystal clear. The island has no permanent residents and no accommodation — it's a day-trip destination only. Arrive early (before 10am) to have the beach relatively to yourself before the day-trippers arrive.
Providencia — The Wilder Sister Island
Providencia (Old Providence) is San Andrés's less-visited sister island, 90km to the north — a mountainous, jungle-covered island of extraordinary beauty, with the most pristine coral reef in the Colombian Caribbean and a population of just 5,000 people. The island has no mass tourism — no large hotels, no cruise ships, no beach vendors — just extraordinary nature, a relaxed Afro-Caribbean community and some of the best diving in the Caribbean. The reef around Providencia (particularly the southwest wall) is in better condition than San Andrés and has more large fish (including nurse sharks, eagle rays and barracuda). Providencia is reached by light aircraft from San Andrés (20 minutes) or by boat (4 hours). Staying 2–3 nights on Providencia is one of the most rewarding experiences in the Colombian Caribbean.
Afro-Caribbean Culture & English Creole
San Andrés has a distinct cultural identity unlike anywhere else in Colombia — the island was settled by English Puritans and their African slaves in the 17th century, and the native Raizal people (descendants of those original settlers) speak English Creole as their first language, practice Baptist Christianity and have a culture more closely related to the English-speaking Caribbean than to mainland Colombia. The island was ceded to Colombia in 1822 but the Raizal people have maintained their distinct identity. Traditional Raizal music (calypso, reggae, mento), food (rondón — a coconut milk stew with fish, conch and dumplings — is the national dish) and crafts are found throughout the island. The cultural contrast with mainland Colombia is striking and fascinating.
La Piscinita — Natural Swimming Pool
La Piscinita (Little Pool) on the western side of San Andrés is one of the best snorkelling spots on the island — a natural pool formed by the reef, with calm, clear water and excellent coral and fish life just metres from the shore. The site is accessible by road (taxi or bicycle from the North End) and has a small beach, changing facilities and snorkelling equipment hire. The coral at La Piscinita is in good condition and the fish life is abundant — parrotfish, angelfish, blue tang, trumpetfish and the occasional sea turtle. The site is best visited in the morning before the wind picks up. La Piscinita is one of the most accessible snorkelling sites on the island — no boat required.
La Loma — Views & Baptist Church
La Loma (The Hill) is the highest point on San Andrés — a small community at the centre of the island, home to the First Baptist Church (the oldest church on the island, built in 1847 by the Raizal community) and the best viewpoint over the Sea of Seven Colours. The view from La Loma is extraordinary — the entire island is visible, with the reef and the gradient of colours in the water stretching to the horizon. The community at La Loma is the most traditional on the island — the Raizal culture is strongest here, away from the tourist development of the North End. The road to La Loma passes through the interior of the island — coconut palms, breadfruit trees and small wooden houses painted in Caribbean colours.
Hoyo Soplador & Island Circuit
The Hoyo Soplador (Blowhole) on the southern tip of San Andrés is a natural phenomenon — a hole in the coral rock through which the sea is forced by wave action, shooting a jet of water and air up to 20m into the air. The blowhole is most active when the wind is from the south and the sea is rough. The southern tip of the island is the least developed area — a wild, rocky coastline with crashing waves and extraordinary views. The island circuit (circumnavigation by bicycle, scooter or golf cart — the most popular way to explore San Andrés) takes 2–3 hours and passes all the main sights: Johnny Cay viewpoint, La Piscinita, Hoyo Soplador, Sound Bay and La Loma. Bicycle and scooter hire is available throughout the North End.
Explore San Andrés on the Map
Key areas, beaches and attractions across the island.
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