SPENDING TWO DAYS IN SAN ANDRES: COLOMBIA
I'll be honest, my main reason for going to San Andres wasn't to visit San Andres. I really wanted to check out Providencia. Nevertheless, I decided to spend a couple of days exploring the island whilst passing through.
Famous for its turquoise waters, popular with Colombian tourists the Archipelago of San Andres, Providencia and Santa Catalina lies over 700km north-west of Colombia. More built-up than its neighbouring islands, it feels safe and secure. As my Airbnb host advised me, I'll be ok to walk around with my iPhone in hand.
Personally, I had mixed impressions. I liked the island but didn't fall in love with it. A couple of days was more than enough and I couldn't wait to hop over to neighbouring Providencia. A bustling island with scooters, cars and buggies roaming the streets, it's pretty easy to get around on public transport.
It really depends on what you're after. If you're into more of an energetic restaurant, bar and party scene then San Andres might just be for you. For a quieter time on the island, head south where you'll find some less crowded beaches.
How to spend a weekend in San Andres, Colombia
Island of San Andres
Beaches in San Andres
No doubt the main attraction to San Andres are the beaches. The most popular beaches are in the north of the island where the main town is and shops, bars and restaurants are located. If you're looking for somewhere quieter, I recommend venturing further down the island.
Beaches in San Andres
Beautiful turquoise water!
Rocky Cay
Just before you hit San Luis, you'll come to Cocoplum beach. With a nice vibe you can chill out and also head over to Rocky Cay, an island where you can walk to from the shore. It's a great place for a spot of snorkelling too.
Rocky Cay is popular with tourists, so you might find that the beach starts to fill up as the day goes on.
They do have some great coconuts though!
Rocky Cay
Happy for some beach time!!
Sound Bay
With a couple of good restaurants, the tides are higher here and it's a little windier. The beach is beautiful and much less crowded!
Sound Bay
Whoop!
Playa Charquitos
This was my favourite beach! Much less crowded than the others, low waves and crystal clear water.
The only drawback was the lack of shade! There's really nowhere to hide, so if you stop by here, it'll probably only be for an hour or two.
So pretty!!
Dine at La Regratta
Since I've been in Colombia, I've decided to splurge a little...
Maybe it's laziness or Colombia being the last South American country I've planned to visit, I've let loose the purse strings a little.
It's not the cheapest place but for amazing seafood, it's totally worth it!! Oh, and the brownie was quite possibly the best brownie I've ever had!!
Almost 9 months into South America and one year of travelling, I've come to enjoy expensive restaurants even if I'm dining on my own. I have FOMO when it comes to food and I really dislike missing out when I know it's going to be amazing!
Head to Reggae Roots for Sunset
A cool bar off the shore, it has a pretty great view of the sunset. Unfortunately, it was cloudy when I went but I enjoyed a drink anyway.
They also run snorkelling tours. When I arrived, one of the staff had caught a lobster during the snorkelling tour and cooked it for the group. I was a little jealous.
Eat a lot of Fish
I was a little disappointed by the restaurants and food on San Andres. Given the proximity to the sea, I had hoped for better.
That is until I found Captain Mandy's. My prayers were answers and I had a delicious fried snapper!
Fish San Andres
Mmmm...
La Piscinita
I saved my snorkelling experiences for Providencia. However if you're passing by which you're more likely to be at some point, this is the snorkelling hotspot on the island.
Getting around San Andres
Getting around is pretty easy. There's one main road that does a loop around the island. There are many places where you can rent a scooter or a buggy.
The cheapest way to get around is using the public buses. A bus journey is around $2600 COP and you're not normally waiting too long before one comes along.
Road San Andres
I was so tempted to get a buggy on San Andres! Luckily they have pretty good public transport!
Beaches Caribbean
Yay!
How to get to Sann Andres
It's pretty easy to fly to San Andres from Colombia. There are direct flights from many cities in Colombia including Medellin, Cartagena and Bogota. You can even fly direct from Panama City.
Flight prices can vary, but they can be as cheap as $60 USD. It's worth shopping around for.
Before you arrive in San Andres, you'll need to obtain a tourist card and pay a tourist tax to the value of $112,500 COP. You can buy this at the airport when you board your flight. Just don't forget!! They'll ask you for this when you arrive and leave San Andres, as well as when you enter Providencia.
If you're thinking about Providencia, you can read this post on how to book your onward travel.
Where to stay in San Andres
It's not cheap on San Andres and really good accommodation options for good value are hard to come by. If you don't fancy the hostels or paying extra for a hotel room, I would recommend Airbnb. I managed to score a lovely private room for £13 a night close to the main beaches and the airport.
For your first stay in an Airbnb, click here for $40 off!
For a budget hostel option, there's Big V Raizal Home, close to some of the nicest beaches on the island, you'll feel right at home. Check out their availability here.
White Coral ApartaSuites: Starting from $60 a night in a junior suite, the apartments are beautifully laid out spacious and comfortable. Check out their availability here.
Apartmentos Tropical Dreams: 5-minutes from the beach, well equipped and close to bars, restaurants and amenities. Check out their availability here.
Affiliate links above!
On the shore
Overall Impressions
It's a gorgeous island, with some pretty cool beaches in spots however for me it was too run down with tourists. It's easy to get around and the local population speak English and Spanish. However, I was definitely hassled a lot more by touts and didn't always feel comfortable.
It was worth spending a couple of days in San Andres to experience it. Although if I were to ever come back, I'd probably just head straight to neighbouring Providencia.
Planning a trip or fancy a freebie? These are some websites and services I love:
Booking.com: For the best hotel deals! 🏝
World Nomads: Travel insurance on the go 🌎
Airbnb: For the best apartment deals!🏡
Affiliate links above!