THINGS TO DO IN SAN ANDRES ISLAND, COLOMBIA
San Andres Island quickly became one of my favorite places in all of Colombia! This island feels like a whole other country. It’s full of culture, beauty, activities, relaxation, and more. I would go back in a heartbeat! There are so many things to do in San Andres Island that I ended up loving.
I had spent three months in Colombia at the beginning of 2021, but I couldn’t visit San Andres. So when a friend I met in Oaxaca while backpacking said he was going to Colombia, we somehow ended up making plans to meet up again on this island.
Not many foreigners know about this Island. Most visitors to Colombia stick to the main cities, such as Cartagena, Bogota, and Medellin. However, taking a detour to this island is relatively easy, and I highly recommend it.
Things To Do In San Andres Island, Colombia
Table of Contents
Where Is San Andres Island
San Andres Island is this relatively small 10 square mile island located very near the country of Nicaragua. In fact, there’s dispute history related to Nicaragua about who the island belonged to, but it is officially and legally a Colombian territory. There are many short, direct, and cheap flights from Colombia’s three main big cities (Cartagena, Bogota, and Medellin). It’s also a very short flight from Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama.
You can find flights for less than $50 and even as low as $25. However, one thing to know is that there is a 112,500 COP ($29) “entrance tax” or tourist card that you must pay in cash when you check-in at the airport, and there is passport control when you arrive and depart the island. That’s the first reason it felt like I was visiting another country. So don’t lose the tourist card. You must present it when leaving.
The Best Time To Visit San Andres Island
San Andres has a tropical climate with an average daily temperature of 27 degrees Celsius or 80 degrees Fahrenheit. However, it is very humid. This makes it feel a lot hotter than it is. I was sweating the whole time there. The drier season is from January to July, making it the best time to visit.
The rainy season is from August to December. But don’t trust the weather. I was there in June, and there were a few common storms. Don’t let that stop you from visiting, though. The rain only lasts a couple of hours or less.
The Culture In San Andres Island
As I mentioned, I felt I was in a different country. This island has a strong Caribbean influence. I’ve never been to Jamaica, but I felt I was there. You see the flag colors displayed everywhere. The language is different too. They speak English, Spanish, and Creole. Creole is a mix of English and Spanish, but it was nothing like Spanglish. This was its own language and one that was quite awesome to listen to.
My favorite part of the island is the vibe. As soon as you arrive, you hear the reggae and dancehall music playing, and you realize how relaxed everyone is. No one is in a hurry, life goes slow, and everyone is dressed down in island beach clothes. The city center is the only busy part of the island but only because it’s where most tourists are at.
As a female, I would have felt safe traveling alone around the island. But I did feel that men are a bit more direct here than in other places.
Things To Do In San Andres Island
Alright, now that you know what it’s like, let me tell you about all the fun things to do in San Andres Island. First off, San Andres is very touristy among locals. There weren’t many foreigners, but there were a lot of people from all over Colombia. This is because there are so many cheap and direct flights and because it’s a vacation destination that Colombians love to escape to. But I understand why!
Try Scuba Diving
Scuba diving had been on my bucket list for a really long time, but it was also one of my biggest fears. So I kept holding back on doing it mainly because the opportunity never arose and I don’t consider myself a great swimmer. But when my friend suggested it, I decided to go along with the flow and try it.
San Andres Island is a cheap place to scuba dive in comparison to many other popular spots. So if you want to try it for the first time, this is a great place to do so. You are given a diving mini-course for about half-hour before they dip you into the water. You can also get padi-certified if you spend more days on the island. If I remember correctly, the price was 150,000 COP (37 USD) with pictures included.
To be honest, I was freaking out when we got into the sea. I wanted to go back and learn everything all over. But once you are released into the ocean, you realize it’s not bad at all. We only went down to about 12 meters and we had great instructors. Under the sea, there were statues that they took pictures of us with. I also realized you don’t even need to know how to swim to dive!
Rocky Cay
Rocky Cay is a small island where boat tours go out to. Unfortunately, the days we arrived there were high tide and wild waters. Boats were not going out on any tours, and we were desperately hoping that they would lift restrictions by the end of the weekend. After a couple of Coco Locos at Acqua Beach Club, my friend and I had the crazy idea to swim to Rocky Cay.
There was a rope connecting from the beach to Rocky Cay. We swam next to it and those rough waters were absolutely tiring. Eventually, we made it and hung out at the tiny island for a bit. However, it lives up to its name. It is very rocky, so be careful. I ended up with scratches on my knee.
Johnny Cay Island
One of the top things to do in the San Andres Islands is to visit this small island paradise with white sand and seven shades of turquoise blue waters. Sitting just a short 15-minute boat ride away, Johnny Cay will take your breath away. When you ride the boat, the color of the water is unreal and you can see all shades of blue.
There is not much to do other than lounge around on the beach or eat at one of the few restaurants. So, my friend and I walked around the island (which can be done in about 20 minutes) and then we sat down for a drink while listening to reggae music play nearby. We then went into the water to cool off and somehow ended up borrowing someone’s goggles to see urchins and beautiful fish swimming beneath us.
The beach is rocky, so I recommend having water shoes here. There are no overnight stays on this island, so everyone must leave by 6 pm. If you are on a boat tour, they will give you approximately two hours to spend.
The only negative part about the island is how crowded it was. However, boats had been suspended from visiting the island for a few days because of the rough waters. So, we went on the day that the restriction were lifted, but so did everyone else. So, imagine the crowds! It was a bit chaotic, actually. But, the water was beautiful.
Snorkel at El Acuario
The Aquarium is another tiny island near San Andres that is perfect to snorkel. It’s exactly that, a natural aquarium. Like Johnny Cay, it was very crowded because restrictions had been lifted. However, we went back another day and there were fewer people. Here, we had a great time seeing the fish and stingrays. Again, it’sIt’s a perfect place to snorkel. Just know that it’s also very rocky!
When you are on the small boat that takes you there, one of the workers on the boat asks who wants to see the Old Shipwreck Boat for an extra 7k. Really, the way he convinces everyone feels like you can’t say no. He asks who opposes going after giving a talk about it. You feel a bit guilty to say no because if one person says no, the rest of the people will miss out on it. So tactfully, we all ended up paying an extra 7k to pass by it and learn some interesting information.
Ponton or Vip Boats
When going to Johnny Cay, one thing you’ll notice is a lot of private boats with people having a fantastic time on them. These VIP boats are often referred to as going on a Ponton by locals. They hold about 15-20 people, depending on the boat and the owner.
We went with a group of strangers who organized themselves at the hostels, but we hadn’t met them yet. Fortunately, we enjoyed our time with the group we went with. Depending on how many people go, the price will go up or down. On our boat, we each ended up paying 30k each.
We took our own drinks and snacks and spent about 6 hours on the boat. The driver hung out with us and gave us an extra free hour.
As you can tell below, we had a crazy, wild, fun time.
La Piscinita
La Piscinita is like a tiny theme park where are there is a big water slide, high diving boards, and floats to take in the sun. It costs 5,000 COP per person, and you can enjoy this natural water spot along with other people. Inside they sell snacks and have shaded seats. It’s a great hangout spot, and I highly recommend spending a couple of hours here having fun.
Don’t forget your goggles and your GoPro. You can see many colorful fish swimming all around you.
El Centro
At night, the center is vibrant. People are out walking, enjoying the scene. Along the boardwalk, groups of friends take their boomboxes to blast their music and dance to it. You take five steps forward and you hear another song. It’s a fun scene! So go ready to dance along to all the music playing on the streets.
Getting Around San Andres Island
The island is small and getting around is not difficult. The Coobusan is a local bus that goes around the island. If you don’t stay in the center, you’ll be getting around on this bus. First, you stand on the side of the street and wave at it to stop. Then, when you are on it, you just ask the driver to stop. The price is 2,400 COP each time.
You can also rent a golf cart or a scooter. After the pandemic, the prices are up. The scooter cost was 90,000-100,000 COP and a golf cart about 150,000-200,000 COP. These are very convenient for getting around if you stay somewhere else on the island besides the city center. We rented the scooter one day. The other days we rode the bus.
The inconvenience about the bus is it stops running around 10 pm. Also, golf carts can’t be used after 6 pm. So, the scooter is a better choice.
You can also ride a taxi. However, they charge 50,000 COP from the city center to the other end of the island.
If you stay in the city center, it is only about a 10-minute walk from the airport. You can skip the taxi ride.
Where To Stay In San Andres Island
You can either stay in the city center, which is crowded and busy, but more conveniently located to the main activity spots. Or, you can stay further away in a nicer hotel or hostel.
We stayed at La Republica Hostel. The plan was to stay for a couple of nights. However, we loved it so much we stayed the entire week. It has an amazing pool and an awesome atmosphere. They also have a breakfast, lunch, and dinner menu. Unfortunately, you will most likely have to eat here because there are no restaurants nearby. But, not a big deal since the food is excellent.
The hostel is far from the city center. Some days it’s social, and other days, it has a very chill vibe. The price for a bed was 12 USD. There are also private rooms if you stay as a couple.
If you prefer, you can stay in the city center. Viajero Hostel is near the beach. It’s a great spot if you plan to go out at night and hang out by the beach.
What to Pack for San Andres Island
Travel Booking Resources
Book Your Flight:
To find cheap flights, check Skyscanner and Google Flights. These search engines check airlines to find you the best deals. The more flexibility you have, the better flight deals available.
Book Your Accommodation:
Booking.com is my favorite booking site for hotels but it also shows great deals on hostels and apartments. Plus, when you reach Genius Level, you get special discounts, included breakfasts, and upgrades on some hotel rooms. Hostelworld is specifically for budget travelers who enjoy hostels. This is the best place for finding great options.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance and Visa Applications:
Travel insurance will protect you against theft, injury, illness, and cancellations. Sometimes unexpected things happen during a trip and protections will keep you covered. Two great options are: Safety Wing and World Nomads. Also, iVisa can help you get a visa if you need one.
Book Tours:
Sometimes the best way to see a place is through tours. I recommend checking out Get Your Guide for some fun and unique adventures wherever you go.
Check out my other travel resources to help you book your trip!
