Picture looking down from your airplane window and seeing the ocean split into distinct bands of color, deep navy, turquoise, jade green, pale aqua, all visible at once before you’ve even landed. That’s the first thing almost every visitor mentions about San Andres, a small Colombian island sitting closer to Nicaragua than to mainland Colombia, where the nickname Mar de Siete Colores, the Sea of Seven Colors, turns out to be barely an exaggeration.
Why San Andres Feels Like a Different Country From Mainland Colombia
Despite belonging to Colombia, San Andres sits roughly 400 miles from the Nicaraguan coast and over 430 miles from Colombia’s own mainland, a geographic quirk that has fueled territorial disputes for decades and given the island a culture all its own. The local Raizal population speaks English, Spanish, and a distinct Caribbean Creole, blending African, British, and Spanish colonial influences into a culture that feels more Jamaican or Caymanian than typically Colombian.
Island Hopping to Johnny Cay and El Acuario
A short boat ride from the main town takes visitors to Johnny Cay, a tiny palm-covered island with white sand and warm, shallow water, and El Acuario (also called Rose Cay), a natural sandbar shallow enough to stand in while surrounded by tropical fish. Full-day boat tours covering both cays plus snorkeling and a stop to see rays typically cost $30 to $50 per person and are best booked early in the morning before the crowds arrive.
Diving San Andres: One of the Caribbean’s More Affordable Reef Destinations
San Andres sits on a large barrier reef with visibility often exceeding 100 feet, and it’s known among divers as one of the more budget-friendly certification destinations in the Caribbean, with a Discover Scuba introductory dive available for under $50. Licensed divers will find dozens of dive shops along the west coast offering reef and wreck dives at prices noticeably lower than better-known Caribbean diving hubs.
San Andres Itinerary
San Andrés Island, Colombia Revealed
Your Experience in 6 Days
Day 1: Sunrise Sail & Johnny Cay
Sunrise Sailing Experience
Location: Departure from Spratt Bight Beach and Marina area, San Andrés, Colombia
Fee: Sailboat tour approx. US$40–70 per person.
Watching the sun rise from a sailboat over the Caribbean is one of the island's most memorable experiences. Gliding quietly past reefs and cays as the sky turns gold, you see why this was once a seafarers' route.
Cayo Johnny (Johnny Cay)
Location: Johnny Cay Regional Park, off Spratt Bight, San Andrés, Colombia
Fee: Boat transfer approx. US$8–12 round trip, plus island entry approx. US$4–6.
A small, palm-covered coral cay protected as a regional park about 1.5 km offshore from Spratt Bight. Its white sand, clear water and beach restaurants make it the island's most iconic day trip, with iguanas along the shoreline.
🍽️ Dining Along Your Route
- BreakfastMr. Bread📍 Location
- LunchJohnny Cay Beach Restaurants📍 Location
- DinnerRolando Restaurante📍 Location
Day 2: El Acuario & Downtown Duty-Free
El Acuario / Cayo Rosa (Rose Cay)
Location: Haynes Cay and Rose Cay, east of San Andrés, Colombia
Fee: Combined boat tour approx. US$12–20 per person (often includes both cays).
A shallow sandbar area with knee-deep, crystal-clear water and colorful fish, where Haynes Cay is known for snorkeling and Rose Cay for its calm. It is among the most photographed spots in the Colombian Caribbean.
Downtown Duty-Free District
Location: Avenida Colombia, Centro, San Andrés, Colombia
Fee: Free to browse; bring your passport or ID for duty-free purchases (approx. requirement).
San Andrés has been a duty-free port since the 1950s, and its pedestrian streets hold electronics, perfumes, liquor, swimwear and local crafts at tax-free prices. The district is also the cultural heart of the island, where Raizal, Caribbean and mainland Colombian traditions meet.
🍽️ Dining Along Your Route
- BreakfastJuan Valdez Café📍 Location
- LunchDonde Francesca📍 Location
- DinnerLa Regatta Restaurant📍 Location
Day 3: Sea of Seven Colors & Spratt Bight
Mar de los Siete Colores (Sea of Seven Colors)
Location: Caribbean coast, East side, San Andrés, Colombia
Fee: Boat or glass-bottom tour approx. US$15–25 per person.
The island's signature seascape, where shifting depths, white sand and coral create bands of blue and green. The effect is clearest on sunny, calm mornings when the light is strongest.
Spratt Bight Beach
Location: Spratt Bight, North End, San Andrés, Colombia
Fee: Free (sun lounger and umbrella approx. US$5–10).
The island's main beach is a long, gently curved stretch of white sand and shallow turquoise water just steps from downtown. It is the departure point for most boat excursions and a favorite for afternoon light.
🍽️ Dining Along Your Route
- BreakfastMr. Bread📍 Location
- LunchLa Regatta Restaurant📍 Location
- DinnerDonde Francesca📍 Location
Day 4: Mulita Island Loop & Hoyo Soplador
Island Loop by Mulita (Golf Cart)
Location: Carretera Circunvalar, San Andrés, Colombia
Fee: Mulita rental approx. US$40–60 per day; bring a valid driver's license (approx. requirement).
The 30 km coastal road circles the island in about two hours, passing beaches, fishing villages, the First Baptist Church in La Loma and Morgan's Cave. Locals call the open golf carts "mulitas", and they are the classic way to explore the island.
Hoyo Soplador (Blowhole)
Location: South End, Hoyo Soplador, San Andrés, Colombia
Fee: Free or small entry fee approx. US$1–3.
A natural blowhole where sea water forces itself through limestone fissures and shoots up in a geyser, strongest in rough seas. It sits on the southern coast, along the loop road.
🍽️ Dining Along Your Route
- BreakfastMr. Bread📍 Location
- LunchRolando Restaurante📍 Location
- DinnerLa Regatta Restaurant📍 Location
Day 5: Diving & La Piscinita
Scuba Diving, San Andrés Barrier Reef
Location: Dive centers near Spratt Bight, San Andrés, Colombia
Fee: Two-tank dive approx. US$80–120 per person; certification required (approx.).
San Andrés sits within the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve, home to one of the largest barrier reefs in the Caribbean. Divers meet coral walls, sea turtles, rays and tropical fish in excellent visibility.
La Piscinita
Location: South End, Punta Sur, San Andrés, Colombia
Fee: Free (snorkel gear rental approx. US$5–8).
A naturally sheltered coral pool on the southern coast, protected by a reef and filled with colorful fish. Its clear, calm water makes it the best easy snorkeling spot on the main island.
🍽️ Dining Along Your Route
- BreakfastMr. Bread📍 Location
- LunchRolando Restaurante📍 Location
- DinnerLa Regatta Restaurant📍 Location
Day 6: Ibiza Floating Bar & West View
Ibiza Floating Bar Island
Location: Sea of Seven Colors, east coast, San Andrés, Colombia
Fee: Full-day tour approx. US$25 per adult (about 7 hours; food and drinks extra).
A floating beach club set in the middle of the Sea of Seven Colors, mixing sunbathing, music, cocktails and swimming over shallow turquoise water. It is a modern, social addition to the island's boat-tour scene.
West View
Location: West View, Carretera Circunvalar, San Andrés, Colombia
Fee: Entry approx. US$4–6 (includes access and facilities).
A rocky coast platform on the island's west side with ladders into deep, clear water, kayaks and cliff jumps. It is a favorite place for sunset, with views toward Providencia on clear days.
🍽️ Dining Along Your Route
- BreakfastJuan Valdez Café📍 Location
- LunchIbiza Floating Bar Island📍 Location
- DinnerDonde Francesca📍 Location
Practical Travel Guide
What is the San Andres tourist card and how much does it cost?
All visitors, including Colombian nationals, must purchase a tourist card before boarding their flight to the island, priced at around $30 and typically bought at the departure airport counter or through your airline; it’s a straightforward step but easy to overlook if you’re not expecting it.
How much does island hopping to Johnny Cay and El Acuario cost?
Full-day boat tours covering both popular cays, plus stops for snorkeling and wildlife viewing, generally run $30 to $50 per person, making it one of the most affordable full-day excursions in the Caribbean.
How many days should you spend in San Andres?
Three to four days covers the main highlights comfortably, one day for island hopping, one for diving or snorkeling, and a day or two for relaxing on the main beach and exploring the duty-free shopping area.
What should you pack for San Andres?
Reef-safe sunscreen, water shoes for the rocky entry points at El Acuario, a light rain jacket since Caribbean showers are common, and cash in Colombian pesos for smaller vendors, since not all beachside stands and cays accept cards.
Is it worth getting scuba certified specifically in San Andres?
For travelers wanting an affordable introduction to diving, yes, San Andres is consistently cited as one of the cheaper places in the Caribbean and Central America to try or complete a scuba certification, with strong visibility and healthy reef conditions for the price.For travelers planning to visit several paid attractions like the Jeronimos Monastery and Belem Tower while also using public transport frequently, the Lisboa Card’s bundled pricing often works out favorably, though budget travelers sticking mainly to free sights like Alfama’s viewpoints may not need it.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Planning the perfect adventure doesn’t have to be complicated. To help you along the way, we’ve rounded up the most common questions every traveler asks before and during their trip.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Planning the perfect adventure doesn’t have to be complicated. To help you along the way, we’ve rounded up the most common questions every traveler asks before and during their trip.
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San Andres offers a version of the Caribbean that feels distinctly its own, a Creole-speaking island culture, some of the most affordable diving in the region, and a sea whose colors genuinely shift before your eyes. Whether you’re island-hopping to Johnny Cay or trying scuba diving for the first time, this small Colombian outpost delivers a uniquely layered Caribbean trip.
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Quick Map Guide
San Andrés Island Itinerary Map
Your 6-day route across the island, day by day