Beaches o. San Andreas, Colombia (6 photos). San Andres Island. Colombia Briefly about tipping
230 km east of Nicaragua and 750 km northwest (Spanish: Cartagena), located on the Caribbean coast, is a small archipelago San Andres and Providencia(Spanish: San Andres y Providencia archipielago). The archipelago consists of several dozen coral atolls, concentrated around the 3 largest islands: the calm, romantic, secluded Santa Catalina (Spanish: Isla de Santa Catalina) and the wonderful San Andres(Spanish: Isla de San Andres).
Photo gallery hasn't opened? Go to the site version.
Characteristics
The island is small in size and elongated in shape: 12.5 km long, 3 km wide. The length of the “ring” road running along its coast is about 30 km.
The majority of the population colloquially uses the so-called. “Jamaican English” dialect, less often – Spanish or Creole. Signs and plaques on the streets are bilingual: all inscriptions are in Spanish and English.
Many centuries ago, the islands of the archipelago served as a transshipment base for filibusters, and today they are “pearls”, a place where people from all over the world come to relax. You can get here by sea or by plane from Cartagena.
In 2000, the entire archipelago, including reefs, atolls and sandbanks, representing approximately 10% of the Caribbean Sea, was declared a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. The purpose of this declaration is to preserve the unique marine ecosystem rich in biodiversity.
A little history
The history of the Caribbean archipelago is filled with all kinds of adventures and escapades.
Presumably, San Andres was discovered in 1502 during the 4th expedition of the legendary (Italian Cristoforo Colombo; Spanish Cristobal Colon; 1451-1506), but the colonization of the island began later, in the middle of the 16th century. The Caribbean island first appeared on Spanish maps in 1527; little is known about its population before European introduction.
The Dutch arrived in the archipelago at the end of the 16th century, and British settlers appeared there in 1628.
Between 1627 and 1629 The British from Barbados arrived on the islands, attracted by the favorable healing climate, fertile lands and fresh water resources.
In 1631, Anglo-Puritans and settlers from Wales ousted Dutch immigrants from the archipelago. In 1633, British shipowners brought black slaves from West Africa and Jamaica to the islands to work on cotton and tobacco plantations.
For some time, Caribbean pirates even ruled here, who set up their base on the islands and stored their stolen goods.
In 1635, the Spaniards, realizing the economic importance of the island, captured the archipelago, but soon found themselves ousted by the British, who owned the archipelago from 1740 to 1787.
In September 1900, the islands were recognized as belonging to Colombia.
In 1972, the archipelago was declared a Municipality, and in the Colombian Constitution of 1991, the islands of the archipelago received the status of a region of Colombia. In 2000, the “Archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina” was declared a protected area by UNESCO.
Climate
San Andres Island has an oceanic tropical climate, with dry and rainy periods. The rainy season is from September to December and from May to June. Summer and winter temperatures differ quite slightly: the average winter air temperature (December-February) is +27°C, in the summer (June-August) the thermometer fluctuates around +28°C. Usually from late October to mid-January, monsoon winds blow from the north on the islands.
Economy
The island's economy, which was based on fishing and primitive agriculture, underwent significant changes with the opening of air traffic from Colombia. And the 1954 declaration on granting the status of a duty-free trade zone to the island contributed to a large influx of tourists from all over the world and immigrants from the mainland. Local authorities even had to in the 1990s. impose restrictions to manage the influx of people arriving from the mainland, in order to preserve local culture. Today, on the island, where there are no industrial enterprises and there are no conditions for agricultural activities, the tourism industry and trade are actively developing.
Tourism
Warm azure waters, amazing nature, wide sandy beaches, extensive coastal coral reefs, incredibly rich marine life - all this makes the archipelago the most popular resort area in Colombia.
Tourism today is the main source of income for the islanders. Wonderful beaches with sparkling coral white sand are not very crowded, and for those who like complete solitude, there are small islands scattered in abundance around San Andres, where you can relax in completely safe and comfortable conditions.
Shopping in San Andres Island
The islands of the archipelago, which have the status of a free trade zone, are a suitable place for shopping. Therefore, in addition to a wonderful holiday, the favorite pastime of tourists on the island (especially ladies!) is shopping. There are an unusually large number of shops in El Centro, the prices of which are approximately 40% lower than those offered by European Duty-Free. Several local shopping centers (“San Andres”, “West Point”, “New Point”, “La Riviera”), although small, can find almost everything at attractive prices: elite alcohol and tobacco, perfumes and cosmetics, clothing and shoes from well-known manufacturers, electronics and household appliances.
Today, trade is the 2nd most important source of income for the local economy.
Attractions
The small island of San Andres, famous for its snow-white beaches and clear waters shimmering in all shades of azure, is not for nothing called the “Pearl of the Caribbean”.
In the northern part of the island is its capital - the city of the same name, San Andres Town (Spanish: San Andres Town), which the islanders call for short El Centro (Spanish: El Centro). It is the largest settlement, as well as the administrative, commercial and tourist center of the island. All island life is concentrated here - shopping centers, all kinds of shops, bars, discos, restaurants and a number of cozy hotels for every taste and budget. There is even one 3-story hotel, although it looks obviously too big for a miniature island. The city has its own small art gallery, where paintings by local artists are exhibited.
Guests can stay in San Luis (Spanish: San Luis), a friendly village with wooden houses and an excellent beach. In general, everything is very close here, and in order to explore the island, it is very convenient and affordable to rent a scooter and go around all its nooks and crannies.
Here, wherever you look, there are beaches all around, and they are all different. Most beaches are concentrated in the vicinity of the capital city.
Main city beach "Bahía Sardina"
Bahía Sardina, located in the northernmost part of the island, is famous for its white sand, tall palm trees and beautiful views of Johnny Cay, a vast sandbank located nearby in the coastal waters.
Lovers of a quiet and secluded holiday will enjoy the beaches of Spret Bay (Spanish: Bahía Spret) and Sound Bay(Spanish: Sound Bay). Almost all South American tourists unanimously prefer the beach at the Casablanca hotel.
The sunken ships "Blue Diamond" and "Nikaraguense", resting in the coastal waters of San Andres, as well as underwater Geyser El Hoyo Soplador(Spanish: El Hoyo Soplador), which operates at the southern tip of the island, attracts divers like a magnet.
Just south of the city of San Andres, on the highest hill of the island stands the village of La Loma (Spanish: La Loma). From here you can enjoy stunning views of the Caribbean Sea, whose emerald blue waters are called “seven-colored”. There is a Baptist church in the village Bautista Emmanuel Church(Spanish: Iglesia Bautista Emanuel; XVI-XVII centuries), the oldest on the continent. La Loma is almost entirely inhabited by island natives and is the best place to see traditional island architecture.
On the west coast of the island, a few km. southwest of La Loma is the legendary Morgan's Cave(Spanish: Morgans Cueva), the most visited local attraction. According to legend, here in 1670 the English navigator and pirate Henry Morgan (1635 - 1688), known under the nickname "Cruel", hid countless treasures looted in Panama. Nowadays a small museum is opened in the cave.
Those wishing to take a closer look at the history of the island and its traditions, in addition to Morgan’s Cave, should visit the Coconut Museum and the Pirate Museum. "Museo de Coco" is dedicated to the tropical fruit that grows here, which was once a source of income for the islanders. In "Museo pirata" about 80% of the exhibits are real: anchors, bells, nets, hooks, chains and jewelry from the filibusters' hoards.
Flora lovers are always interested in walking through the vast mangrove forests (of which there are about 12), where you can see red, white and black mangroves.
The Botanical Garden of San Andres is home to about 450 species of flora, where you can also climb to a high observation deck to enjoy a breathtaking panorama of the island.
Any local resident will show you how to get to the lagoon inhabited by small crocodiles - caimans, who have lived here for thousands of years.
Taking a walk along the “circular” road of the island, you can see many picturesque beaches, coral reefs, geysers, colorful coves, as well as coconut palm plantations and lush green pastures.
And after sunset, all the inhabitants of this paradise island dance - truly, this is a spectacle worthy of admiration. Everyone dances here - women and men, young and old, thin and fat, and they dance simply magnificently - easily, plastically and gracefully, as only Latin Americans can dance!
Entertainment
Nothing could be better when a relaxing beach holiday and swimming in warm sea water alternates with various active activities. Transparent, clear waters, fabulous coral reefs and rich underwater life are a true paradise for scuba diving enthusiasts. The coral island, which combines the most diverse ecosystems of reefs, geysers and sandy islands, is simply made for diving! Therefore, the surroundings of San Andres have been actively explored by divers from all over the world in recent years. The coral island is surrounded by densely populated coral reefs, underwater rocks and grottoes, but the best places for diving are considered to be its western, northern and southern coasts and the coastal waters of small islands. During your dives you can see amazing coral formations, colorful tropical fish, barracudas, schools of dolphins and even sharks.
Windsurfers, for whom favorable conditions are limited by seasonal weather fluctuations, are not far behind divers. The most favorable season for long wave fishermen is between December and February.
You can have a great time on San Andres, devoting it to many more modern water activities: kitesurfing, snorkeling, jet skiing, etc. There is a school on the island that teaches you how to stay confident on a board and underwater, as well as many agencies that provide similar services and rental of necessary equipment. Underwater excursions are regularly held here.
"Belly Festival"
Finding yourself on the shores of the Caribbean Sea, everyone has the chance to become more familiar with the rich traditional sea gastronomy. The freshest seafood, all kinds of fish, lobsters, snails, crayfish - the choice is unusually extensive. Once in San Andres, be sure to try the delicious local cuisine: Rondon (Spanish: Rondon), Fish Boly (Spanish: Fish Boly - fish balls), exotic breadfruit fried or boiled, corn tortillas and all kinds of amazing desserts made from tropical fruits .
The calm atmosphere of island life, friendly people, well-established tourist services, duty-free shopping and general safety make the archipelago an excellent place to relax and escape from the hustle and bustle of modern life. The only risk that tourists face when they find themselves on a Caribbean island is the irresistible desire to stay here forever!
Curious facts
- When planning a vacation in San Andres, keep in mind that in July-August, during the Christmas holidays and New Year, there is a fairly large influx of tourists. At this time, Europeans (mostly Germans) and Latin Americans from Colombia and Greece like to vacation in the Caribbean.
- San Andres Island ranks 2nd in the “Best Islands of Colombia” category.
- Everything here is so different from mainland Colombia - a completely different culture, and almost the entire population is black: the island is full of colorful blacks in colorful berets, smoking ganja (Spanish: Ganja - a type of cannabis). They run many restaurants and cafes here and quickly sell all sorts of souvenirs and bright trinkets. Guests of the island are offered a vigorous local drink - the Coco Loco cocktail (Spanish Coco loco; an explosive mixture of several types of strong alcohol) and real Pina Colada (Spanish Piñgas colada) - a low-alcohol Caribbean cocktail consisting of rum, pineapple juice and coconut milk.
- Every year on July 20, the island solemnly celebrates Independence Day, and in November a colorful festival is held "Reinado del Coco"(Spanish: Reina del Coco - “Coconut Queen”).
- Among the artists whose paintings are exhibited in the San Andres gallery, the paintings of artist Lucy Show (Spanish: Lucy Show) attract attention. A native of the island, diagnosed with quadraplegia (paralysis of the upper and lower extremities), uses brushes and paints to subtly convey a kaleidoscope of her feelings and emotions.
- An interesting case occurred at the island’s airport in May 2013, when police officers detained 3 “nuns” arriving from Colombia. The officers found the cut of the cassocks the women were wearing strange. It turned out that under the monastic robe the “sisters” were hiding bags of cocaine - more than 6 kg. During the investigation, it turned out that the “mummered” smugglers were poor Colombian women who committed crimes because of the reward promised to them by drug traffickers.
- The most popular means of transport in San Andres are motorcycles and mopeds.
- There are 2 daily ferries between San Andres and Providencia. Small planes also fly between these two islands.
- The most unusual hotel on the island is Decameron Aquarium, located right on the water. Here, clients can rent kayaks, sailboats and pedal boats to spend their time.
- A little advice: if you are planning to plunge into the magical underwater world, do not forget to take rubber slippers, as the seabed is replete with sea urchins.
- From morning to late evening, music reigns in the main city of the island. Salsa, merengue, reggaeton - music sounds everywhere, as they say, from every iron, creating a light mood.
- The islanders do not live very richly, but they adore their “paradise” piece of land and cannot imagine life anywhere else.
The archipelago of San Andres and Providencia is located 230 km east of Nicaragua and 750 km northwest of the Caribbean coast of Colombia. Many centuries ago, the islands of the archipelago were a base for pirates, but now they are the “pearl” of the Caribbean, a place where tourists from all over the world come to relax. You can get here by plane from the city of Cartagena. The archipelago consists of three dozen coral islands, which are concentrated around the largest islands: the island of San Andres and the island of Providencia, located 90 km to the east. Wide sandy beaches, clear waters, extensive coral reefs and rich marine life make the archipelago Colombia's most popular resort area.
San Andres Island belongs to Colombia - but is located closer to Nicaragua. From Cartagena it is 750 kilometers or an hour's flight by small plane, and there are several flights a day. Everything here is so different from Colombia - a completely different culture, and the population is black. San Andres is inhabited by very beautiful people - stately, tall and slow. The entire island is 12.5 kilometers long and 3 kilometers wide. The area of the island is 26 sq. km. The road around the island is 30 kilometers long.
It has its own capital - in the northern part of the island. The low-slung but mostly stone town technically bears the island's name, San Andres Town, but here it is called El Centro. This is where all life is concentrated - shops, hotels, restaurants... They drive huge Chevrolets and Cadillacs from the late sixties, younger than the Cuban ones and in better condition - traffic on the island is not intense.
Throughout, Spanish inscriptions are duplicated in English: the native language of the inhabitants of San Andres is the so-called Afro-English (sometimes this language is called “Jamaican English”), but they also speak Spanish. Local residents love their island and cannot imagine living anywhere else.
There are quite a lot of tourists on the island of San Andres in July-August, or during Christmas and New Year. Therefore, the tour should be booked in advance.<.p>
There are very few sandy beaches around the island. But El Centro has a wonderful beach with white, ivory sand. Tourists, before going to a disco or casino at night, walk along the embankment in the evenings - and the capital's residents spend their evenings swimming in the sea. They do not crawl out of the dark turquoise water. Or they sit on the parapet of the embankment and look at those who pass and drive by. The only three-story hotel is clearly too big for a miniature island. But there are small hotels. Everyone is nice and cozy. They are the ones you need to live in.
And it doesn’t have to be in El Centro - you can just as well stay in San Luis, a wonderful village inhabited by friendly people. Also with an excellent beach and, in addition, coral reefs. And the architecture is completely different from that in the island capital - everything is wooden and completely Latin American. In general, everything is very close here, and in order to see the island, you just need to rent a scooter - it costs no more than $20 per day. And go around everything that is interesting on the island. The main attraction of the island, in addition to the capital, is the Baptist Church in La Loma, the oldest in Latin America, from here there are beautiful views of the Caribbean Sea, whose green-blue waters are called “seven-colored.” The second is the legendary Morgan's Cave - the place where According to legend, the famous pirate Henry Morgan buried treasures looted in Panama in 1670. The island has all the usual sea activities - scooters, wind surfing, scuba diving.Near San Andres there are small islands, to which boats constantly go. People take bread with them to feed the fish.The island's waters include the wrecks of the Blue Diamond and Nicaraguense, the reef walls of Blue Hole and Blue Wall, and the underwater geyser El Hoyo Soplador off the southern tip of San Andres , attracting the attention of divers. For lovers of windsurfing, the east coast is suitable.The season falls on December-February.
The best beaches on the island are Sprat Bay, Sound Bay near St. Louis, Cocoplum Bay and Cove, as well as Johnny Cay.
Sometimes it rains on San Andres - a fast tropical thunderstorm that adds a pleasant feeling. In July-August there is no rain and it is hot. The average annual temperature on the island is 28° C. Usually Europeans (mostly Germans) and Latin Americans - from Argentina, Colombia - vacation on San Andres.
San Andres it is one of the finest resort areas in the Caribbean, with the island's natural beauty and charm largely intact. Turquoise waters, vast coral reefs and rich marine life are a paradise for snorkelers. Here, diving takes place among coral reefs in the company of colorful fish: butterfly fish, sergeant fish, stingrays, ball fish, seahorses swimming among gorgonians, and even barracudas. The water is so clear that visibility reaches 15-30 meters, there is practically no current, more than 40 places are available for diving, including: La Caleta de José, La Calera, Las Piedras de la Langosta, Trumpa Tortuga, Nirvana, Bowl View, Wild Life, La Rocosa, El Avion.
The diving areas in San Andres are in excellent condition. A total of 35 sites are available for various types of wreck diving, cliff diving and cave diving; Add comfortable water temperatures and good visibility to representatives of fauna of all colors and sizes.
Providencia Island located 90 km east of the island of San Andres. A holiday here will appeal to lovers of silence and solitude, because only 4,000 people live on the island, and the majority of tourists vacation on San Andres. In this place, the most ancient traditions of the island have been preserved: the original Patois language (this language was spoken by those leaving the African continent), as well as the original English language. There are a large number of hotels here, which look like taverns from the eighteenth century. The largest settlement on the island of Providencia is the village of Santa Isabel. Santa Isabel is connected by a wooden bridge to nearby Santa Catalina Island. This bridge is called the Bridge of Lovers; couples in love relax on the beaches located in its vicinity. On the southeastern coast of the island is the McBean Lagoon Nature Reserve, which protects a coral reef in its underwater part and mangroves on land. Hiking to the highest point of the island - El Pico, from where you can see the Caribbean Sea and small coastal islands, is very interesting.
The most popular beach areas on Providencia Island are Freshwater Bay on the north coast and South West Bay and Manzanillo on the southwest coast. Freshwater Bay is also considered the best diving spot on the island. Other popular dive sites are also located off the northern coast.
There is such a wonderful island in the Caribbean Sea. Geographically located near Nicaragua, but belongs to Colombia.
The flight, of course, is not very close and not very cheap. In terms of distance, we were just a little short of going around the world. 
But the road did not seem tiring to us, because we made stops at almost every intermediate point. We spent the night in Moscow. In New York we had a three-day holiday there and back. On the way back we stopped in Panama City for a few days.
We flew to the States by Aeroflot.
From New York, getting to San Andres turned out to be the fastest and cheapest way to get to the Panamanian company Copa Airlines through their main hub Panama City. 
They even fed us during the flight. 
And on the flight Panama - San Andres (50 minutes) they poured me a full glass of rum. I barely had time to drink.
The airport on the island is very cheerful. 
We stayed in a small hotel called Cocoplum, which has its own beach. 
It is almost impossible to photograph the hotel from the outside, as it is completely hidden by lush tropical vegetation. Inside, everything is quite decent. 
The coast of the island is not suitable for swimming everywhere. But the places are beautiful... ;) 
Can you guess what kind of establishment this is? 
Yes, yes... this is the Big Lobster restaurant.
There are also these chats: 
However, we devoured lobsters boiled in coconut milk at the speed of light. 
By the way, about food. We deliberately did not take full board at the hotel so that we could wander around the island’s zucchini to our heart’s content. And there are quite a few of them there. From very democratic to aspiring to sophistication.
We ate mainly seafood. 
The culinary signature of the island is Rondon soup. 
Fish, shellfish, potatoes, breadfruit boiled in coconut milk and, of course, a piece of pig tail. In principle, it’s delicious, but we agreed that we’re unlikely to voluntarily eat it again. ;)
The menu of the restaurant where we ate this same Rondon. 
Prices are in Colombian pesos. If you divide by 2000, it will be approximately US dollars.
You can rent a golf cart to get around the island. 
It takes about 2 hours to travel around the entire island, with stops for sightseeing and photography.
Local residents ride horses. 
And, of course, you cannot do without water transport on the island. 
And it’s always nice to just have a little vegetable on the beach. 
In the southwestern Caribbean Sea and northwest of Colombia is the coral island of San Andres. The purest sea water, shimmering with thousands of shades of blue, surrounds it on all sides. The island includes reefs, many sandy islets and mangrove forests located off the coast. The island has many geysers and cedar groves where birds live.
In the modern world, San Andres is considered the best and most popular resort of all located in the Caribbean Sea. From the highest point of the island, the village of La Loma, you can see all the beauty of the sea, which is called “seven-colored” for its overflows. Beautiful beaches and fantastic tropical vegetation, framing the coastal strip with lace of leaves, attract lovers of exotic holidays with their romance.
The mangrove forests of the coast consist of different species: red, white and black mangroves. They are home to a large number of marine inhabitants such as crabs and shellfish; azure lizards and various birds can be seen in the branches.
A wide strip of beaches smoothly turns into a warm and gentle sea. The sand, dazzlingly white, glistens in the sun like scattered powdered sugar. The natural beauty of the surrounding world is almost untouched by man, which attracts many tourists to the coast who want to get a closer look at the virgin forests and exotic tropical sea.
The kitchens of hotels and restaurants offer a variety of national dishes, in the shops you can buy interesting souvenirs, and when going down to the bottom with divers, you can see the coral reefs and its inhabitants.
The enchanting and incredible beauty of San Andres is a fabulous island that offers unforgettable experiences and entertainment on the beaches of the resort, communication with friendly residents will be an ideal holiday option on the Caribbean coast.
First and most importantly, how to get to San Anders Island and what to take with you?
Although this island is located near Nicaragua, it territorially and officially belongs to Colombia. Before purchasing tickets, you should contact the Colombian Embassy. Thanks to excellent diplomatic relations, obtaining a visa will not cause any obstacles. To purchase tickets, you need to resort to the help of airlines that offer sales of transatlantic tickets at economical prices. For example, Lufthansa, Iberia, Aeroflot. Using the services of the last 2 companies, you will not only buy a ticket, but also receive incredible exclusive offers: discounts in hotels, participation in a bonus system. The cost of a round trip ticket, of course, depends on the season and on advance reservations. The trick is to plan your trip in advance. Lufthansa offers round-trip tickets for $1200, Iberia - $1900, Aeroflot - $1700. Don't forget about sales and the fact that for this amount you get not only a round-trip ticket and insurance, but also the opportunity to get discounts on other services. Don’t be afraid to get tired during a long flight, you will make up for your strength. Just think of the wide and spacious beaches, the clear azure waters of the Caribbean Sea, the nature full of mangrove forests and the atmosphere overflowing with peace.
The number one necessity on this trip is sunscreen. The most recommended brands for leather: Garnier, Nivea, LaRoche. If you forgot something, don’t worry, it’s all quite accessible on the island itself.
The second tip is about accommodation on the island.
The average cost of a hotel stay is $30 or more per night. The best hotel on the island is Royal Decameron Isleño. For $188 per night you will enjoy the full range of services of this small earthly paradise. Hotel Casa Blanca will offer you an unforgettable view from the window in its rooms overlooking the ocean, or in cabanas, small houses. Such houses are simply a miracle for travelers with children. A standard double room in such a hotel costs $278. And for $643 you can rent a bungalow for the whole family.
The most unusual hotel on the island is the hotel right on the water Royal Decameron Aquarium, where you can stay, for example, for 3 days for $ 658. Here you can rent kayaks, paddle boards, sailing boats and pedalos to spend your time. More economical prices are offered by Sol Caribe Campo, where you can rent a room for $146. You can stay not only in hotels. You are offered apartments such as Apartamentos Turisticos La Hermosa, where the cost of living starts from $80. As you can see, the pricing policy is absolutely diverse and is suitable for all segments of the population. All accommodations are located in close proximity to the beach.
The third point is gourmet food.
The third important point is nutrition. Since you are on the shores of the Caribbean Sea, you have the chance to get acquainted with the richest sea gastronomy of the area. Fish, seafood, snails, lobsters, crayfish - delicious dishes especially for you! Food you simply must try: Rondon (fish fillet, snails, yucca, inam, pork tail, boiled banana, corn cakes), FishBall (fish meatballs), Breadfruit (an exotic fruit fried or boiled), desserts (sold on every corner, made from coconut, guava). The La Regatta restaurant offers a very tasty lunch for an average of $100. It has only positive reviews on Tripadvisor. As Nalon004, from Miami, writes: “All the meals were excellent the service was outstanding, our waiter Angel suggested was delicious the wine was smooth the coconut pies was out of this world. The scenery of the place is done with great taste, using recyclable items. I will recommend this restaurant to anyone that comes to San Andres Island in Colombia.” To summarize, we can say that this is where they love and respect their client. Wonderful service, delicious wine and food, ecological design. If you are interested in a more alternative place, then we invite you to BanzaiCocktailBar. The cheapest dish costs $4, and the most expensive - $17. This place, similar to an art gallery, attracts with its music and unusual cocktails. In general, on the island you can even find Thai (Mahi Mahi), Mediterranean ( Ocean's Mediterranean Fusion Food), Mexican (Lupita Tex Mex), and Italian (Mister Panino) cuisines. Most of these restaurants may be located inside hotels, but this is not at all a barrier to enjoying the food of the gods.
Briefly about tipping
Tips are usually 10% of the order amount, but are given only at your request. Local money is called pesos, but dollars can also be accepted for payment, which is very convenient. If you want to change money, you should do this only at official exchange offices and under no circumstances on the street.
The fourth recommendation concerns beaches. Which beach should you choose? After all, no matter where you look, they are all so different all around. You will laugh, but on vacation this is one of the most necessary attractions. The main city beach is Bahía Sardina, which is located in the northern part of the island, with white sand, palm trees and views of Johnny Cay. If you want a quieter and more secluded environment, then San Luis beach, 10 minutes from the center, is especially for you. South American tourists almost unanimously recognized the Casablanca hotel beach as the best place by the sea.
Fifth point: You will leave happy!
And finally, fifth The best part is entertainment! What could be better when a relaxing holiday by the sea is combined with a variety of sports and entertainment activities. Water sports: windsurfing, kitesurfing, jet skiing. There is a school where you will be taught to confidently stand on the board. Average price is about $30 per lesson. Underwater excursions and snorkeling are available at La Piscinita, West View and El Cove. You will jump off the yacht directly into the sea and plunge into the magical underwater world, see so many new things. The main advice here is to remember to take rubber slippers with you, as you may encounter sea urchins. It would be a good idea to discuss the price in advance with the guide accompanying you. Boat trips to see El Acuario, Haynes Cay and Johnny Cay. These small islets are 45 minutes from San Andres and tours can be easily purchased from Dairo. For passionate nature lovers, there is a very interesting type of ecotourism excursion - bird watching. The cost of this aesthetic pleasure ranges from $66 to $132 for 2.5 hours in the company of a person who professionally studies birds (ornithologist).
Shopping on the island - freedom zoneDuty Free!
And the favorite pastime of all lovely ladies is, of course, shopping. Shopping centers San Andres, West Point, New Point, La Riviera deserve your attention. Jacobo is recommended for purchasing equipment. The most popular products (except souvenirs): liqueurs, perfumes, clothing of famous brands. The shopping centers on San Andres Island are not large, but you can find everything at affordable prices. Don't forget about the dollar exchange rate, which usually fluctuates around 1,800 pesos. The only risk you may run is the desire to stay here forever!
Dear reader, if you have not found the information you are interested in on our website or on the Internet, write to us at and we will definitely write useful information just for you.