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San Andrés is a colombian island located in the caribbean sea that is closer to Nicaragua than Colombia. Due to that fact both countries have been fighting along the years for the marine delimitation. San Andres belongs to the department ‘ Archipielago de San Andrés, Providencia y Santa Catalina’ and it is the biggest island of the group. It is known for its seven colour sea and its beautiful beaches.

What I love the most of the island is that you’ll have a great time no matter if you go with your family, your friends or your partner. That because you’ll find plenty of activities to do that fit everyone’s needs, interests and tastes.

Recommended stay time

I could go to San Andrés for one weekend or one week, but for some persons one week would be a lot of time. However, the perfect time would be between 3 or 4 nights.

Currency

Colombian peso (COP)

EUR	COP	USD	COP
1	3.558	1	3.141

Transport

Almost everything in San Andres can be done by walking if you are staying in the center, as I would recommend. You’ll first need a taxi from the airport to your hostel, hotel or apartment, and also to go back. It should cost you between 10.000 and 15.000 colombian pesos if you arrive during the day, but if you are arriving during the night they’ll charge you a 5.000 fee. All the shopping stores, restaurants (almost), bars and clubs are in the center of the island, so they can be reached walking.

A very common transport in the island is a vehicle called ´mula’ or  ‘mulita’ which is like a buggy car or golf car, but bigger. You’ll find the with room for two, four, six or eight and rent them for hours or days. You could also rent bikes, motorcycles, golf carts or ATVs. The main recommendation is to always ask for a lower price, since they’ll probably give it to you.

Also, to visit the little islands you’ll have to go by boat our launch. For that, depending on your group size, you can rent one or buy the places that you need in a sharing one.

Hotel

Two important recommendations; first: find something in the center and second: don’t buy an all inclusive plan.

As you know, we want to recommend you all the best plans that can adjust to a low budget. Based on that, and no matter if you prefer to stay in a hotel, apartment or your okay with hostels, if you find a place in the center of the island you won’t have to spend money going to the center and then back to your accommodation. Also, you’ll be able to go in and out as many times as you want during the day. Since many activities are for the day, you won’t be able to go to the hotel to have lunch, so you’ll end up paying more for food.

For me the ideal accommodation in San Andrés would be an apartment because you’ll have your own space, cook if you want and bring snacks out for the day. You can rent an apartment for two or four persons from 350.000 COP the night. In the other hand a hostel in the center of the island would cost approximately 100.000 COP per night and person.

Activities

You’ll see why I said at the beginning of this article that you can find activities for everyone.

Sports:

• Diving: there are options for beginners or experienced divers. You can start the course and get your certification or go directly to open water and delight yourself with what the caribbean crystal clear sea water has to offer.
• Cycling: rent a bike and go across the border of the island. You’ll be amazed by the change of sea colors, the feel of the breeze against your body and the fresh air. It will be almost 32 km that you’ll be wishing are not over.
• Jogging: if you want to start good the day, go for a run by the beach.

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Nightlife:

• Go out for dinner and drink some wine. The fanciest restaurant of the island is called La Regata it is located by the sea, near a port and if you are a gourmet food lover the price is worth it. Just call sure you call ahead to make a reservation. There are other options of restaurants cheaper, but if you want to go for something fancy go to a hotels restaurant or La Regata.
• Buy some alcohol and go to the pier. There you’ll see colombian tourists, international tourists and some locals drinking. Usually people go to the pier and drink before going to a club.
• Clubs. There are three main clubs. Two of them belongs to hotels; Blue Deep that belongs to Hotel Sunrise and Extasis that belongs to Hotel Sol Caribe.The other one is located by the sea, its name is Coco loco. In those three clubs you’ll find reggaeton, salsa, merengue, bachata, ballenato, champeta and some electronic music.

Day activities:

A MUST: Dar la vuelta a la isla

It is a name in spanish for renting a vehicle (golf car, ANT, mulita or motorcycle) and go across the island stopping in some spots. Enjoy the view and the breeze. You should stop at:

• El hoyo soplador: it is a natural hole in the coral that blows when the winds are high and sometimes spouts water.
• La piscinita: open calm water by the corals. A perfect place for snorkeling, while feeding fishes out of your hand.
• Donde Francesca: it’s one of the famous restaurant of the island by the beach. The food and cocktails are amazing.It’s hard to eat there without a reservation so I would recommend you to make one at 2:30, have lunch, drink something and enjoy the rest of the afternoon at that beach that has bigger waves.

Go to the little islands (Cayos): by boat you’ll get to see Jhonny Cay, which is only a touristic place and no one lives there. Enjoy the beach with bigger waves and have some typical drinks. After go to ‘El Acuario’ where you can do snorkeling, see sharks and rays and even hold the rays.

Basic, but perfect one: spend the day at the beach, bring snacks and drinks.

Food

It’s obvious that the typical food of the island should be seafood, so you really have to try it. To eat good seafood go to La Regatta, Donde Francesca, Capitan Mandy (it’s perfect because it’s delicious and not as touristy as the other ones), El Paraíso or order a fried red snapper (whole fish) at Hotel Sunrise’s pool deck.

Other food:

-Perú wok

-La pizzeta

-Eataly

-Mr Panino

If you prefer fast food, you’ll find Subway and El Corral (well known for its hamburgers)

Packing

Pack your swimwear, sunblock, beach towel, sport clothes (if you are a sportsperson), comfy shoes and whatever you want to wear.