San Andres, Colombia has been described to me as either Colombia’s version of the Caribbean paradise or a popular holiday getaway frequented by locals and South Americans alike. After spending a week on the island, I can report back that both are true. The water is genuinely spectacular and some of the brightest shades of blue that I’ve seen in a long time. Honestly, the waters can rival those of the Maldives.
That being said, San Andres isn’t the untouched tropical paradise many imagine when first seeing photos online. It’s busier and more developed than I expected. And honestly, that’s exactly why I think expectations matter so much before travelling here. After spending time on the island, I can understand why Colombians love coming here for holidays. But I can also understand why some international travellers leave disappointed if they arrive expecting a luxury tropical paradise.
If you’re considering adding San Andres to your Colombia itinerary, this guide breaks down what San Andrés is actually like, where to stay, what surprised us and whether it’s worth visiting.
Quick Facts About San Andrés
Location: Caribbean Sea, off the coast of Nicaragua
Part of: Colombia
Language: Spanish, English Creole and some English
Currency: Colombian Peso (COP)
Best Time to Visit: December to April
Recommended Stay: 4 – 5 days
Famous For: The Sea of Seven Colours, diving, beaches and island hopping
Worth Visiting? Yes, with realistic expectations.
Skip If: You’re looking for a remote luxury island.
Is San Andrés worth visiting?
I think this depends entirely on what type of traveller you are. Expecting a polished luxury island destination with quiet beaches and boutique resorts? Mmm, it might not fully live up to the hype. Parts of the island feel more local, developed and busy than many people expect.
But if you go in understanding that San Andrés is a laid-back Caribbean island with incredible water, fun day trips, accessible diving and a local atmosphere, it becomes much easier to appreciate. The island is relatively developed. The main town has traffic, shopping centres, chain stores and large hotels. Popular attractions can feel crowded, especially during weekends and Colombian holidays. For us, the highlight was simply being around the water. The colours genuinely impressed us. In comparison to its neighbouring Caribbean islands, it’s more affordable.
If you’re looking for warm Caribbean water, a laid-back atmosphere, affordable island travel and somewhere completely different from mainland Colombia, San Andrés is worth considering.
What the Sea of Seven Colours Actually Looks Like
Everyone probably talks about the Sea of Seven Colours – Mar de los Sieste Colores. Personally, I thought it was a bit of tourism marketing. It isn’t. The water around San Andrés changes colour constantly depending on sunlight, depth and coral beneath the surface. In some places it looks electric turquoise, while elsewhere it turns deep sapphire blue.
Flying into the island gives you the best perspective – if the weather is cooperating. Even from the plane window, the colours almost don’t look real. And once you take a boat trip out to the smaller islands, you’ll understand why San Andrés became famous for it.
Where Is San Andrés?
The island sits roughly 750km from mainland Colombia and only around 230km from Nicaragua, so it’s closer to Central America than it is to mainland Colombia. Because of this, San Andrés feels culturally very different from the rest of the country.
It has a completely different vibe to places like Medellín, Cartagena, Jardin or Salento. Because of its location, it has a strong Afro-Caribbean influence here. Whilst you’ll definitely hear Spanish being spoken, English Creole is also widely spoken here. You’ll find a lot more vendors communicating with you in English. Life seems to revolve around golf carts, reggae music, beach afternoons and being near the water.
Getting to San Andrés
The only way onto the island is to take a domestic flight with Avianca or Wingo Airlines from Bogota, Medellin, Cartagena, Barranquilla. The only direct international route operating is with Copa Airlines from Panama City.
Flights from Medellin and Bogota take about 2 hours. However, from Cartagena and Baranquilla, it’s closer to 1.5 hrs.
Tourism Card
All visitors are required to purchase a tourist card before entering San Andres. This needs to be purchased before boarding your flight. The process and fee occasionally change, so check the latest requirements before travelling. As of May 2026, the tourism fee is 153 000 COP per person.
We booked our flight through Jose Maria Cordova International Airport, Medellin (MDE) with Avianca Airlines. After checking in for your flight at the counter, head to the Avianca counter (left of the check in counter) to pay the fee. You can pay with your credit/debit card. You will receive a piece of paper, do not loose it! You’ll need to show it entering San Andres and exiting!
Things to know before visiting San Andres
Cash vs Card
Surprisingly, most of the restaurants and cafes took card payments. Although for some, there was an additional processing fee of between 4 – 8%. Cash is widely accepted everywhere, especially with street vendors. For Colombians, transferencia is widely accepted everywhere.
Tip: If you plan to pay with card, confirm if they accept before making your purchase or placing your order.
Internet
Similar to mainland Colombia, there is WIFI in a lot of establishments but not everywhere. If you need to stay connected, I recommend purchasing an eSIM. We used Airalo during our time on the island but you can also opt for Saily.
Language
Being part of Colombia, Spanish is the main language spoken everywhere. However, as there is a lot of tourists on the island, a lot of vendors speak English. But also, locally, Creole is also spoken by a lot of the population.
Getting round
The island itself isn’t large, but it is long and it takes time to get places. Taxis are readily available and are easily identifiable with the taxi sign. However, always confirm how much the trip costs before getting in the taxi so you don’t get a nasty surprise at your destination!
From our experience, ubers aren’t operational on the island. If you want to get around independently – opt for either a golf cart (perfect for a small group) or scooters. There are so many places you can hire them from. The daily prices are: scooter from 90 000 COP and a golf cart from 200 000 COP.
Sargassum in San Andres + the Caribbean coast
Sargassum is a floating brown seaweed that naturally occurs in the Atlantic Ocean but, in recent years, has been washing up in much larger quantities across the Caribbean. When it reaches the shoreline, it can accumulate on beaches, produce an unpleasant smell as it decomposes and make swimming less appealing in affected areas.
In San Andrés, sargassum levels vary from year to year and beach to beach, but the highest concentrations are generally seen between April and October, depending on ocean currents and weather conditions. While it rarely affects the entire island, it’s worth checking recent local conditions before travelling if beach time is a major priority.
Where To Stay In San Andrés
For us, we stayed in the Downtown part of town. We were only about 5 – 8 mins walk from Spratt Bight Beach where you’ll find most of the hotels, restaurants and bars, tour agencies. It’s really convenient, walkable and practical for shorter stays or for diving.
During my research, we found that if you’re looking for quieter areas, there are plenty of guesthouses and smaller hotels further south along the eastern side or on the southern side of the island. Although, to stay in these areas, it’s advisable to hire transport to get around.
What to do on San Andrés
Most travellers spend their time on or around the water. Popular activities include:
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- Visiting Johnny Cay
- Taking a boat trip to Acuario and Haynes Cay
- Renting a golf cart and driving around the island
- Snorkelling and scuba diving
- Relaxing at Spratt Bight Beach
- Visiting West View and the natural pools
Read next: Scuba Diving in San Andrés: My Honest Experience for a more detailed breakdown.
How Many Days Do You Need in San Andrés?
I think for most travellers, 4 to 5 days is the sweet spot. It gives you enogh time to explore the island, spend time on the water and unwind to island life. It also gives you enough of a buffer if tours get cancelled due to weather conditions. Which actually happened to us! Any longer and you may find yourself repeating many of the same experiences unless you’re diving regularly.
Example Itinerary for San Andres:
Day 1: Arrive in San Andres. Spend the evening on the beach and having dinner.
Day 2: Do one of the island tour.
Day 3: Spend the morning going scuba diving! Use the afternoon to relax at the beach.
Day 4: Either rent a golf cart to explore the island OR spend the day at one of the floating bars.
Day 5: Fly back to the mainland.
Is San Andrés safe?
Overall, San Andrés feels relatively safe for tourists. Like anywhere, petty theft can happen, especially around busy beaches or tourist areas, so basic precautions still apply. At night, the main tourist areas around Spratt Bight generally felt lively and comfortable. You’ll probably find that island life is much calmer and slower paced compared to many cities on mainland Colombia!
We didn’t have any issues during our stay and felt really comfortable walking around in the evenings and at night along the promenade.
Best Time To Visit San Andrés
Like a lot of Colombia, the dry season is between December and April. Generally, you’ll have better weather, calmer seas and better visibility for snorkelling or diving. As it’s in the Caribbean, just keep in mind that hurricane season in this region is between August and November.
We were there mid May. During the time we were there, there was some heavy showers at night and some strong winds during the day but overall, the weather was very hot and humid!
Who will enjoy San Andrés?
I think San Andres is a great spot for travellers who want to experience the Caribbean without the typical Caribbean prices. If you’re someone who isn’t a confident swimmer, so many of the day trips to the surrounding islands are really shallow and with not much current. Thinking about getting your scuba diving license? I found the conditions around San Andres to be very easy and calm, great for beginner divers.
As I mentioned before, it’s not for you if you’re looking for luxury resorts, untouched beaches or remote tropical escapes. However, if you don’t mind the touristy atmosphere and want an island break in your Colombian itinerary, pop San Andres on your schedule!
How expensive is San Andrés?
Depending on where you previously visited in mainland Colombia, San Andres can definitely feel more expensive. However, if you’re coming from Cartagena, San Andres will be on par. If you think about it, the island is about 1.5hrs flight from the mainland so food, tours, fuel – everything will cost more due to its relatively remote location. But compared to many Caribbean islands, it still feels relatively affordable.
Budget travellers can still find guesthouses and local restaurants, while mid-range travellers have plenty of hotel options. We found a decent Airbnb in downtown, close to all attractions and beaches for £30 per night. Compared to Cartagena, the island tours and snorkelling trips are a lot cheaper. It’s probably why it’s such a popular holiday destination for Colombians.
Typical Costs in San Andres
Coffee: 12 000 – 18 000 COP
Beers: 6000 – 12 000 COP
Cocktails: 35 000 – 50 000 COP
Mid Range Restaurant meal: 50 000 – 80 000 COP
High End Restaurant meal: 90 000 COP ++
Golf cart: 200 000 COP ++
Airport taxi: 25 000 COP
Island tour: 70 000 COP – 100 000 COP
2 tank Fun Dive: 280 000 COP
What surprised us most
I think personally, I was surprised by how developed parts of the island felt. Before arriving, I pictured a sleepy Caribbean island. However, the northern parts of San Andres felt really busy with traffic, duty free shopping, hotels and crowds of people! The other surprise was how culturally different it felt. I never thought about how noticeable the Caribbean influence and identity would be here. It was a pleasant surprise – from the music, food and language. It kinda felt like we weren’t even in Colombia anymore.
What we loved about San Andrés, Colombia
For us, San Andrés was less about ticking off attractions and more about slowing down. I’m actually really bad at relaxing considering that I’m called The Travelling Sloth… but here, it felt very nice to spend our days swimming, having a coffee overlooking the sea and wandering without much of a plan. The island has an easy rhythm to it, super easy to slip into.
And while it might not be the untouched tropical paradise some people expect, the combination of Caribbean atmosphere, warm water and relaxed days made it a really enjoyable place to spend time.
Tips For visiting San Andrés
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- Book flights early during Colombian holiday periods
- Bring reef-safe sunscreen
- Carry cash for smaller restaurants and beach vendors
- Rent a golf cart early in the morning before availability drops
- Try local Caribbean dishes instead of only tourist restaurants
- Spend time away from the main town area for quieter scenery
My two cents on visiting San Andrés
San Andrés is a unique place to visit in Colombia. It feels completely different and independent to the rest of the country. The combination of Caribbean culture, beautiful waters and laid-back island life makes it easy to see why so many Colombians holiday here. Actually, why so many South Americans visit – we saw so many Brazilians and Venezuelans as well!
And while parts of the island can feel touristy and busy, the sea itself is genuinely spectacular. If you arrive expecting a relaxed Caribbean island with beautiful water rather than a luxury tropical escape, San Andrés can absolutely be worth visiting.
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