--- title: "Top 10 Things To Do in San Andrés, Colombia | Wimup" description: "San Andrés ranked: Johnny Cay and the rays at El Acuario, the Blue Wall dive, the ring road by golf cart and Raizal La Loma, plus flights, dishes and dates." url: https://wimup.com/city/san-andres type: City guide updated: 2026-10-28 publisher: Wimup (https://wimup.com) --- # Top 10 Things To Do in San Andrés San Andrés, Colombia · South America · By Wimup Editorial, 14 min read Most visitors see the duty-free town and the cays, then fly home. The island repays a little more: the Raizal villages on the central ridge, the quieter east coast at San Luis, a reef wall a short boat ride out, and Providencia, a 20-minute flight away. Budget for the tourist card, which every visitor buys before landing. ## Quick answer San Andrés is a 26 km² coral island off Nicaragua that belongs to Colombia, ringed by a lagoon in seven shades of blue. Give a morning to the boats out to Johnny Cay and El Acuario, a day to the 30 km ring road by golf cart, a dive to the Blue Wall, and a Sunday morning to the Baptist church at La Loma, where the island's English-speaking Raizal culture holds on. ## Quick facts - **Best months:** Jan · Feb · Mar - **Ideal length:** 4–5 days - **Budget per day:** $70–150 - **Language:** Spanish, English and Creole - **Getting around:** Golf carts, scooters and taxis - **Tourism board:** [Official site](https://colombia.travel/en/san-andres-isla?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ## The 10 best things to do in San Andrés ### 1. Take the boat to Johnny Cay Cay · Johnny Cay Regional Park, off the North End A palm-covered coral cay about ten minutes by boat from the north shore, with the clearest swimming water within easy reach of town. Take one of the first boats, and check the day before: the regional park closes for a few days at a time under a court order that protects it. - **Time:** Half day - **Cost:** Boat fare plus park fee - **Best at:** First boats of the morning - **Tip:** Pay the park fee in cash ### 2. Wade with the rays at El Acuario Cay · El Acuario and Haynes Cay, east lagoon Two small cays a short wade apart in the lagoon, where the water stays knee to waist deep over sand and rays come into the shallows. Most boats pair them with Johnny Cay; wear water shoes for the coral rubble and leave the rays alone. - **Time:** Half day - **Cost:** Boat tour fare - **Best at:** Late morning, high sun - **Tip:** Water shoes for the wade ### 3. Snorkel off the ledge at La Piscinita Snorkelling · Circunvalar road, west coast Two neighbouring swimming spots on the west coast where you step off a coral ledge into deep, clear water and the fish are already under you. Both take a small entry fee in cash; West View has the slide into the sea, La Piscinita is smaller and cheaper. - **Time:** 2 hours - **Cost:** Small cash entry - **Best at:** December to April, calm sea - **Tip:** Bring cash, no cards ### 4. Dive the Blue Wall Diving · Outer reef, by dive boat from town The island's signature dive: a reef face covered in sponges and coral that keeps dropping past recreational depth. It can run with a strong surge, so book it as an advanced dive and do a shallow reef first if you are out of practice. - **Time:** Half day - **Cost:** Priced per dive - **Best at:** January to April for visibility - **Tip:** Advanced certification advised ### 5. Drive the ring road by golf cart Road trip · Avenida Circunvalar The Circunvalar loops the whole island in about 30 km, so one day in a golf cart or on a scooter covers the coast with every stop. Start early: carts can be turned back from the south road by late afternoon, and police check licences and helmets there. - **Time:** Full day - **Cost:** Daily cart or scooter rental - **Best at:** Starting early - **Tip:** Carry your driving licence ### 6. Go to church at La Loma Culture · First Baptist Church, La Loma The island's oldest church, founded in 1844 by the Reverend Philip Beekman Livingston and still the heart of Raizal life on the central ridge. Come for the Sunday service and its English hymns, dress for church, and find the tamarind tree where he taught freed slaves to read. - **Time:** 1 hour - **Cost:** Free to attend services - **Best at:** Sunday morning - **Tip:** Cover shoulders and knees ### 7. Watch the Hoyo Soplador blow Nature · South Point, end of the Circunvalar A blowhole in the coral at the island's southern tip, where incoming swell is forced up through the rock and the spray can reach 20 metres. It depends on wind and sea, so ask locally before the drive, and keep phones well back from the hole. - **Time:** 30 minutes - **Cost:** Free - **Best at:** Days with a big swell - **Tip:** Stand back from the rim ### 8. Kayak the Old Point mangroves Nature · Old Point Regional Mangrove Park, east coast A protected mangrove forest in Hooker and Haynes bays, a short ride from town, best seen from a kayak at water level. Go early, when the water is flat and the birds are out, and take a guided trip: the channels are easy to lose. - **Time:** 2 hours - **Cost:** Guided kayak trip - **Best at:** Early morning - **Tip:** Clear kayaks carry a weight limit ### 9. Walk out to Rocky Cay Beach · Rocky Cay, off Cocoplum Bay A small cay a sandbar's walk off the east coast, with a rusting wreck beyond it that draws fish and snorkellers. Cross at low tide in water shoes, and respect the current past the cay: drownings have been reported near the wreck. - **Time:** 2 hours - **Cost:** Free - **Best at:** Low tide, morning - **Tip:** Weak swimmers take a life jacket ### 10. Fly or sail to Providencia Day trip · Providencia, 20 minutes by air The archipelago's quieter, hillier second island, reached by a 20-minute Satena flight on a small propeller plane or a catamaran crossing of about three hours. Book both ways early, since seats are few, and stay at least a night. - **Time:** 1 night or more - **Cost:** Flight or catamaran fare - **Best at:** January to April, calmer sea - **Tip:** Take seasickness pills for the boat Links: [Website](https://www.satena.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ## Best dive sites in San Andrés A wall, a wreck and reef gardens, all a short boat ride from town. 1. **Blue Wall** (Wall · Advanced · Outer reef): A sponge-covered reef face that drops past 40 m, often with surge. 2. **Nirvana** (Reef · Easy · West coast): A reef at about 15 m, thick with fish, that suits a first dive back. 3. **Blue Diamond** (Wreck · 13 m · West coast): A wreck sunk on purpose in the 1990s, broken in two at about 13 m. 4. **Trampa Tortuga** (Reef · Intermediate · East coast): An east coast reef from about 14 m, with visibility past 30 m on good days. 5. **The Pyramids** (Reef · Shallow · North End): A shallow reef off the north end, good for a refresher or a second dive. ## Best beaches in San Andrés One busy town beach and three calmer stretches down the east coast. 1. **Spratt Bight** (Town · Busy · North End): The town beach along the pedestrian promenade: busy, shallow and walkable from the hotels. 2. **San Luis** (Quiet · Kitchens · San Luis): A long east coast strip with calmer water and beach kitchens. 3. **Cocoplum Bay** (Shallow · Restaurants · San Luis): A shallow bay with beach restaurants, and the start of the walk to Rocky Cay. 4. **Rocky Cay** (Sandbar · Snorkel · San Luis): A sandbar walk to a small cay and a wreck, best at low tide. ## Best cays and pools in San Andrés Where the seven colours are: cays by boat and pools off the coral ledge. 1. **Johnny Cay** (Boat · Park fee · Off the North End): Palms, sand and a reef ring, ten minutes by boat from the north shore. 2. **El Acuario** (Boat · Wading · East lagoon): Waist-deep water over sand, where rays and fish come into the shallows. 3. **Haynes Cay** (Boat · Lunch · East lagoon): El Acuario's neighbour across a shallow wade, with a few places for lunch. 4. **La Piscinita** (Snorkel · Cash entry · West coast): A coral-ledge pool where the fish gather at your feet, cheaper than West View. 5. **West View** (Snorkel · Cash entry · West coast): The bigger of the two west coast pools, with a waterslide straight into the sea. ## Best island sights in San Andrés Raizal history, a pirate legend and the sea forcing its way through rock. 1. **First Baptist Church** (Church · Free · La Loma): The island's oldest church, founded in 1844 and still the centre of Raizal life. 2. **Casa Museo Isleña** (Museum · Small fee · Circunvalar road): A traditional wooden island house, furnished to show how Raizal families lived. 3. **Cueva de Morgan** (Cave · Entry fee · West coast): A sea cave tied to the legend of Henry Morgan's buried treasure. 4. **Hoyo Soplador** (Nature · Free · South Point): A blowhole that throws spray up to 20 m when the swell is running. 5. **Big Pond** (Lagoon · Wildlife · La Loma): A freshwater lagoon in the hills, known for its resident caimans. ## Best restaurants in San Andrés Rondón in a family courtyard, seafood over the water and a table on the sand. 1. **La Regatta** (Seafood · Book ahead · North End): Seafood on a deck over the water by the town marina, the island's best-known table. 2. **Miss Celia** (Raizal · Casual · North End): A family courtyard serving rondón, the island's coconut seafood stew. 3. **Donde Francesca** (Beachfront · Book ahead · San Luis): Tables on the sand at Sound Bay, booked out at lunch in season. 4. **Gourmet Shop Assho** (Wine · Deli · North End): A deli and wine cellar for a long dinner when you are done with fried fish. ## Best bars in San Andrés Reggae on the sand, cocktails with a view and one late dance floor. 1. **Coco Loco** (Party · Wed–Sun · Spratt Bight): The best-known party on Spratt Bight, open-air and loud into the night. 2. **Big Mama** (Reggae · Beach · Spratt Bight): A beach reggae bar that does the sunset drink better than the late one. 3. **LightHouse Lounge Bar** (Cocktails · Lounge · North End): The polished option: signature cocktails and a Latin and island playlist. 4. **Blue Deep** (Club · Fri–Sat · Avenida Colombia): A weekend dance club inside the Hotel Sunrise, open into the early hours. ## Best neighborhoods in San Andrés Three parts of a small island, in order of how much company you want. 1. **North End** (Busy · Walkable · North tip): The duty-free town: hotels, the promenade, the docks and every bar. 2. **San Luis** (Quiet · Beach · East coast): Wooden island houses, calmer beaches and a slower east coast. 3. **La Loma** (Local · Hills · Central ridge): The hill villages around the Baptist church, where Raizal English is spoken. ## Festivals & annual events in San Andrés (2026) - **Peak diving season** (January to April): The driest months, with underwater visibility at its best, 25 to 30 m. - **Semana Santa** (March or April): Colombian holy week. Mainland flights fill and the town beach is at its busiest. - **Mid-year school holidays** (June to July): Colombian families fill the island. Book flights and rooms early. - **Colombian Independence Day** (20 July): A national holiday with parades in town, in the middle of the July rush. - **Emancipation Week** (25 July to 1 August): Raizal concerts, talks and services marking the end of slavery, opened at the First Baptist Church. - **Raizal People's Day** (1 August): The national day of the Raizal people, set by law in 2022, closing Emancipation Week. - **Green Moon Festival** (Usually September): Caribbean music and Raizal culture, held since 1987. Dates move, so confirm before booking. - **Christmas and New Year** (Late December): The peak weeks of the year. Flights and rooms go months ahead. ## Must-try dishes in San Andrés, Colombia - **Rondón**: The island stew: fish, conch, plantain, yam and dumplings simmered in coconut milk. - **Crab soup**: Black crab with dumplings, yam and coconut milk, when the crab season allows. - **Crab back**: Seasoned crab meat baked back into its own shell. - **Johnny cake**: Fried bread for breakfast, with butter or beside fried fish. - **Plantain tart**: Sweet plantain baked in pastry, sold by the home cooks who make rondón. - **Pescado frito**: Whole fried fish with patacones, the standard at every beach kitchen. - **Coconut rice**: Rice cooked in coconut milk, the side that comes with almost everything. - **Coconut bread**: A soft sweet loaf made with grated coconut, from island bakeries. ## San Andrés transport & airports - **Gustavo Rojas Pinilla International** (ADZ): The island airport sits at the edge of the North End, a few minutes by taxi from the hotels. Buy the tourist card before you fly: it is checked before boarding. - **Taxis** (Fixed fare): No meters: fares are fixed by zone (downtown, San Luis, Sound Bay) and paid in pesos, in cash. There is no Uber on the island. - **Golf carts and scooters** (Rental): How most visitors see the island, since the ring road is about 30 km. Carry your licence, wear a helmet on a scooter, and expect police checks on the south road. - **Flights and catamaran to Providencia** (Inter-island): Satena flies to Providencia in about 20 minutes on small propeller planes; the catamaran takes about three hours on an often rough sea. Book both early. [Website](https://www.satena.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ## San Andrés at a glance - **Country:** Colombia - **Region:** Capital of the Archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina - **Population:** About 57,000 in the municipality (2025 DANE projection) - **Area:** 26 km² - **Location:** About 700 km northwest of mainland Colombia and 180 km east of Nicaragua - **Language:** Spanish, English and San Andrés Creole, all three official - **Currency:** Colombian peso (COP) - **Time zone:** COT (UTC-5), no daylight saving - **Calling code:** +57 - **Airport:** Gustavo Rojas Pinilla International (ADZ) - **Tourist card:** Required of every non-resident visitor: COP 153,000 in 2026, under-sevens exempt - **Emergency:** 123 ## Interesting facts - The island covers 26 km², and the ring road around it runs only about 30 km. - UNESCO declared the archipelago the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve in 2000. - The Raizal people speak San Andrés Creole, an English-based language close to Jamaican Patois. - Founded in 1844, the First Baptist Church at La Loma is the island's oldest church. - Colombians from the mainland pay the tourist card too: the island is a separate department. ## San Andrés travel FAQ ### Do you need a tourist card for San Andrés? Yes. Every non-resident visitor, Colombians from the mainland included, pays the archipelago's tourist card, set at COP 153,000 for 2026. Children under seven and island natives are exempt. Buy it before you fly, since it is checked before boarding. ### When is the best time to visit San Andrés? January to April is the driest stretch and the best for visibility underwater. September to November are the wettest months. Late December, Easter week and the June to July school holidays are the busiest and most expensive. ### How many days do you need in San Andrés? Four to five days covers the cays, a day on the ring road and two or three dives. Add two nights for Providencia, which needs a flight or a long catamaran crossing each way. ### Where should you stay in San Andrés? The North End puts you on the town beach, by the docks and near the bars, which matters on an island where the boats leave from town. San Luis on the east coast is quieter, with calmer beaches, and a taxi ride from everything. ### Is San Andrés good for learning to dive? Yes. Shallow reefs such as Nirvana and the Pyramids suit beginners, the water stays warm all year, and the Blue Wall gives certified divers a reason to come back. ## Nearby guides - [San José](https://wimup.com/city/san-jose-costa-rica.md): Costa Rica · 10 picks - [Roatan](https://wimup.com/city/roatan.md): Honduras · 10 picks - [Cartagena](https://wimup.com/city/cartagena.md): Colombia · 10 picks - [All of South America →](https://wimup.com/south-america): 37 cities Part of the [Colombia guide](https://wimup.com/country/colombia.md) · [South America](https://wimup.com/south-america.md) ## Sources - [San Andrés tourism board](https://colombia.travel/en/san-andres-isla?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Fly or sail to Providencia (official site)](https://www.satena.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - Rankings are Wimup editorial picks. Prices, durations and budgets are editorial estimates, not live quotes; check the official site before you go.