San Andrés

San Andrés

San Andrés in San Andres and Providencia Islands (Colombia)

San Andrés guide

700 kilometers from the Colombian mainland coast is the island of San Andrés, a small paradise in which the influences of English, Spanish, pirates and corsairs mixed with the Afro people to give as a result a rich culture, full of rhythms that moves to the sound of reggae. It is a perfect destination to enjoy the beach, water sports, diving and ecotourism.

From the plane, the card of presentation of San Andrés is its sea of seven colors that harbors colorful fish and corals brimming with life that enchant the travelers. After an afternoon on the beach and shopping in the free port, the night comes with force to fill music and dance the environment thus making it a perfect place to take a vacation in the Caribbean.

What to do in San Andrés

There are many activities to do in San Andrés, among the most important are:

Bathing in natural pools (the pool):

One of the activities to do in San Andres is to go to the pool.

It is a natural pool with crystal clear waters, in which you can perform water sports such as snorkeling or diving.

This natural pool has a slide in which you can slide, although you can also jump without any problem because its waters are very calm and shallow.

This experience is spectacular, since you will be able to appreciate the beauty of the marine fauna, because it is full of thousands of fish of varied colors and to swim among them.

It is located in the sector of the cove, before reaching the military naval police battalion and the national army.

Sunbathing on quiet beaches:

The best activity of all, like not enjoying that beautiful sea and that white beach, while you savor a delicious crazy coconut cocktail, definitely the best plan.

Dance to the rhythm of reggae and listen to the stories of the raizales

Wherever you go, your ears will be delighted with this wonderful music of the natives and their stories, that's why it's on the list of activities to do in San Andres, Colombia.

Although it is worth clarifying that his native music is Creole, as well as his dialect.

Like they also like to listen to country.

Lease a golf cart to tour the island

Another thing to do in San Andrés, considering that it is a relatively small island and also a really fun activity, is to rent a golf cart and go around the island, in this way you can appreciate its beauty all its corners

Climb the pirate ship and take a tour of the island

This plan will make you spend a really spectacular and fun time, with the activities carried out by the pirates in charge of the ship.

In addition to appreciating the beauty of the natural landscapes and take a tour in the middle of that crystal blue sea.

Definitely recommended among the things to do in San Andres.

Return to the island in chiva or train

On board an open tourist bus or a children's train, you will be taken on a tour of the most visited places of San Andrés, Morgan cave, natural pool
of the west view, blowhole, house of the island museum, Baptist church.

Visit Providencia and Santa Catalina

If you have a good budget, you can not miss going to the island of Providencia, it is one of the best things to do in San Andres.

An absolutely beautiful island, with spectacular beaches and landscapes really worth seeing.

A providencia and santa haina is reached either by plane or catamaran and can be booked with an agency or san andres hotels to spend one or two nights there, it is really worth it.

Food in San Andrés

Samples of the gastronomy of the islands are the rondón, a dish that contains pork, snail and coconut milk; the empanadas and the crab soup; and the ripe banana cake.

No wonder that different preparations of fish and seafood are the specialty of this colorful island. Snails, lobsters, shrimps, feather and red snappers, black crabs and trout are part of the exquisite dishes, another example of the charm of this beautiful island.

To season the recipes, the coconut and its derivatives become culinary protagonists. The English heritage left on the island aromatic plants such as cloves, cinnamon and ginger, which provide the island's cuisine with an explosion of flavors. Accompany the dishes are coconut rice, patacones (fried green plantains), yucca and yam. Here some of the most representative dishes:

Rondón: Without a doubt, the most typical one. Several decades ago it was a dish prepared only by men for men, but today women also participate and consume it. It has fish fillet, snail, yucca, yam, pork tail, cooked banana and domplines (flour tortillas), bathed and cooked in coconut milk with pepper.

Fish Ball: Any type of fish can be used to make fish ball (meatballs): parrotfish, snapper, mojarra and even black crab. The secret is to remove the thorns and season them well with tomato, onion, garlic, salt and the species that are preferred, then fry them.

One of the specialties is the bread fruit, which is served fried or cooked, as an accompaniment to several meals. It is consumed when it is still green and has not matured, to enjoy its flavor better.

Desserts: In the evenings, after lunch, it is possible to find women who exhibit and sell the typical sweets of the island such as cocadas and coconut balls are one of the delights that will make you want to eat them again and again. Also the fruit juices and the cakes of smoke, corn and banana are very popular.

YOU HAVE TO TRY THEM!

In San Andrés, tourists find good restaurants specializing in seafood, as well as roadside stalls that sell typical food. In some Providencia hotels there are good dishes.

Banana Cake

This flour-based cake is filled with ripe banana candy, cooked and allowed to cool.
 
Crab pies

At the edge of the road, in San Andrés, crab empanadas are obtained in several positions. There are also stuffed with meat and chicken.

Shows in San Andrés

San Andres has a fascinating nightlife, because at night, the beaches are empty and the streets begin to see full of tourists who enjoy happy groups of reggae, calypso, reggaeton, rhythms of the islanders.

Those with their colorful outfits, their dreadlocks and sandals, attract the attention of tourists, I recommend taking care when taking photos, as some may be annoying.

Tourists like to be located on the pedestrian street of sardine bay, while they drink the crazy coconut, typical cocktail of the island and enjoy this cheerful music and dances.

In addition to the above, there is a variety of things to do in San Andrés at night, among the options are:

Climb the cruise
If you want a real rumba on the sea, this option will fulfill your expectations, with show, rumba, contests and surprises.

White night on party yacht

On board a catamaran you will spend an unforgettable experience, where the only requirement is to be dressed in white and with much desire for fun.
In this boat you will enjoy a typical Caribbean party under the stars with an excellent dinner and national liquors included

Clubs in San Andres

But if you want to enjoy the land, you have the option of visiting the different clubs on the island or the hotel bar restaurants.
Some of them with shows by the most recognized artists of the island, the most popular are:

Coco Loco

Big mama

LightHouse Lounge Bar

Aquarius

Climate in San Andrés

The climate of the island is warm, oscillating between 78.8° F and 84.2 ° F. The winds help to relieve the heat, blowing generally from the east; When there are storms in the Caribbean Sea, the winds blow strongly from the northeast. In general, during the year the rains are defined by a dry season and a rainy one. The first has a variable duration that can reach five consecutive months, while the following months are rainy, with strong winds, mainly during the second week of June.