San Andres

Another way to enjoy this destination is staying at touristic inns or lodges, informal places for travelers from around the world.

San Andres from the air looks like a sea horse in the middle of a multicolored place that could be well documented among the most beautiful seas of the world. This is the most tourist island of Colombia and one of the most sought after by foreigners, catalogued as a biosphere reserve. On the ground the attractions are the beaches, the rocks, the native vegetation, the deep sea, the near Keys, water sports and a thousand of entertainments more.

San Andres also has a good tourism infrastructure with the capacity to receive travelers of all types, there are five star hotels and places for informal travelers. There are also restaurants, some very good ones, where the sea food is the specialty ,the shops, the rental of motorcycles, bicycles and cars, travel in boats and galleons.And the night plans for everyone can´t be left aside.

While the terrain of the island is mostly flat, in the center stands a small hill called La Loma, is the most beautiful viewpoint that has the island and the place where the greatest concentration of native inhabitants live. There are two tourist lodges that receive people who want to enjoy San Andres otherwise, that is, sharing knowledge and culture of its locals. It also happens in the areas of San Luis Bay and The Cove, where there are located two other inns that receive visitors.

There are 720 km separating this paradise from the coast of Colombia, a short distance to the overwhelming joy that is experienced while under the shade of its palm trees or swimming in the sea.

¡Welcome!

Climate:
On the island there are two seasons: summer and winter, with an average temperature between 26 and 29 º C and winds reaching permanent throughout the year.

Location:
It is in the northeast of Colombia on the Sea of the Antilles, is part of the Caribbean region. The territory is made up of the islets Bolivar, Albuquerque, Cotton Haynes, Roncador, Serrana and Quitasueño; and some coral banks: Bajo Nuevo and Alicia.

Culture:
It tells the story that the pirate Morgan chose the polychromatic sea of the West to hide their treasures, by the mysterious beauty there is in the depths. His legend is a sample of the cultural richness that identifies the island as a territory populated by interesting characters and cheerful people who want to believe fantastic stories and not to lose the mischief.

The popular custom is also reflected in the teasers and reggae melodies that typically are translated into erotic movements as the calypso from Jamaica, a moved rhythm that allows wiggles, on the contrary to what happens with the waltz,el pasillo and QUADRILLE, rhythms that came to the island with the English and Spanish colonists.

The sanandresanos are spontaneous and natural, mostly mulatto with hybrids traces between Africans and Europeans, although a portion of the population is also of Turkish origin. The official languages of the island, according to the 1991 Constitution, are Spanish and English, the second one is known as the mother tongue of the native population.

Gastronomy:
The preparations from the island mix centuries of history and customs like the seasoning of the seafood and the land with character, commitment and creativity, that is why San Andres stands out as an evocative and very exotic cuisine. Fish, coconuts, cassava, yams, bananas, plantain and delicious fruit of the bread, brought by the British from India, are the components of any single preparation.

The Rondon, typical throughout the department and for their wide variety of ingredients, including fish and pig's tail, is one of the most desirable recipes on the island. The crab soup,a rich meal that is accompanied with cassava, plantain and yam, it is also an excellent choice to try the taste of the Islanders.

Rice is also popular with beans prepared with pepper, sugar, pepper, garlic, coconut milk, onions and paprika. The dish shows a Turkish influence on the island culture, is delicious with meat and fish, although it could be a main dish.

How to Get There:
From inside the country and Central America flights arrive daily to the airport Gustavo Rojas Pinilla of San Andres, the airline Satena travels every day from Bogota on a journey of about 45 minutes.

For more information:

Tel. (1) 605 22 22 Free Online national 018000 912 034.

Avianca flies to San Andres every day with a flight with a minimum of two frequencies.
For more information:

Tel. (1) 401 34 34 Free Online national 018000 123 434.

AeroRepublica also travels daily to San Andres.
For more information:

Tel. (1) 320 90 90 Free Online national 018000 917 766.

This area is ideal for family rides, water sports or recreational activities such as sailing,windsurfing, catamaran, jet skiing, fishing tours, water skiing and water cycling rides.On the km 4th on the road via San Luis is located Chamey's Náutica, specialists in instruction and teaching of such amusements.
Contact: Tel. (8)513 20 77. Cel. 315 303 95 23.
www.chameynautica.com.

Through the underground tunnels a strong expulsion of air is created, a phenomenon that happens every time hits the sea shore.

It is one of the most famous tourist sites of the island, where you can enjoy a drink while you contemplate the beautiful sea view and landscape. Try the typical meals in restaurants that are located on the sides of the road.

The artisans of the site will show their artistic creations made with natural elements such as rocks and shells of mollusks.

 
The Little Swimming Pool refers to the creation of a natural spa made of coral walls and clear water where it can be appreciated the beauty of the fish and the biodiversity of the deep. This site has been especially designed to the admiration of nature, if you wish you may simply feed the fish or swim along with them.

For many years travelers have tried to find the barrels full of gold from those who speak the stories, deep into the depths of water that lies in the semi-cave. The journey is approximately of 120 meters that you need to swim across to reach the cave with 50 meters in size, small dwelling of bats and lizards.

The Coconut Museum, the Pirate Museum, the Gallery of Native Art,The Pirate Galleon are attractions that have been adequated in the same place for tourists to know in detail the legend.

The interior of the house includes a kitchen, a master bedroom, a living room and a patio, in which it is showed the daily rituals of the West Indies, reflected in the authentic parts of the old style of the island territory.

Av. 5 km bypass Tel: (8) 513 00 79

It is formed by a chain of hills which are located typical buildings and houses of historic and traditional architecture.

Its streets decorated with native vegetation make charming trails for those tourists who travel in search of natural beauty. From the top of the hill you see the most beautiful view of San Andres and its spectacular sea.

It is the most visited tourist area of the archipelago because the natural space there is beautiful, clean and cheerful. It is 1.5 km from San Andres.

If you decide to visit the park be ready to rest and try the excellent dishes based on seafood. The restaurants of the place have a delicious and varied menu.

On the island practicing water sports or relax in the shade of palm trees are plans to enjoy. It is just about 10 minutes by boat starting from the pier of the boat. Other keys, like Cayo Bolivar are a bit far, but it's worth traveling there.

This is the most popular beach visited by locals and visitors. Here are the most important stores, malls, discos and restaurants of San Andres, where you can buy pretty Memories of the island or items needed for your stay.

If you want to know one of the most outstanding cultural aspects of the locals, contact one of the artisans who stroll along the beach,you may have the hairstyle typical of sanandresanos, woven braids decorated with colored chaquiras.

• For the crystalline waters of the sea and the beauty of the cost, San Andrés is the ideal place to have a good time and to learn different nautical activities. Along their beaches it is possible to find agencies specialized in the instruction and realization in diving courses or the jetsky practice, aquatic sky, kayak, windsurf and many more. 
• Diving:
  Appreciate the depths of the Caribbean Sea, is possible with the expert advice of dive instructors in San Andres that have the necessary equipment, so that even those who may not know how to swim could practice this activity. Aqua Nautica is the company responsible to plan evening marine treks.
  Reports: Cel. 310 453 96 61, www.aqua-nautas.com
• Sports with Instruction
  Kitesurfing, windsurfing, catamaran and water skiing are activities that require instruction to be carried out although it is not necessary to be an expert to enjoy them. Spend a funny day on a paragliding above the sea, sailing on the ocean, or defy the speed on the superpie on the w ski boards. Information: Chamey's Nautical highway route to San Luis km 4th Tel. (8) 513 20 77 Cel. 315 303 95 23. www.chameynautica.com
• Aquatic sport without instruction
  If you wish a quiet evening sailing or cycling on the sea, kayaking or riding a jet sky, activities that you will enjoy without the need of specialized guides.If you want to change some everyday practices, with the fishing tour you will learn the techniques for obtaining the Seafood.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE TRAVELER

• Accommodations:
  The tourist lodges are an interesting alternative accommodation because in there you can see the habits of the islanders and details of their daily life. To choose the best options it is advisable to request the advice of tourist agencies operating in San Andres.
• Health:
  While traveling to Providence is not mandatory to have vaccines for yellow fever and tetanus, it is worth taking these cautions at the time of the trip.The principal health care facility in San Andres is the Hospital of Timothy Britton Colombia Sari Bay Avenue. Tel. (8) 512 74 44.
• What to Bring:
  Bathing suits, light clothing, sunscreen and camera.
• Timetables:
  Most stores and shopping centers are open to the public in two schedules from: 9:00 am to 12:30 p.m. and from 3:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. On the avenue from the beach there are some establishments that serve 24 hours.
• Documentation:
  Both domestic and foreign policies must be followed, the tourist card to enter the island. Foreigners must carry passports and the Colombian citizenship identification.
• Shipping:
  In San Andres public transport operates buses, taxis and tourism buses which will take you to the point of the island that you want to visit. If you wish to beindependent rent a golf cart, a pickup truck, a motorcycle or bicycle, which fares vary according to the length of the routes. Reports: Car Rental Perez Navarro Ltda. Av. Not Colombia. Single Antigua 1-93.
  Tel. (8) 512 20 50 - 512 02 75. To visit the cays and islets you should be directed towards the Yacht Club which houses coming to the beach from downtown, near the Parque de la Barracuda and where the cooperative of private boats for water transport is.
• Tourist Information:
  Ministry of Tourism. House Fiscal diagonal Yacht Club. Tel. (8) 512 50 58. Cel. 300 651 74 25. secturismosai@yahoo.com.
  Airport Secretariat office of Tourism. Tel. (8 ) 512 11 49. Kiosco tourist information Avenida La Playa.