Hello! If you’re looking for things to do in San Andrés, you’ve come to the right blog! In this travel guide, we’ll tell you about the must-do activities and plans on this beautiful island in the Colombian Caribbean. We’ll also give you accommodation recommendations, tours, and tips to help you make the most of your visit.
Let’s start planning your adventure!
The best things to do in San Andrés, Colombia:
1. Enjoy the island’s main beach
We start this list of things to do on the island of San Andrés with its main beach: Bahía Sardina. It is located very close to the city center and the airport, in an area where most accommodations, restaurants, and nightclubs are concentrated, making it an ideal place to enjoy the nightlife.
Bahía Sardina, also known as Spratt Bight, is one of the most iconic, extensive, and popular beaches on the island. It’s one of the best places to visit in Andrés, and you can find a nice spot under the shade of a palm tree to enjoy its white sand and contemplate the Sea of Seven Colors and Johnny Cay.
In addition, the waves in this area of the island are usually very gentle, so one of the must-do plans in San Andrés is to visit its main beach to swim in the sea, play beach volleyball, snorkel in the coral reef, watch the sunset, or simply let your worries drift away in the breeze.
Accommodations near the beach: Viajero Hostel, Dreamer Beach Club, Caribbean Island Hotel, Hotel Grand Caribe, WH Hotel, Villa San Miguel, Oasis Hotel and Posada Nativa Bernard Place.
Tips for finding good, beautiful, and budget-friendly accommodation: The best way to get the best price on lodging is to book in advance. If you wait until the last minute, the most affordable and top-rated options may already be sold out, leaving you with fewer choices.
Our favorite platform for finding the best deals is Booking.com. Click here to save up to 15% on your stay. In many cases, you can book without a credit card, pay at the property, and cancel without penalty.
Additionally, if you book frequently, you’ll get exclusive discounts, free breakfasts, and room upgrades at no extra cost, helping you save even more on your trip.
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2. What to do in San Andrés: Visit Johnny Cay, The Aquarium, and Haynes Cay
Johnny Cay, The Aquarium, and Haynes Cay are, in our opinion, some of the best places to visit in San Andrés. Touring them will allow you to navigate the crystal-clear waters of the Sea of Seven Colors, and upon arrival, you will find beaches, ideal areas for snorkeling, and places to enjoy the sun, the breeze, and the sea.
At Johnny Cay, an islet with white sand beaches, turquoise waters, and restaurants awaits you. The Aquarium is a sandbank in the middle of the sea, famous for the clarity of its shallow waters and the large number of fish you can see. From there, you can walk across a floating bridge to Haynes Cay.
Please note that this boat trip to the islets is one of the most popular activities in San Andrés and can take up a large part of the day, as tours typically last 6 hours and are weather-dependent. Therefore, we recommend arriving very early to make the most of the experience.
You might be interested in: Sunrise Sailing Trip
How to find last-minute cheap flights? Booking your tickets in advance is ideal, but we know that’s not always possible. If you’re looking for great fares and want to save money, Skyscanner is an excellent option.
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Is it safe to buy flights on Skyscanner? Yes, but with caution. Skyscanner does not sell tickets directly; instead, it redirects you to airlines and travel agencies. For added security, we recommend purchasing your tickets through the link that takes you directly to the airline’s official website.
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3. Go around the island and enjoy the beaches of San Luis
One of the best activities in San Andrés is to rent a buggy, a motorcycle, or a bicycle to tour the island. You can stop at tourist spots like Cocoplum, where you can enjoy the beach and swim to Rocky Cay; West View or La Piscinita, ideal for swimming among multicolored fish; and San Luis.
San Luis is one of the most traditional neighborhoods on the island. There you can admire the typical wooden architecture, with colorful houses built on stilts. Plus, being far from the center, this area is home to some of San Andrés’s quietest beaches—our favorites.
Circling the island can take between 2 and 4 hours, depending on how many stops you make, so we recommend setting aside at least half a day for this plan. We’re sure you’ll find beautiful spots to take photos and enjoy the sea and the Caribbean breeze.
Tip: San Luis is also an excellent place to sample authentic local cuisine. Every time we go, we visit the Donde Francesca restaurant, and their casseroles have always been a hit. In addition, you can find cheaper accommodations such as: Zippy´s Sea View Apartments, Yellow Moon and Chalet del Mar.
Rent your motorcycle or buggy here by the hour
Tip: Save time and money by booking on platforms like GuruWalk, Civitatis, or Denomades. We recommend these sites because, in addition to being secure, they allow you to compare prices, read reviews from other travelers, learn about the itineraries in detail, and know exactly what each tour includes.
GuruWalk: Exclusively for free walking tours worldwide. Civitatis: Offers a wide variety of tours, guided visits, and excursions in hundreds of destinations. Denomades: Specializes in nature and adventure activities in Latin America.
On these platforms, you can book at very competitive prices, sometimes even better than at the destination! Plus, they offer a great variety of payment methods and, in many cases, have flexible cancellation policies that allow you to get a refund up to 24 hours before the activity starts.
Discover your next free tour on GuruWalk
Check out available activities on Civitatis
Book the best tours in Latin America on Denomades
4. Things to Do in San Andrés: Diving in the Sea of Seven Colors
If you’re still wondering what to do in San Andrés, you’ll be happy to know that this is one of the Colombian islands that allows you to explore the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve, the third largest barrier reef in the world. In our opinion, along with Gorgona Island, it’s one of the best diving spots in Colombia.
Never dived before? Don’t worry! One of the most popular tours on the island is the baptism of diving, a 3-hour mini-course where you’ll learn how to use scuba diving equipment and basic diving techniques. Then, accompanied by an instructor, you’ll safely take your first dive.
Plus, if you want to take this experience further, you can take this complete 3-day PADI Open Water course, which will earn you an international certification that allows you to dive up to 18 meters deep anywhere in the world. And if you’re already a certified diver, you can schedule your dives here.
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How to book the scuba diving mini-course in San Andrés? Just click here to see the detailed description of the plan, find out the price, what’s included, and see other travelers’ reviews. Then, choose your desired date, the number of people attending, and click “Book” to enter your details and proceed with payment.
The mini-course or scuba diving introduction lasts 3 hours. During this time, you’ll receive a theoretical and practical lesson, and you’ll be able to dive to the seabed. The tour includes loaner equipment, round-trip transportation from your accommodation, and a guided dive of approximately 40 minutes to a maximum depth of 12 meters.
The advantage of booking any of these tours is that, once payment is made, you will receive immediate confirmation. Additionally, in case of any inconvenience or if you need to cancel or reschedule your trip, you can request a 100% refund up to 24 hours before the activity.
See the price and more details of the mini-diving course
5. Explore Old Point Mangrove Regional Park
Closing out the list of tourist spots in San Andrés, we suggest spending a couple of hours exploring Old Point Mangrove Regional Park, a hidden gem located very close to the island’s main beach. There you can explore mangroves that provide habitat for a wide variety of marine and terrestrial species.
This park is a must-see destination for travelers who love nature and wildlife viewing, as it features an ecological trail and the opportunity to ride in transparent kayaks through lagoons home to four types of mangroves, iguanas, and various migratory birds.
If you’re thinking of traveling through the Colombian Caribbean, we’d like to take this opportunity to share some other destinations that you’ll surely want to include in your itinerary:
What to do in Cartagena de Indias
La Guajira: Cabo de la Vela and Punta Gallinas
Tip: When planning an international trip, we tend to focus on choosing destinations, accommodations, and tours, but often overlook unexpected events such as illnesses, accidents, thefts, or the need to return earlier than planned due to a family emergency.
To travel with peace of mind, it is essential to have insurance that covers medical expenses, repatriation, theft, baggage delays, and even civil liability. Moreover, in many countries, having insurance is a mandatory requirement for entry.
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What to do in San Andrés in 3, 4, and 5 days
Now that you know some of the best things to do in San Andrés, we think 4 days is an ideal amount of time to explore the island. However, here’s a travel itinerary that you can easily adapt to your available time and, of course, your personal preferences:
Day 1: San Andrés Main Beach
Day 2: Island Tour and San Luis Beaches
Day 3: Excursion to Johnny Cay, the Aquarium, and Haynes Cay
Day 4: Scuba Diving and Old Mangle Regional Park
Day 5: Free Day at the Beach
When visiting San Andrés Island, adopt responsible and environmentally friendly behavior. Be mindful of your water and energy consumption, and reduce the use of single-use plastics by bringing your own reusable bottle. The island is very small, and since it receives many visitors, it’s crucial to minimize your environmental impact.
If you are looking for all-inclusive hotels in San Andrés, we recommend: Sol Caribe All Inclusive, Grand Sirenis, Hotel El Dorado and Hotel Arena Blanca. Here, at this link, you can check prices and book your room.
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Other experiences that may interest you:
La Guajira: 3-Day Tour to Cabo de la Vela and Punta Gallinas
On this tour, you will visit Cabo de la Vela and Punta Gallinas, have time to swim at the beaches of Mayapo, Punta Arcoiris, and Pilón de Azúcar, explore the Taroa dunes desert, the lighthouses, and enjoy the viewpoints of Bahía Honda and Bahía Portete.
The trip starts in the city of Riohacha at 8 a.m. and the package includes transportation in a 4x4 vehicle, accommodation in a typical ranchería, full meals, activities, and travel insurance.
Trip available every day from Riohacha!
Price per person from: $957,000 COP
Recommended Tour: Tayrona National Park Day Trip from Santa Marta
On this tour, you’ll explore Tayrona National Natural Park. You’ll visit the beaches in the El Zaino sector, such as Cañaveral, Arrecifes, Arenilla, and La Piscina, until you reach Cabo San Juan, one of the most stunning spots on the Colombian Caribbean coast.
When booking, you can choose between joining the tour by hiking along the park’s trails (a total of 4 hours: 2 hours each way) or taking a speedboat to enjoy more time on the beach and skip the hike.
Guaranteed departures every day from Santa Marta!
Click here to check the price and book your spot for Tayrona
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