Making the most of San Andres
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Cruise ships anchor and will tender you close to the center of town.
Printable map to take along.
San Andres is located to the north of the coast of Panama, 180km east of Nicaragua but 480km to the northeast of Colombia's Caribbean coast. San Andres is a popular holiday resort and has beautiful beaches characterized by its white sand, red corals, and transparent water that has seven different shades of blue. For this reason it is known as the "Sea of Seven Colours." There is excellent diving in snorkeling around the island and on the nearby cays. The island is mainly coral and its vegetation consists mainly of coconut trees and its highest point is only 55 meters above sea level. Places to see include Hoya Soplador - a sea geyser, The…
Downtown San Andrés is where all of the island's business gets done. El Centro, as it is known, is filled with small shops, restaurants and government offices. A stroll down Avenida Colombia will acquaint you with El Centro. The San Luís District used to be the main port area of San Andrés, until the coconut trade was destroyed by a plague about fifty years ago. Now, San Luís is most famous for its gorgeous beaches.
Getting around
Taxis are your best option for travel on San Andrés. Makes sure to negotiate your fare ahead of time, otherwise you may be overcharged. Because San Andrés is only eight miles long, you can cover a lot of ground by motor scooter or bicycle. You will find plenty of rental shops along Avenida Colombia.
Food and shopping
Although San Andrés Island is only eighty miles from Nicaragua, the archipelago is a property of Colombia, which is almost five hundred miles away. The island's economy used to center around cotton until slavery was abolished in the mid-19th Century. Coconuts became the main source of income for the locals, until a plague destroyed the entire coconut crop in 1930. Now, San Andrés Island uses its status as a duty-free port to attract tourism and industry.
Money
The peso is the currency of the Republic of Colombia. 3065 Peso = 1 USD. The peso is highly volatile.
Staying connected
Spanish spoken
There are Cafes which offer free WiFi for customers in most towns and cities.