San Andres and Proviencia Islands

San Andrés and Providencia, deserted white sand beaches, exquisite snorkelling, and a vibrant local culture

The tropical Colombian archipelago of San Andrés and Providencia boasts some of the most pristine and unspoiled beaches and reefs in South America. With a historical connection to Great Britain and a geographic proximity to Nicaragua, these islands have their own unique local culture, the English-Creole speaking Raizal people. San Andrés and Providencia are truly off the beaten track, and are an unspoiled paradise waiting for intrepid travellers.

The Area

San Andrés is the largest island in the archipelago, and serves as the administrative capital. Every weekend Colombian tourists flood onto the island to take advantage of the duty-free shopping and stunning scenery, but it is still easy to get away from the crowds and claim your own piece of beachfront real estate.

Providencia is far less built up than San Andrés (which isn’t very built up at all), and offers visitors access to thriving coral reefs, clear blue waters, and white sand beaches. The island is dotted with small fishing villages full of colourful wooden houses, and is a wonderful place to experience the local cuisine.

Best Time to Go

In order to take advantage of the best weather in San Andres and Providencia, visit the archipelago from the end of December to the end of April. If you are interested in the crab migration on Providencia, you should visit from April to July.