Region

Colombian Islands

Fly to San Andrés for reefs and duty-free, add Providencia for quiet; skip the Pacific islands unless you are a diver or researcher.

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Plan calculated: Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.

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Key facts · Colombia

Best months: Dec–Mar
Visa: Depends on your passport
Currency: Peso (COP, $)
Language: Spanish
Plugs: A · B · 110–120 V
Time zone: UTC−5 all year

Month by month hereIn detail ↓

Rules in force · 7Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the fir…

South America ↗Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the first day light; sleep lower where you can (Sacred Valley before Cusco) and descend if headache comes with vomiting or confusion.
South America ↗A yellow fever certificate is required on arrival in French Guiana, and asked for on some routes into Bolivia, Paraguay, Suriname and Guyana, or when arriving from Amazon areas — vaccinate at least 10 days before travel and carry the card.
South America ↗Overnight buses are the norm in Argentina, Chile and Peru, but pick top-tier companies and keep valuables on your body; on-board thefts from overhead racks are the common loss.
Colombia ↗Check entry rules for your passport with Migración Colombia or a Colombian consulate; some travellers must complete an online migration form before arrival.
Colombia ↗Security advice lists specific departments and border areas: check your own government's advice for every place on your route, including coastal roads.
Colombia ↗Never accept drinks, food or cigarettes from strangers, and be careful with people met on dating apps: drugging (including with scopolamine) followed by robbery is a known risk.
Colombia ↗Fill in Check-MIG only on the official Migración Colombia site; it is free, and lookalike sites charge a fee.

Colombia's islands split into two groups. In the Caribbean, San Andrés is the easy, busy base and Providencia is the small, slow one reached only via San Andrés. In the Pacific, Gorgona and Malpelo are marine parks with tight visitor rules and no resort infrastructure. Pick by what you want to do in the water, not by the map.

Where to sleep

5 places in this region

Sleep base

San AndrésGuide: planned
Airport, most beds, duty-free shops, reef and Johnny Cay.
Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.
ProvidenciaGuide: planned
Small, quiet, reached by short flight from San Andrés; McBean Lagoon.
Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.

Day trip

Islas del RosarioGuide: planned
Boat day from Cartagena; not a place to base yourself.
Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.
Isla GorgonaGuide: planned
Pacific marine park; limited daily visitors, guided only.
Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.
Isla MalpeloGuide: planned
Remote Pacific rock; liveaboard diving with permits, no land stays.
Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.

Plan the nights

How to split the nights, day-trips and what to do with your bags

Open Plan the nightsClose Plan the nights3 partsNights · Day-trips · Bags

Night sequences

4 nights: San Andrés 4 (reef, Johnny Cay, island loop)
6 nights: San Andrés 3 + Providencia 3 (fly ADZ–PVA)
3 nights: Cartagena 3 with one boat day to Islas del Rosario

San Andrés is a duty-free zone: cheap electronics and liquor, but check warranty and voltage before buying.
Pacific island trips (Gorgona, Malpelo) are seasonal and permit-limited; do not build a trip around them without a confirmed booking.
Hurricane season Jun–Nov can cancel flights and boats in the Caribbean; keep a buffer day before an international departure.

Day-trips door to door

To	From	Door-to-door p50	Last return	Note
Providencia	San Andrés	60 min	unknown	Short flights only; seats are limited and weather can cancel — book early.
Johnny Cay	San Andrés	30 min	unknown	Boat from the north-end dock; go on the first boat, crowds build by midday.
Islas del Rosario	Cartagena	90 min	unknown	Boat day from the Muelle de la Bodeguita; most boats return mid-afternoon.

Bags between cities

No useful luggage forwarding between islands; travel light and expect small-plane weight limits on San Andrés–Providencia flights.

When to go

Months and weather

Open When to goClose When to go2 partsSeasons · Climate

Seasons at a glance

From each city's month table

Pick a month to see where to go.

Only good-now countries

Show all 12 months, country by countryHide the 12-month table

Country	JJan	FFeb	MMar	AApr	MMay	JJun	JJul	AAug	SSep	OOct	NNov	DDec
Colombia (country-wide)	go	go	go	ok	ok	ok	go	go	ok	ok	ok	go

Go: the good monthsFair: workable, mixedPoor: heat, rain or hazeAvoid: storms, floods, closuresno data yet

Computed from each country’s own data; hover a country name for the source. Advisory countries are left out.

Climate strip

Month by month

Zone	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
San Andrés and ProvidenciaWestern Caribbean	best	best	best	ok	wet	wet	wet	wet	wet	wet	ok	best
Islas del RosarioCaribbean coast off Cartagena	best	best	best	ok	wet	wet	wet	wet	wet	wet	ok	best
Gorgona and MalpeloPacific Ocean	ok	ok	ok	ok	wet	wet	wet	wet	wet	wet	wet	ok

best: dry, mildok: workablewet: daily rain

San Andrés and Providencia: Warm year-round, roughly 26–31 °C (79–88 °F). Driest Dec–Apr; rain and storm risk Jun–Nov.Warm year-round, roughly 79–88 °F (26–31 °C). Driest Dec–Apr; rain and storm risk Jun–Nov.
Islas del Rosario: Same pattern as Cartagena; windy Dec–Mar can make boat crossings choppy.
Gorgona and Malpelo: Very wet; diving windows depend on currents and park permits — check before booking.

Caribbean islands are busiest in Dec–Jan and around Easter; book beds and ADZ flights weeks ahead for those dates.

Getting in and passes

Arrival times and regional passes

Open Getting in and passesClose Getting in and passes2 partsGet in · Passes

Get in

Door-to-door p50, 2026 estimate

From	To	How	p50	Note
Bogotá (BOG)	San Andrés (ADZ)	Direct flight	~2 h	Daily; also direct from Medellín and Cali.
Panama City (PTY)	San Andrés (ADZ)	Direct flight	~1 h 30	Useful if you are coming from Central America.
San José (SJO)	San Andrés (ADZ)	Direct flight	~2 h	Check current schedules; not daily.
San Andrés (ADZ)	Providencia (PVA)	Small aircraft	~30 min	All flights to Providencia start in San Andrés; baggage limits apply.
Cartagena	Islas del Rosario	Boat from Muelle de la Bodeguita	~45–60 min	Day boats and tours; no scheduled public ferry.

Regional passes

Verdict first

San Andrés tourist card

buy

Required on arrival; buy at your departure airport or on landing. Fee is a set amount — check current price.

Providencia tourist card

buy

Separate card for Providencia; keep it with your ID while on the island.

Gorgona park permit

check

Entry is limited and guided; arrange through an authorised operator before you travel.

Malpelo dive permit

check

Liveaboard only, with park authorisation; no independent land access.

Eat and move on

Regional food and where to go next

Open Eat and move onClose Eat and move on2 partsFood · Go next

Regional food

Where and when it works

Dish	Where	Timing / trap
Rondón (coconut fish stew)	San Andrés and Providencia	Raizal staple; often with plantain, yam and dumpling.
Fried snapper with patacones	San Andrés north end	Beachfront places fill 12:30–14:30; eat early or late.Beachfront places fill 12:30 PM–2:30 PM; eat early or late.
Crab and lobster	Providencia	Lobster has a closed season — check locally before ordering.
Coconut rice and beans	Island kitchens	Ask whether it is cooked with lard or butter if you avoid animal fat.
Fresh fruit and coconut water	Roadside stalls	Cheap and everywhere; carry small cash.

Go next

San Andrés

planned

Direct flight from Bogotá, Medellín or Cali

The main island base.

Providencia

planned

Small flight from San Andrés, ~30 min

Quiet, small, McBean Lagoon.

Islas del Rosario

planned

Boat day from Cartagena

Easiest island day on a mainland trip.

Isla Gorgona

planned

Boat from the Pacific coast, permit required

Marine park; seasonal access.

Isla Malpelo

planned

Liveaboard from Buenaventura or Panama

Divers only; no land stays.

Old Providence McBean Lagoon National Natural Park

planned

On Providencia

Mangroves, reef and a short trail.

Planning aids

Built from this guide's own data

Open Planning aidsClose Planning aids2 partsIn numbers · Going in…

Region in numbers

Not yet checked

Where to sleep: 2 bases
Day trips: 3, 30 min to 1 h 30
Nights suggested: 3–6 nights
Ways in: 5 listed
Best months: No month is best in every zone

Going in…

Pick a month for the weather in each zone of the region, plus the country-wide rating and holidays.

Pick a month.

Open Colombia Up to Colombia

Deep dive

Photos, reading and every source

Open Deep diveClose Deep dive1 partSources

Sources

officialColombia travel — official tourism site
officialSan Andrés tourism and island information
officialParques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia
secondaryWikivoyage: Colombian Islands, revision 4943758 (CC BY-SA 4.0)

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