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Voykit pocket guide · Colombia
San Andrés
Spend 2–3 days on San Andrés to see the beaches, snorkel spots and the island’s cultural highlights; longer stays add little extra value.
San Andrés is a Colombian Caribbean island with a laid‑back vibe, all‑inclusive resorts, cheap local food and easy beach access. A short stay covers the main beaches, snorkeling points and the island’s signature rondón soup, while day‑trips to Providencia are possible from here.
- Country
- Colombia
- Best months
- Dec–Apr, Jun–Aug
- Avoid
- May (rainy), Sep–Nov (hurricane season)
- Stay
- 2–3 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- COP
- Money
- Currency is the Colombian peso (COP, $). Cards work in hotels, malls and many restaurants; cash is needed for small shops, markets and rural areas.
- Daily spend
- Budget COP 30,000–45,000 excl. bed · Mid COP 45,000–80,000 excl. bed · High COP 80,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Claro (best coverage), Movistar and Tigo SIMs in malls and at airports; passport required and IMEI registration may apply for longer stays — check.
- Emergency
- Police / ambulance / fire 123
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 110–120 V · 60 Hz · US-style plugs.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: 10% propina voluntaria offered on the bill.; Guides: COP 20,000–50,000 per person per day.; Taxis: Round up.
- Water
- Tap water is safe in Bogotá and Medellín; drink bottled on the coast and in rural areas.
- Toilets
- Put paper in the bin in most places; bring tissues for bus stations.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | COP 4,000–6,000 |
| Rondón soup (restaurant) | COP 12,000–20,000 |
| Beer (bottle) | COP 3,000–5,000 |
| Taxi airport‑downtown | COP 11,000 |
| Snorkeling entry (West View) | COP 3,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- ADZ · Gustavo Rojas Pinilla International Airport
- —
Typical fares
- Airport → downtown (taxi)
- ≈COP 11,000, 15 min (check)
- Golf buggy (full day)
- ≈COP 100,000
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Rent a golf buggy (≈COP$100,000 per day) or a scooter; public bus costs COP$1,700; taxis from airport ≈COP$11,000, downtown trips ≈COP$6,000 (double after midnight).
See and do
Known for
- Seven‑coloured sea
- Rondón soup
- All‑inclusive resorts
- Snorkeling at West View and La Piscinita
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Providencia | Plane from ADZ, about 45 min | ≈1 h total |
Sleep
- Decameron chain hotels
- All‑inclusive, beachfront; good for 2–3 night stays.
- Hostels and Posadas Nativas
- Budget dorms or guesthouses with breakfast; central location.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello / Excuse me | Hola / Disculpehola / disculpe |
| How much? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?¿Cuánto cuesta? |
| Where is the beach? | ¿Dónde está la playa?¿Dónde está la playa? |
| I need water | Necesito aguaNecesito agua |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake, cheek kiss between women and mixed pairs; avoid: Launching into requests without a greeting
- Politeness: 'Con gusto', 'a la orden'; avoid: Blunt commands
- Topics: Coffee, football, food; avoid: Escobar jokes, drug talk
- Showing valuables: Keep phones away; avoid: 'Dar papaya'
Scams and watch-outs
- Buggies are restricted south of downtown after 4 PM.
- Bus schedules may end early; verify times locally.
- Tap water is not safe to drink.
The island is generally safe for tourists; petty crime is low but keep an eye on belongings and avoid drinking tap water.
One and two days
No timed day plan for San Andrés yet. Suggested stay: 2–3 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Seven‑coloured sea
- Rondón soup
- All‑inclusive resorts
- Snorkeling at West View and La Piscinita
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Gustavo Rojas Pinilla International Airport data: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustavo_Rojas_Pinilla_International_Airport
- Wikivoyage: San Andrés, revision 5243982 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5243982
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
San Andrés
A esta dirección, por favor
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police / ambulance / fire123
US consulate in San Andrés (check address); Colombian embassy in Bogotá.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/san-andres). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.