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San Andrés

4.6
(2941)
4.6
(2941)
•#9 on "Top 50 things to do and attractions in San Andres"
Island

About

San Andrés is a picturesque Colombian island renowned for its stunning coral reefs, vibrant reggae music scene, and plethora of water sports activities. The island boasts an array of attractions, including the captivating San Andres Town beach and the idyllic Johnny Cay with its palm-shaded shores and resident iguanas. Visitors can embark on boat trips from San Andres to Johnny Cay and Acuario, a charming sandbar off the east coast known for its crystal-clear waters.
Why you should go
    1
  1. Experience the sea of seven colors known for its beauty
  2. 2
  3. Enjoy a unique island experience with positive vibes all around
  4. 3
  5. Delight in fantastic food blending island and Latin cuisine
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Highlighted reviews

Slide 1 of 3
Lovely beach ⛱️ (playa) , sand imported from the Sahara not vulcanic
I had high expectations for San Andrés, but my experience was deeply disappointing. The quality of service across the island is shockingly bad. At restaurants, you wait forever because staff are glued to their phones, and when the food finally arrives, it’s mostly low-quality junk or poorly prepared meals. Anything that is marginally better is outrageously overpriced, yet the service remains lackluster. The lack of variety is frustrating—there seem to be only five types of stores, endlessly repeated throughout the island. On top of that, there’s no visible investment in maintaining or renovating infrastructure. Even a light rain causes flooding everywhere, making it unpleasant and inconvenient to get around. I couldn’t even find good coffee here, which is surprising and disappointing for a destination in this region. Tourist spots are overcrowded to the point of being unbearable, with no apparent effort to limit the number of visitors or their time at the attractions. To add insult to injury, you’re hit with ridiculous extra fees. For example, after paying for a boat trip, we were charged an additional fee just to walk on the dock to board the boat. Overall, San Andrés feels like a poorly managed tourist trap. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone seeking a relaxing or enjoyable vacation.
Inexpensive small group of islands belongs to Colombia. Duty free shopping, ok restaurants, average to good hotels. Cheap to get to from Panama. Good for an island break. Few things to do on the main island and taxis are inexpensive to rent for the day to do a tour around the island.
Lovely beach ⛱️ (playa) , sand imported from the Sahara not vulcanic
I had high expectations for San Andrés, but my experience was deeply disappointing. The quality of service across the island is shockingly bad. At restaurants, you wait forever because staff are glued to their phones, and when the food finally arrives, it’s mostly low-quality junk or poorly prepared meals. Anything that is marginally better is outrageously overpriced, yet the service remains lackluster. The lack of variety is frustrating—there seem to be only five types of stores, endlessly repeated throughout the island. On top of that, there’s no visible investment in maintaining or renovating infrastructure. Even a light rain causes flooding everywhere, making it unpleasant and inconvenient to get around. I couldn’t even find good coffee here, which is surprising and disappointing for a destination in this region. Tourist spots are overcrowded to the point of being unbearable, with no apparent effort to limit the number of visitors or their time at the attractions. To add insult to injury, you’re hit with ridiculous extra fees. For example, after paying for a boat trip, we were charged an additional fee just to walk on the dock to board the boat. Overall, San Andrés feels like a poorly managed tourist trap. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone seeking a relaxing or enjoyable vacation.
Inexpensive small group of islands belongs to Colombia. Duty free shopping, ok restaurants, average to good hotels. Cheap to get to from Panama. Good for an island break. Few things to do on the main island and taxis are inexpensive to rent for the day to do a tour around the island.
See all reviews
Map
Address
San Andres and Providencia, Colombia, USA
San Andres and Providencia, Colombia, USA

Know before you go

  • Visit during off-peak seasons to avoid crowds and enjoy a more peaceful experience
  • Consider exploring the less crowded middle and southern parts of the island for a more serene atmosphere
  • Try local dishes that blend Caribbean flavors with Latin influences for an authentic culinary experience
  • Engage in water activities like snorkeling or diving to witness the stunning coral reefs San Andrés is known for

Reviews

San Andrés receives mixed reviews, with some visitors expressing disappointment in the island's service quality, lack of variety in stores, and overcrowded tourist spots. However, others praise its breathtaking views, beautiful nature, vibrant energy, and delicious cuisine. The underwater world is highlighted as amazing with beautiful coral reefs. While some find the northern part too crowded and messy due to scooters, the middle and southern parts are described as beautiful.
Review score
4.6
out of 5
Wonderful
2941 reviews
From Google
5 stars
2301
4 stars
344
3 stars
114
2 stars
51
1 star
131
5/5Russell P
•
Nov 1, 2025 from
Google
Lovely beach ⛱️ (playa) , sand imported from the Sahara not vulcanic
1/5L.
•
Jan 15, 2025 from
Google
I had high expectations for San Andrés, but my experience was deeply disappointing. The quality of service across the island is shockingly bad. At restaurants, you wait forever because staff are glued to their phones, and when the food finally arrives, it’s mostly low-quality junk or poorly prepared meals. Anything that is marginally better is outrageously overpriced, yet the service remains lackluster. The lack of variety is frustrating—there seem to be only five types of stores, endlessly repeated throughout the island. On top of that, there’s no visible investment in maintaining or renovating infrastructure. Even a light rain causes flooding everywhere, making it unpleasant and inconvenient to get around. I couldn’t even find good coffee here, which is surprising and disappointing for a destination in this region. Tourist spots are overcrowded to the point of being unbearable, with no apparent effort to limit the number of visitors or their time at the attractions. To add insult to injury, you’re hit with ridiculous extra fees. For example, after paying for a boat trip, we were charged an additional fee just to walk on the dock to board the boat. Overall, San Andrés feels like a poorly managed tourist trap. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone seeking a relaxing or enjoyable vacation.
5/5David P
•
Feb 1, 2022 from
Google
Inexpensive small group of islands belongs to Colombia. Duty free shopping, ok restaurants, average to good hotels. Cheap to get to from Panama. Good for an island break. Few things to do on the main island and taxis are inexpensive to rent for the day to do a tour around the island.
5/5DJFXNC
•
Apr 22, 2021 from
Google
The Colombian island is one of the most beautiful in the world, the sea of the 7 colors is how the people knows this island, the weather and the people is great, also is really cheap travel here, I will recommend 300%
5/5Swag J
•
Mar 17, 2018 from
Google
Gorgeous Island with breathtaking views. Lots of Jamaicans who speak perfect English. Super Positive Vibes all around the island. Fantastic food.
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Map
Address
San Andres and Providencia, Colombia, USA
San Andres and Providencia, Colombia, USA
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Road trip planner
Trip planner AI
Plan a trip
Trip planner mobile app
Travel maps
Blog
Report security issue
Terms, Privacy policy & Copyright
Browser extension
Travel budgeting & cost tracking
How to embed a map on your travel blog
Jobs
Google data disclosure
Trip planners by destination
Explore cities and countries
Road trips by destination
Best places to visit by category
Popular search terms by destination
Weather around the world
Travel questions & answers
Travel itinerary guides
Maps of cities and national parks
Destinations at different times of the year
Places to visit by destination
Get the app
Get the iOS app from the App StoreGet the Android app from Google Play
Made with ❤ in SF & more
© 2025 Travelchime Inc.