Turquoise sea, white sand, exotic cocktails and palm trees. Imagining this scenario transported you to what destination? Possibly for a beach Caribbean, such as Cancún, Punta Cana or Curaçao, the favorite destinations of Brazilians.
However, we are going to present a destination that brings together all these beauties and a super important ally: more affordable values. find it out San Andres or for the intimate: the sea of seven colors .
San Andrés is an island in the Caribbean Sea that belongs to Colombia, but is close to Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Its location brings a cultural mix where Colombian identity prevails, but with touches of Creole culture.
The language spoken on the island, in addition to Spanish, is Creole, with English, African, French and Castilian influences.
The trip can be perfectly combined with other Colombian destinations, such as the city of Cartagena, which is just 1h30 by plane from San Andrés.
The architecture and charm of Cartagena combined with the tropical paradise that is San Andrés can be a perfect combo for honeymooners, traveling with friends, family or solo travelers.
It is also worth remembering that Colombia recently appeared in two important rankings of the best countries to visit in 2022: first it was Medellin on the Time Out list, and then Bogotá, on the US magazine TIME.
The island does not disappoint in terms of natural beauty: like the entire Caribbean, it offers a sea of incredible colors that range from turquoise blue to emerald green, which is why the city has been nicknamed the owner of the “sea of seven colors”. In addition to pleasant temperatures, cool restaurants and a boardwalk typical of small beach towns, with many shops, ice cream parlors and cafes.
The city doesn’t bring luxury and doesn’t have the trendy resorts like Cancún. In San Andrés, the rustic – which reminds us of trips to the coast in adolescence – steals the show. Still, there are good options for accommodation and gastronomy.
The boom in European and North American visitors did not reach San Andrés as it does in other destinations. Good for us Latinos, who can visit the island at more affordable prices than other Caribbean beaches.
Nature, culture, cuisine, shopping or sightseeing, there are plenty of reasons to include San Andrés in your vacation itinerary. Here are five reasons to visit the island:
Shopping
The island is a free zone and is tax free, so products are usually around 20% cheaper in San Andrés when compared to other Colombian cities.
There are several outlets in the center of the island, following the pattern of airports, with many imported perfumes, cosmetics, watches, bags, suitcases, sunglasses and household items, such as high quality bedding.
Surf brand stores also stand out among the outlets in San Andrés. If the intention is not to go shopping, the famous “just take a look” is still fun.
tours
Being in the water is what dictates the main tours on the island of San Andrés, among the options are the jet ski rental, night kayak, transparent kayak to see the colorful fish passing below and the parasail – to enjoy the sea of seven top colors.
To get around the island and see all the points, you can rent “mules” (golf carts), scooters or bicycles. Driving or cycling is not your thing? No problems! A chiva (colorful train) can take you around the island with stops at the main attractions. The must-see places are:
Spratt Bight Beach
It is the main one on the island, where the best resorts, commerce and shops are located. The beach does not disappoint in terms of clear blue sea, palm trees and fun. The sand strip is lively, has music and volleyball nets.
But, if you prefer a quieter corner, just walk a little to the end of the beach, there the space is more dedicated to families. Beach tents and chairs can be rented on site.
Johnny Cay
A few meters from Spratt Bight beach is the island of Johnny Cay, a must-see in San Andrés. To get to this paradise, you have to pay for a boat service that leaves from the piers in the city center.
It’s worth spending the day there; In addition to the beach, there is a large, tree-lined lawn, making it possible to alternate between enjoying the sea, the sand and then napping on the grass. On the islet you can still be lucky enough to cross an iguana and other more exotic species of lizards.
Aquarium
Another unmissable tour is the Acuário and Haynes Cay combo, here you will probably see the most transparent sea you have ever visited in other destinations, with the colors of many marine species; That’s the reason for the name “aquarium”.
The island has a sandbar with two coral barriers that form a corridor of shallow water, perfect for admiring the little fish. Don’t forget to bring your own snorkel and shoes to walk without hurting your feet in the corals.
West View and Swimming Pool
As you circle the island, you will instinctively stop for a dip at one of these spots, which are side by side. West View and Piscinita are to the west on the island of San Andrés.
There are stairs if you don’t want to venture out on the trampoline or slide. The region is also perfect for snorkeling, there are many colorful fish and an incredible view of the sunset.
Hoyo Soplador
Nature was really generous with San Andrés, in addition to paradisiacal beaches, the city has some curious attractions, such as Hoyo Soplador, a hole that was formed in the rocks by the force of the waves.
The curious thing here is that, depending on the movement of the waves, a splash of water comes out with force from the hole. Tourists crowd around waiting to watch the phenomenon. Around there are souvenir shops and a bar.
Gastronomy
Seafood is varied and abundant in the cuisine of San Andrés. Lobsters, shrimps, langostinos, fish and coconut rice are the flagships in the restaurants on the island.
The sea air and the beach climate are inviting for the light and colorful dishes that the local cuisine provides, which offers seafood with elements of Creole cuisine to remind us that we are in Caribbean lands.
The typical drink in town is coco loco, made with rum, tequila and vodka and coconut water. And the most characteristic non-alcoholic drink in the region is lemonade with coconut, perfect for hot days.
Culture
The Caribbean culture is certainly an added attraction for San Andrés. Starting with the joy of the people and the mix of rhythms – which is dominated by reggae, but goes through salsa, merengue, calypso, reggaeton, vallenato and cumbia.
On the waterfront, every night there are lively groups dancing, people of all ages. The feeling you get in San Andrés, any day of the week, is that every day is a Saturday night in summer.
The cultural part of the island can be seen at the “Casa Museu Islena”, a museum dedicated to local roots, culture and traditions. The wooden house where the exhibition is located refers to buildings from the colonial period and recreates the daily lives of the residents in past centuries.
Marine life
San Andrés has the third largest barrier reef in the world, according to information from the Colombian Department of Tourism. Therefore, scuba diving is one of the main attractions of the region.
Even inexperienced divers enjoy the opportunity to explore the bottom of the “sea of seven colors”. Several accredited agencies carry out the training and take tourists to the experience, with the opportunity to have the moment captured by a photographer.
Diving enthusiasts enjoy the activity in this region especially because of the mild water temperature, calm sea, the possibility of diving directly from the shore (without having to take a boat) and the transparent water that provides perfect visibility of marine life.
In addition to the fish, diving off the coast of San Andrés still provides some surprises, such as a statue of Poseidon and a shipwreck at the bottom of the sea.
Did you want to visit Colombia? It is important to remember that the destination, at this moment, requires the vaccine against yellow fever validated by Anvisa.
Source: CNN Brasil
