San Andrés Island, Colombia: A Top Budget-Friendly Caribbean Destination (2025 Guide)
We were in Cartagena towards the end of our journey in Colombia, after visiting Leticia and Puerto Nariño in the Amazon region, as well as several colonial villages. Initially, we had planned to end our trip in Santa Marta with a few relaxing days by the sea before heading back to Italy. But something about it didn’t quite captivate us.
That’s when we discovered a remote island near Nicaragua, which has belonged to Colombia since the early 1900s and holds autonomous status. A true Caribbean paradise, San Andrés was once a base for some of the world’s most infamous pirates. Today, it remains authentic and relatively untouched by mass tourism — and it immediately fascinated us. We decided to take a domestic flight from Cartagena directly to San Andrés.
We planned our visit in a bit of a rush and made a few mistakes, especially with accommodation and getting around the island. But I loved it so much that I returned a year later with my mom. That second trip gave me a much deeper understanding of the island — and now, I finally feel confident enough to write a travel guide to San Andrés, to share what makes this place so special and help you plan your trip perfectly.
Table of Contents
What to Know About San Andrés Island Colombia
- San Andrés Island is an amazingly beautiful Caribbean destination that offers excellent value compared to other Caribbean islands, though it’s more expensive than mainland Colombia. This Colombian island paradise combines stunning beaches, crystal-clear waters, and authentic Caribbean culture in a compact, easily explorable package.
- There is an entrance fee for San Andres 124.000 pesos (Around 30 USD) per person (on 2024 January) that is purchased only at the gate prior to the departure flight from the airline company and it can be paid credit card as well. The airline company checks also your the return ticket.
- Do not consider your Booking and Airbnb reservations are confirmed even they appear to be unless you receive a confirmation from the property.
- When you arrive at the Island, the airport police may ask for your hotel reservation and return ticket. If you fail to satisfy them, they may even contact the property directly.
- All San Andres Island is a duty free island so many Colombians fill their luggages with alcohol, parfums on their way back.
Quick Facts About San Andres Island
- This is an amazingly beautiful Caribbean Island which is cheap respect to other Caribbean Islands but expensive according to the Colombian standards.
- It is not a big island to discover, it will take two hours to visit all the island if you rent a scooter or a buggy car. Taxi is expensive, buses are not frequent and they change schedule.
- You can either stay on the beach all day long, or get an excursion by boat or discover the island on your own.
- The center of the island full of hotels, restaurants, bars and shops is on the North of the island just nearby the airport. It is very touristy but not in an elegant way.
- At the northern center, there is the authentic little native village “La Loma” and a viewpoint terrace.
- The East Coast is dominated by San Luis Village where on the northern side there is Rock Cay Beach and some hotels, Airbnb’s and fast food options.
- The Western part of the island is very isolated and rocky, with a fantastic sea color, great for the divers.
- The South is a spectacle with its road full of coconut palms and white sand beaches.
- The things to see on the island are few and not as attractive as the beaches or excursion.
Where to Stay in San Andres Isand
During the high season, the island is very crowded, so it can be difficult to find available accommodation. After receiving an online booking confirmation, you must confirm directly with the property via email, text, or phone.
The most convenient area to stay is near Playa Spratt Bight, where you’ll find many activities and a wide variety of restaurants. It’s also one of the best beaches on the island, though it’s the most crowded.
The northern part of San Luis is also a good option — accommodations tend to be cheaper, and you’ll still be close to some great beaches. Be aware that most mid-budget accommodations do not offer hot showers or hairdryers.
If you’re into diving, consider staying on the less crowded west side of the island, which is better suited for underwater activities.
On our first trip to San Andrés, we booked a homestay in the San Luis area through Booking.com, but we had no communication at all with the host beforehand. When we arrived, it was really difficult to find the place. If we hadn’t received occasional help from the neighbors, we would never have found this typical house, which had no proper road or address.
Our arrival came as a surprise to the host, as they hadn’t checked their reservations at all, despite enabling automatic confirmations. Thankfully, there was a room available, and we were able to stay without losing too much time. The place was clean, and the location was amazing—just a few meters from the beach. However, the property was not managed professionally at all.
In fact, on our last day, we had a flight in the late evening. We informed the property that we would like to leave our luggage there and pick it up in the afternoon. When we returned to the house, everything was locked up, with our luggage inside, and no one was there. We called the owner through Booking.com, and she said the cleaning lady had forgotten and left.
The cleaning lady never showed up for over two hours, and eventually, the owner admitted that there was a hidden key under a plant vase. We could have just picked up our luggage and left—without the stress and the two-hour wait. Of course, this delay put us at risk of missing our flight.
To make matters worse, no taxis were available, so we asked a neighbor to take us to the airport. He agreed but had us ride in the back of his pickup truck and then asked for money. It wasn’t the kind gesture we had often encountered on the Colombian mainland.
Actually, many local residents on the island seem quite distant and distrustful toward tourists, including Colombian visitors. They feel like a minority in their own homeland. This defensive attitude is somewhat understandable, considering the many negative experiences they’ve had throughout history.
After this negative experience, I was relieved that my second accomodation choice in the San Andrés was a very positive one. I had learned my lesson and made sure to send several messages to the host before arriving on the island. I decided that if there was no communication, I would immediately change my reservation.
For around $50 USD per night, we stayed at Hostal Raatid Manchy, located in the north of the island, very close to the central shopping street where all the duty-free-style perfume shops are lined up, and just a short walk from the best beach in San Andrés.
The host was extremely helpful and responsive. He even let us use two extra rooms — once when we arrived early and our room wasn’t ready yet, and again on our last day, giving us a chance to take a final shower before saying goodbye to the island.
We were very happy with our choice, and I definitely recommend this place. It offers excellent value for money.
How to Get Around in San Andres Island
- On the island, they rent scooters or buggy cars.
- From 9 to 18 it costs around 80.000 COP for a scooter and 170.000 COP for a buggy car.
- The time is enough to explore the island since the road is very easy and in 2 hours you can tour the island without stopping.
- The island is safe till the sunset, after 18 o`clock (sunset time all year around) it is not recommendable to go on exploring the island.
- City Center and the North of San Luis Area is safe to drive also by night.
- The taxi is not that cheap if you consider the short distance and you have to bargain. From the Airport to the center it will cost you not less than 20.000 COP around 5 USD for just 1.3 km.
- Assure the bus schedule with a local to be sure. Unfortunately the buses are not as frequent as it is stated in the guide books, and they are really slow!
The Beaches in San Andrés
The beaches in San Andrés did not disappoint us. When we think of the Caribbean, what comes to mind is fine white sand, all the shades between turquoise and navy blue, palm trees, and a gentle breeze — and we found exactly that picture-perfect scene.
But naturally, we could never just stay on one beach. During our stay, we rented a scooter and explored all the beaches around the island, as well as spots without sand but where you could still swim.
The famous central Spratt Bight Beach is truly stunning. Rocky Cay is another beautiful beach with white sand and a relaxed atmosphere, located close to Spratt Bight. San Luis Beach can be nice depending on the tides, but I personally didn’t enjoy it that much.
I preferred the beaches further south, like Playa Punta Sur, where you’ll often find no one around—just palm trees and peace. However, in the late afternoon, the tide usually comes in and covers the sand. A bit north of Playa Punta Sur, there’s also a free, untouched area without sunbeds or anything artificial, just corals forming a natural swimming pool — it’s easy to spot from the road.
The west coast also offers incredible sea colors, though it’s mostly rocky. We didn’t mind and occasionally stopped at places where we saw an easy way to enter the water — but water shoes are a must!
Still, the most beautiful sea and the most stunning beaches we found were the ones we reached by boat. Johnny Cay Natural Regional Park (Isla Johnny Cay), known for its iguanas, and El Acuario (The Aquarium) completely amazed us, even though we visited during the crowded Christmas season.
1. Spratt Bight Beach: North Coast – Central
Normally, the most common or central beach on an island isn’t the best — but that’s not the case with San Andrés. The main beach near the center is truly stunning, and even the crowds can’t ruin its atmosphere.
The first time we visited San Andrés, we didn’t spend much time on this beach — just used it as a waiting spot before boat tours and to catch the sunset. However, during my second visit with my mom, we stayed in a place close to this area and spent much more time there.
We loved everything about it: the kiosks, the easy access to shops and restaurants, and the vibrant yet relaxed vibe. We even witnessed a pelican fishing right near children playing in the water — a magical moment! (Check out my YouTube Short about it below!)
Location: North coast, near the airport and hotel zone
Highlights: Wide, white sand beach with calm turquoise waters, perfect for swimming and sunbathing
Extras: Surrounded by shops, restaurants, and beachfront hotels
2. Playa Punta Sur: South Coast – My Favorite
I think the photo below says it all. But to find Playa Punta Sur looking like this — calm sea, soft sand exposed by the tide — you’ll need a bit of luck. The sea here isn’t always gentle, so it’s not exactly the perfect spot to spend the whole day.
That said, if you’ve made it this far, it means you’ve rented a scooter or a car, so you can see it for yourself — and then head a little further north to find truly calm waters and a wide sandy beach, all without the crowds.
There’s also a fish restaurant at Punta Sur, but it’s overpriced for what it offers. Honestly, it doesn’t even come close to my favorite place — keep reading below!
3. Rocky Cay Beach
Another beach where you can easily spend the whole day. You’ll find sunbeds, umbrellas, restaurant kiosks — and crowds too, unfortunately (a bit much for my taste). But the sea and sand are amazing.
The sand has a slightly golden tone in some areas, and it can get a bit rocky in places — so be careful with that. The view of the nearby shipwreck is definitely unique, though not exactly romantic!
Location: Northeast coast
Highlights: Shallow, calm waters and a walkable path (at low tide) to Rocky Cay, a small islet great for snorkeling
Tip: Bring water shoes for walking across coral and rocky spots
4. Playa San Luis
A public beach with occasional colourful kiosks offering sunbeds and umbrellas, wide beach much less crowded than spratt beach or rocky cay however the sea is never quite. As already mentioned it was not my favorite eventhough we stayed in San Luis the first time we preferred Rocky Cay a little further north.
- Location: East coast, in San Luis Village
Highlights: Quieter local vibe, palm-fringed coastline, fewer crowds
Great for: Swimming, relaxing, and budget stays nearby
5. West Beaches
There is literally nobody on the West Coast, except for some diving course groups. The reason? The rocks. You need proper water shoes to go in the water, and there’s no comfortable place to rest. We loved parking and jumping into whatever colors caught our eye in the moment. Here’s a picture from one spontaneous stop.
Best Daily Tours in San Andres
The island’s most stunning beaches are undoubtedly those dotting the small atolls around San Andrés – all only accessible by boat. Fortunately, these tours aren’t pricey and the destinations aren’t far, so you should definitely book one to visit at least these marvelous offshore beaches around San Andrés Island:
1- Johnny Cay Island:
I was desperately hoping to spot at least one iguana—after all, this atoll is famous for its resident reptiles. The entire island is one breathtaking beach after another, with plenty of hidden spots to escape the boat-tour crowds.
They are hopefully all concentrated at the picnic area – I don’t know why, people love to stay together I guess – a little like at Amalfi Coast beaches where people stay on the best beaches packed like sardines.
I am definitely out of this picture I cannot stand to share my space in the nature with crowds! But I can share with iguanas, in fact I shouldnt have been so desperate in the beginning as the island is literally full of iguanas and it is impossibile to not to see one! They are also curious and not afraid of the humans.
Sadly at the inner parts of the island we witnessed people giving potato chips to the iguanas and they were all eating them. It is actually forbidden to feed them but nobody checks and people do want they want.
2. El Acuario and Haynes Cay Island
The name El Acuario – “the aquarium” – says it all… This looks like a fake swimming pool with real fish. El Acuario is actually an extension of tiny Haynes Cay Island, where there’s just one Jamaican-style restaurant and bar complex.
The boat tours drop you at El Acuario, provide snorkeling equipment if you want, then leave you free. After exploring the “aquarium” area – where you can swim or even walk (the water is so shallow) – head over to Haynes Cay to discover more untouched beaches.
If you have not got reserved an online tour, you can try your luck at the Playa Spratt Bight and choose a tour and suitable time for you. The Coonative Brothers are one of the most recommendable tour operators, a nice yellow bungalow in the middle of Spratt Bay beach. The first trips start not before 9.30.
Where to Eat in San Andres Island
The center of San Andres in the North of the island is full of restaurants and cafe/bars, especially the seaside. But honestly, they’re pretty pricey for Colombia and the food is not that good. For lunch times hopefully we discovered the native women’s food stalls just behind Playa Spratt Bight on the main road. They are fresh, delicious and interesting and few places offer these authentic local flavors.
Just a heads up about beach dining: don’t plan any romantic sunset dinners because the police show up at 6 PM sharp to clear everyone out. Even if you don’t see cops around, it’s still technically illegal to hang out on the beach after that time. Also, if you’re staying outside the city center, restaurants close super early – around 6 PM – but you can always grab takeaway or hit up the fast food spots on the main street.
The south and west sides of the island have some incredible panoramic spots right on the rocks overlooking the beach – perfect for an early dinner or lunch with a view you won’t forget.
One thing I learned the hard way: don’t trust Google Maps for restaurant locations here. They’re never accurate, and you’ll end up wandering around frustrated.
Now, here’s my absolute favorite find: Ristorante Elien on San Luis Beach, run by two amazing young women. It’s completely no-frills – think super basic setup – and mostly locals eat there, but wow, the food is incredible. We’ve been to San Andrés twice now, and both times we ate there practically every day. The lobster is phenomenal, and I’m not kidding when I say we paid almost nothing for these amazing meals.
There’s also this pub near the Juan Valdez cafe at Spratt Beach that’s worth checking out. If you can snag a table on their terrace, you’re literally sitting right on the water. The hamburgers are solid and reasonably priced – nothing fancy, but exactly what you’d expect to pay for decent food with that killer location.
