Things to Do in San Andres, Providencia and Santa Catalina

The Blue Diamond wreck

By Christopher Minster

San Andres activities

Most visitors to San Andres Island come for the chance to relax on some white sand, sunny Caribbean beaches and to drink piña coladas beside a hotel pool. That’s all well and good, but there is much more to this tiny island, and once you’re done tanning and scanning, you might want to check out some of the following activities.

Besides beaches and sun, San Andres is known for shopping. The island is a duty-free zone, like those shops at the airports. The best shopping can be found in the commercial district of the town of San Andres, known to locals as North End.

Snorkelers will have many spots to choose from. Nearby Aquarium Island is a favorite among locals and tourists alike, but bring your own gear and avoid it on weekends.

An island tour is a good investment, because it will take you to some of the best spots all at once, including snorkeling at West View, to visit the campy pirates at Morgan’s Cave, to see a nicely restored home, to get a good view of the island from the highest point at La Loma, and maybe even to see the Big Pond, a small natural lake in the center of the island. A popular stop on the Island tour is the Casa Museo Isleña, or Island House Museum, a restored traditional home. No Island tour is complete without a visit to the Blowing Hole, a somewhat bizarre tourist attraction which features, naturall, a hole in the ground out of which a strong puff of air occasionally bursts.

Scuba divers won’t want to miss the chance to jump into the warm Caribbean and hit some local hot spots. One of the easiest and best dive sites is the sunken freighter The Blue Diamond, resting in about 40 feet of water off the island’s eastern shore.