San Andrés and Providencia is a Colombian archipelago scattered across the western Caribbean, far closer to the coasts of Nicaragua and Costa Rica than to Colombia itself. The two main islands could hardly be more different in character: San Andrés is a busy duty-free island with package tourism and urban noise, while Providencia is quiet, volcanic, and largely untouched.
Both islands share a Raizal culture — the original population descends from English-speaking Afro-Caribbean settlers — and you will hear Creole English alongside Spanish in the markets and churches. The sea around both islands is famous for its "seven colours," bands of turquoise, aquamarine, and deep blue that shift with the depth of the coral reef, and the diving and snorkelling are among the best in the Americas.
Getting to the archipelago means flying into San Andrés from mainland Colombia (mainly Bogotá, Medellín, or Cartagena) or from Panama and Costa Rica. From San Andrés you can reach Providencia by short flight or catamaran.
