If you’re anything like me, I get excited over new beaches to take photos of 🤗 During my two month trip in Colombia I was finally was able to extend myself to this mysterious luxury Island I heard so much about. My friend Maarjte and I checked out the island to see how much of an experience we could get in just 2 DAYS. Here’s some tips because it only took us 1 hour to drive around the ENTIRE ISLAND 😂

Here are 7 Essential things to know before you visit San Andres Island.

You have to Pay an Entry Tax

There’s a non visitor tax of 112,5000 COP/ $34 it’s only payable at your departure airport. Had to triple check to make sure this was accurate, it’s really important to have when leaving and returning.

Just wrapping the idea of getting there was a bit confusing for us, information online isn’t always the most reliable especially during the pandemic where information was changing everyday.

The only way to we got accurate information was at the airport, we bought our flights online and picked up our boarding passes at the airport, there we payed our entry fees. They also urged to not loose it, most important document for when you leave.

Its Kind of Far from Colombia…

The island is located approximately 700 kilometers (445 miles) northwest of mainland Colombia. To put that in perspective, it takes about 2 hours by plane to fly from Bogota, the capital of Colombia, to San Andres Island. Flights are the most common way to reach the island, and there are several airlines that offer daily flights from different cities in Colombia, such as Bogota, Medellin, and Cali.

San Andres Island's history and geopolitical context are more complex than one might assume. The island's foundations are rooted in colonial power struggles in the Caribbean and slavery, and it is still embroiled in a maritime dispute between Colombia and Nicaragua that has gone on for over a century.

In 1928, a treaty was signed to resolve the dispute, but it was annulled and violated in 1980. Since then, Nicaragua has contested Colombia's sovereignty over the waters surrounding San Andres, claiming that they belong to Nicaragua instead.

In 2012, the International Court of Justice ruled that San Andres, Providencia, and Santa Catalina islands would remain Colombian territory, but Nicaragua would have control over most of the surrounding sea as its economic zone. However, Colombia has refused to accept this decision, leading to ongoing tensions and a dispute that remains unresolved.

While this geopolitical situation may seem complicated, it is unlikely to have any impact on your trip to San Andres Island. However, it does explain why the island, which is geographically closer to Nicaragua and Central America, is part of Colombia and South America.

Creole is Spoken First

Due to the history and It’s British Colonialism of the island, English/ Creole is the primary language spoken before Spanish. So if you’re worried about language barriers don’t worry they will let you know they speak English on the spot lol. If you’ve had the chance to travel through Colombia and meet the different native speakers, you will be thrown off like I was when you meet the locals on the island. They are Colombian but you get a sense that you’re in Jamaica and their dialect feels and sounds like Jamaica.

When I tried to speak Spanish to them, they all responded in english then giggled a little bit and let me know right away they speak english with pride haha. So don’t be shy, I had no issues communcating with people to get around or to specific destinations.

Internet speed is 👎🏿

The island was meant to take a break from reality but we brought our laptops anyway 😅 couldn’t get a solid connection in most places, pages wouldn’t open on our phones but I take it as a good thing. It allowed us to relax and not have our eyes glued to the electronics even just for a few days.

Maartje who I was traveling with at the time proposed the idea of being a digital nomad here, I said its possible? But this was just the first day, After experiencing the island for several days I came to the conclusion that San Andres Internet speed was very poor.

I struggled myself with upload to my platforms, website and everything overall to keep connected but the internet speed just wasn’t there. One of the worst locations abraod Ive ever visited that had poor connection speed. We figured the layout of the island wasn’t meant to have top speed like that, besides who wants to stay connected to internet when you’re in paradise?

How to get around?

you have options of taking a bus, motorbike, or Golfkart like one in this post, In my personal recommendation I suggest the Golfkart because it can hold up to 8 people ! Me and Maartje split the cost of 300,000 cop/ $75 to rent the kart for the day. We were able to see the entire island in 1 hour. It was fun and worth the time and money.

The downtown has a bus system, their Taxis, I don’t recall Uber or lyft being around on such a remote island but the best way to get around is renting a Golfkart. towards the end of time at the island, we were able to return the carts to the airport making it very convenient to return to the airport.

Dont Drink The Tap Water

By now you should know that tap water in some countries is not safe for consumption, San Andres is one of them. I express this message because I do have that backpacker style and carry/refill water as go to these destinations.

San Andres might temp you to take a dip, it's essential to exercise caution when it comes to the water that flows from the taps. Unlike in some other destinations, the tap water in San Andres isn't suitable for drinking. The island's water supply primarily comes from desalination stations or well reservoirs, and as a result, it's recommended that you avoid consuming tap water during your stay.

You'll notice signs posted in bathrooms and accommodations throughout the island, reminding both visitors and locals alike that the tap water isn't safe to drink. This isn't meant to deter you from enjoying your trip; it's a simple precaution to ensure your well-being and health.

A Caribbean Oasis Without the Complexity

San Andres is a tropical flex and the Colombians LOVE IT! Flights from medellin,bogota, mainland to the island are easy and convenient making it accessible for everyone to come and enjoy for the weekend. This makes it possible for Colombians to experience the Caribbean escape without breaking the bank or enduring the complexities of visas.

Its a quite popular place for a good reasons. Colombians can seamlessly navigate the island's offerings, from savoring local delicacies to engaging with the warm-hearted islanders, all while conversing in their native tongue.

If you’re more of a visual learner check out my vlog from this island here

Colombia Travel Guide available here

San Andres Island | 7 Things To Know Before Visiting