If you're planning a trip to San Andres, chances are you're dreaming of wonderful white sandy beach days by a sea of seven shades of brilliant blue, preferably with coconut cocktails galore on hand. Right? The good news is that this scenario is very possible on this small Colombian island in the Caribbean. In fact, days like that are what make San Andres so incredible. It is located 750 km northwest of the Colombian mainland. The San Andres Archipelago is made up of: San Andres, Providencia and Santa Catalina. It is the largest island among them. It is surrounded by small coral reefs and several keys, which are home to diverse fauna and flora. Surrounded by Caribbean waters, the beauty of this island will leave you speechless. We invite you to discover in this article the top 10 things to do in San Andres:   [caption id="attachment_18075" align="aligncenter" width="675"] The high visibility and warm waters of the Sea of Seven Colors have turned San Andres into a favorite place for divers / Photo: kobbydagan, canva pro.[/caption]  

1.- Enjoying beautiful beaches

As an absolute Caribbean paradise, you won't be disappointed with what you'll see. That's why the best thing to do in San Andres, Colombia, is to relax on the best beaches, so stunning that they have 12 shades of blue and are surrounded by sugar-white sand and the island has a relaxed atmosphere. Travel Tip: Take a personalized introductory scuba diving course in San Andres and learn the basic concepts and techniques of this exciting underwater activity. There is no better place to learn than in the beautiful and clear seas of the Colombian Caribbean, with its rich marine flora and fauna.  

2.- Visit the Baptist Church

This is the first Baptist church built in South America. You can watch a short video about the history of the church and then you can climb the tower and have a beautiful view of the island.  

3.- Morgan Caves Tour

Many guides mention this attraction as one of the must-see attractions in San Andres. Basically it is a place about the history of Captain Henry Morgan. There are several fake pirate buildings and a replica of a pirate ship.  Travel tip: The best recommendation we can give you is to try to interact as much as you can with the locals and try to experience the local gastronomy.  

4.- See the best sunsets

I don't think we need to write much about this topic. Watching sunsets is one of our favorite activities and San Andres is a wonderful place to do it, you will capture beautiful landscapes!  

5.- Water sports

San Andres is surrounded by a diverse ecosystem of reefs, mangroves and cays. Without a doubt, it is the perfect place for scuba diving, snorkeling and other types of outdoor adventures. Unfortunately, diving is quite expensive. For 2 dives (2 full tanks) without equipment, you would pay around 170,000 Pesos. Getting the essential equipment such as masks, fins and BCD costs an additional 50,000. This is the first time I have heard that you have to pay more for your equipment. You can also rent a kayak and enjoy sailing around the mangrove forests, you will see baby manta rays and many other tropical fish.   [caption id="attachment_18076" align="aligncenter" width="675"] Venture out to explore the other two archipelagos that accompany San Andres: Providencia and Santa Catalina / Photo DC_Colombia, canva pro.[/caption]  

6.- Boat trip to Johnny Cay 

Johnny Cay is more touristy than Aquarium and Haynes Cay and, for some reason, everyone wants to go there. We took a full day tour to Johnny Cay where we spent about 5 hours on the island with lunch included and on the way back we were able to snorkel with stingrays. We also went through the bay of the island to the mangroves at Old Point, which were really beautiful.  

7.- Scuba Diving

The Colombian province of San Andres offers more than 30 commonly used dive sites in its 5,000 square kilometers of reefs of varying depths, including beautiful walls, tunnels, multi-levels and favorite spots for night diving, choose your favorite and explore the ocean.  Travel tip: Try coconut water.  Vendors offer it on the beach and on the pedestrian street, Calle 1.  

8.- Calle 1 Promenade

1st Street is lined with hotels, restaurants and street vendors. It runs behind Spratt Bight, so it offers a pleasant seaside stroll both day and night. In addition to checking out the vendors, check out the I love San Andres sign and the garden complete with outdoor exercise equipment in front of it.  

9.- Rent a golf cart for the day to drive around the island.

  There are two options of golf carts for rent, one that can only be used on the flat ring road and one that can be taken on the hills. The less powerful cart is the automatic one and does not require filling up with gas at the end, so it is the most economical. Choose the one that best suits your needs and go out to explore the island.  

10.- Horseback Riding Tour in San Andres Island 

The Horseback Riding Tour in San Andres is ideal for the whole family. Exceptional horses, the best guides and a tropical paradise await you in this beautiful Colombian Caribbean island.  This spectacular ride has an approximate duration of 120 minutes but we assure you that you will make the most of it! Book now at daytours4u.com.   [caption id="attachment_18077" align="aligncenter" width="675"] The islands of San Andres and its surroundings were declared a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 2000, and the third largest barrier reef in the world is located off the coast of the island / Photo: norbertomarques, canva pro[/caption]   Travel tip: You can walk to the main town from the San Andres airport; it's only about 10-15 minutes away. As you can see, San Andres is a Colombian island that hosts in its 26 square kilometers diverse and entertaining activities and tourist attractions for all tastes and ages.   

Live the best experiences in Colombia with Daytours4u! 

  By: Nathaly Bosch, social communicator by profession and curious traveler by choice. Spanish editor for Daytours4u.