When I told friends I was going to San Andres as one of my last excursions in Colombia, the most frequent response was, "Where?" San Andres is a small island that is part of Colombia but actually 700 kilometers from the mainland yet only 150 kilometers from the country of Nicaragua. There were no direct flights from Medellin so I had to fly to Bogota first and then board a two-hour flight to the island.
It's situated in the Caribbean so while Spanish is still the most frequently used language, many of the natives speak English as well as Creole. The sea surrounding the island is famously known as the "sea of seven colors" and that is no lie! Depending on where you are on the island or on a boat offshore, you can see a wide range of colors including many shades of blue and green. The water is also crystal clear, filled with a variety of tropical fish and coral reefs.
On one excursion, we took a speedboat to a small island called El Acuario where a local resident had tamed a sting ray and for $3.00 US he would put it on your back, let you hold it and even kiss it (you'll see that embarrassing photo in the link below). The other island of interest is Johnny Cay - a bit touristy but with beautiful (and rocky) beaches. I spent one afternoon there and ended up making friends with half the island because the Colombian people are so friendly.
Click here to see more pictures from this tropical paradise!
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