What to see, where to stay and the best time to visit San Andrés, Colombia.
Photo: Fabian Wiktor / Pexels
San Andrés is a coastal city in Colombia with a population of 71,946, and most visitors come for the beach. Days here centre on the sea: boat trips to Johnny Cay and to Haynes Cay and El Acuario, snorkelling around Rocky Cay, and time on Spratt Bight Beach in North End. San Luis suits couples who want quiet beaches, and Sound Bay draws divers. The best months to visit are January, February, March and April.
Allow time for the half-day trips to Johnny Cay, Haynes Cay and El Acuario, and the San Luis beaches. Shorter sights, such as Hoyo Soplador or Morgan's Cave, take 2 hours or less, so you can pair them.
Off North End
A small coral islet with white sand and palm trees, a short boat ride from the main town. Most visitors come to swim, eat fried fish and listen to reggae at the beach bars. The sea on the far side can be rough, so check where it is safe to swim.
Off the east coast
Two neighbouring cays surrounded by shallow, clear water where you can wade between them. People go to snorkel among fish and often see stingrays near Haynes Cay. It is usually combined with Johnny Cay on boat tours.
North End
The main town beach, with soft sand and calm, turquoise water next to the seafront walkway. It is easy to reach from most hotels and works well for a swim, a sunset walk or a drink. It gets crowded and busy with vendors.
West coast
A natural pool in the coral cliffs with ladders, a diving board and a water slide into deep, clear water. The snorkelling is good straight from the rocks and fish gather close to the platform. There is no sandy beach here.
South End
A hole in the coral rock where waves push water and air up in a spray. How strong it is depends on the wind and the sea, so on calm days it can be weak. Most people stop here while driving or cycling around the island.
San Luis
A small cay off the east coast that you can walk to through shallow water from the beach. Near it lies a rusting shipwreck that snorkellers like to explore. The water is calmer and quieter here than in town.
San Luis
A stretch of beaches on the east coast with a more relaxed feel than North End. This is a good area to see traditional wooden Raizal houses and eat local food. The sea can be choppy when the wind is strong.
La Loma
A historic wooden church on the hill in La Loma, the centre of Raizal culture on the island. It shows the Afro-Caribbean, English-speaking heritage of San Andrés. From the hill there are wide views over the sea.
La Loma
A freshwater lagoon in the island's interior surrounded by tropical plants. Visitors come to see turtles, birds and the caimans that live in the water. It gives a different view of the island away from the beaches.
West coast
A sea cave linked to legends about the pirate Henry Morgan hiding treasure on the island. The site includes small displays on pirate history and local culture. It is more of a themed stop than a natural highlight, but it is easy to add to a trip round the island.
Average weather and our month score, from 10 years of climate data.
| Month | High / low | Rain days | Sunshine | Sea temp | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best month: January | 27°C / 26°C | 18 days (68 mm) | 10.8 h/day | 28°C | 8.0/10 |
| Best month: February | 27°C / 26°C | 13 days (36 mm) | 11.0 h/day | 28°C | 8.2/10 |
| Best month: March | 27°C / 26°C | 11 days (27 mm) | 11.3 h/day | 28°C | 8.6/10 |
| Best month: April | 28°C / 26°C | 9 days (29 mm) | 11.6 h/day | 28°C | 8.9/10 |
| May | 28°C / 27°C | 19 days (134 mm) | 10.8 h/day | 29°C | 7.0/10 |
| June | 28°C / 27°C | 25 days (234 mm) | 9.8 h/day | 29°C | 7.0/10 |
| July | 28°C / 27°C | 25 days (214 mm) | 10.5 h/day | 29°C | 7.0/10 |
| August | 29°C / 27°C | 23 days (178 mm) | 10.6 h/day | 29°C | 7.0/10 |
| September | 29°C / 27°C | 24 days (206 mm) | 10.1 h/day | 30°C | 7.0/10 |
| October | 29°C / 27°C | 27 days (275 mm) | 9.7 h/day | 30°C | 7.0/10 |
| November | 28°C / 26°C | 26 days (284 mm) | 9.3 h/day | 30°C | 7.0/10 |
| December | 28°C / 26°C | 22 days (156 mm) | 10.2 h/day | 29°C | 8.0/10 |
Highs of 27.2°C and 17.5 rain days, but only 68 mm of rain, so showers tend to be short. Score 8, one of the best months.
Highs of 26.9°C, 13.3 rain days and just 36 mm of rain. The sea is 27.5°C. Score 8.2, one of the best months.
Dry and sunny, with 10.8 rain days, 27 mm of rain and 11.3 sun hours a day. Highs of 27°C. Score 8.6, a best month.
The top score of the year at 8.9. Highs of 27.6°C, only 8.5 rain days and 11.6 sun hours a day.
The rain returns, with 19.1 rain days and 134 mm, up from 29 mm in April. Highs of 28.1°C. Score 7, still good.
Wet and warm. 25 rain days bring 234 mm, with highs of 28.3°C and a 29.3°C sea. Score 7, a good month.
Highs of 28.3°C and 24.8 rain days with 214 mm. Showers are frequent, but sun still averages 10.5 hours a day. Score 7, good.
Highs of 28.5°C, 23.4 rain days and 178 mm of rain. The sea is 29.3°C. Score 7, a good month.
Hot and wet, with highs of 28.8°C and 24 rain days bringing 206 mm. The sea reaches 29.9°C. Score 7, good.
Tough for rain: 26.6 rain days and 275 mm. Highs of 28.6°C and the warmest sea of the year at 30.2°C. Score 7, good.
The wettest month, with 284 mm over 26.1 rain days and the least sun, 9.3 hours a day. Highs of 28.3°C. Score 7, good.
Rain eases to 156 mm over 22 rain days. Highs of 27.9°C and a 28.7°C sea. Score 8 puts it back among the best months.
Climate averages 2015–2024 · Best time to visit Colombia →
The best areas to base yourself and who each one suits.
Good for couples, beach lovers, quiet
San Luis runs along the east coast, with calmer beaches, clear water and traditional wooden Raizal houses. It feels more relaxed than El Centro and suits travellers who want to swim and snorkel near their room. You will need taxis, buses or a rented golf cart to reach the main restaurants and nightlife in town.
Good for families, snorkellers
This stretch at the southern end of San Luis has shallow water where you can wade out to a small cay and a shipwreck. It is good for children and easy snorkelling. Food and shopping choices nearby are limited, so most evenings mean a ride into town.
Good for divers, peace and quiet
Sound Bay, on the southeast coast, is a quiet area with small hotels and access to reef dive sites. It offers space and calm away from the busy north. The trade-off is distance from town and fewer restaurants and shops within walking range.
Good for independent travellers, nature
The island's far south, around Punta Sur, has rocky shores, the Hoyo Soplador blowhole and a very local, low-key feel. It suits travellers with a golf cart or scooter who like exploring at their own pace. Sandy swimming beaches are few here, and it is the farthest area from El Centro and the airport.
Typical journey times and fares from the airport and other cities.
| Route | By | Time | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bogotá → San Andrés Avianca, LATAM and JetSMART fly direct. The 130 minutes is time in the air only (about 2h09–2h15), not door-to-door. I found no reliable one-way fare in COP. Google Flights showed COP 479,100 for the cheapest direct return trip (JetSMART). | flight | 2 h 10 min | – ↗ |
The best-known dish of the island's Raizal people. It is a slow-cooked stew of fish, conch, yuca, plantain and dumplings in coconut milk. Families share it at gatherings, and local restaurants serve it at lunch.
A whole fried fish served with rice cooked in coconut milk and fried green plantain slices called patacones. It is a standard lunch at beachside kitchens and small restaurants around the island.
Conch meat cooked slowly with onion, pepper and coconut milk until tender. Conch also appears in rondón and in fritters. Look for it at seafood restaurants near the water.
Small rounds of fried dough with a crisp outside and soft inside, from the island's English-speaking Caribbean heritage. Locals eat them at breakfast or as a side with fish and stews.
A sweet pastry filled with ripe plantain cooked with sugar and spices such as cinnamon. Bakeries and street sellers offer it as a snack or dessert.
A drink served inside a fresh coconut, usually mixing coconut water with rum and other spirits. Beach bars across the island sell it, mostly in the afternoon and evening.
January to April is the best time to visit San Andrés, with April scoring highest at 8.9 out of 10. These are the driest months. April has about 8.5 rain days and 29 mm of rain, and March has 27 mm. Sunshine is also at its highest, with about 11.6 hours a day in April. December is also rated a best month, with a score of 8.
October in San Andrés is rated good, with a score of 7, but it is one of the wettest months. It has about 26.6 rain days and 275 mm of rain, and only November is wetter, at 284 mm. Sunshine drops to about 9.7 hours a day. The sea is at its warmest, though, at about 30.2°C, and highs reach about 28.6°C.
The wetter season in San Andrés runs from May to November. Rain rises from 134 mm in May to 234 mm in June and peaks at 284 mm in November. Rain days in these months range from about 19 to 27. Even then, the island still averages 9.3 to 10.8 hours of sun a day. All these months still score 7 out of 10.
The sea around San Andrés is warm all year, from about 27.5°C in February to 30.2°C in October. It is warmest from May to November, when it stays at about 28.8°C or more. Air temperatures hardly change either. Highs stay between about 26.9°C and 28.8°C, and nights rarely drop below 25.6°C.
Plan for several days in San Andrés. The main boat and beach trips each need half a day: Johnny Cay, Haynes Cay and El Acuario, and the San Luis Beaches. Shorter stops add more time. Rocky Cay takes 2–3 hours, and Spratt Bight Beach takes 1–3 hours. West View and Morgan's Cave each take 1–2 hours. Hoyo Soplador, the First Baptist Church and Big Pond each take under 1 hour.
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