San Andres Island

San Andres Island
San Andres is 700 km from the Colombian mainland, a miniature paradise with influences from England and Spain, pirates and corsairs, blended into a rich culture which moves to the beat of reggae. Perfect beaches, excellent water-sports, diving and ecotourism. Your first glimpse of San Andres island is the sea of seven colors, home to many-hued fish and coral, working their magic on the visitor. After an afternoon on the beach or shopping duty-free, night falls and the air is alive with music and dancing.
Attractions
On the island's northern tip lies the main town and commercial center, known by the same name as the island. San Andres Town is surrounded by beaches, with small hotels lining the waterfront. Being a duty-free zone, the town often gets crowded with Colombian shoppers who come from the mainland looking for foreign-made goods at duty-free prices. To reach the town from the tender landing requires an approximate 20-minute taxi ride. However, it is not uncommon for drivers to choose the longer way around the island for a higher fare. From the downtown waterfront, boats offer trips to Johnny Cay, a tiny island just a stone's throw across from town and known for its powdery white sand beach and rustic, laid-back atmosphere.Activities
Under a blue sky that blends in with the sea of seven colors, San Andres mixes relaxation with any number of activities to let you experience the intensity of the lifestyle of the islanders: Island tour on a motorbike or golf-cart. Night-life in the bar, partying on the beach Sun and sand. Good-food tour. Diving and snorkeling in La Piscinita, West View and El Cove. Launch trip to the Aquarium, Haynes Cay and then Johnny Cay. Shopping in the duty-free area to the north. Bird-watching and ecotourism. Water sports: windsurf, kite-surfing, jet skiing.Shopping
Most shops in town carry duty-free imports. At New Point Plaza you will find shops selling local souvenir items and jewelry including emeralds.Food
t´s no surprise that different preparations of fish and seafood should be the specialty of this colorful island. Snails, lobster, shrimp, red snapper, black crabs and trout are only some of the ingredients in the exquisite dishes you can try. The seasoning makes great use of coconut and similar. And, as part of the English heritage of the island, there are aromatic plants such as cloves, cinnamon and ginger, for a delicious variety of flavors. Many dishes are accompanied by the simple rice and coconut, fried plantain, yucca and yams. Here are some of the favorites: Rondón: Perhaps the most favorite of all. Until a short time ago it was only prepared by men for men to eat, but today the women join in both activities. It´s a fish fillet with snails, yam, yucca, pork scratching, plantain and dumplings, prepared and cooked in coconut milk with pepper. Fish Ball: Any kind of fish can be buses to make this dish, including the parrot-fish, snapper, mojarra or even black crab. The secret is no remove the bones and season the fish thoroughly with tomato, onion, garlic and salt, with any preferred spices, and then fry it all. One specialty is breadfruit served fried or boiled, to accompany a Wide range of dishes. It is eaten when still green, when it has a stronger taste than when ripe. Desserts: After lunch, look around you, and you Hill see the women of the island offering sweet dishes made of coconuts – a delicious experiment. They also have fruit juices and cakes of yam, sweetcorn and bananas.Weather Forecast
Sailing Calendar
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