The best hotels in San Andres
San Andres has over 8,000 places to stay on an island you can drive around in 40 minutes, and picking wrong means you're stuck in a noisy centro guesthouse when the beach is a taxi ride away. We reviewed the standouts. These 10 made the cut.
Our 10 Top Picks in San Andres
Click any hotel to check availability and book at the best price.
Grand Sirenis San Andrés
San Andres
$292/night Prices are approximate and vary by season
Dreamer Beach Club
San Andres
$52/night Prices are approximate and vary by season
Hotel Bahía Sardina
San Andres
$147/night Prices are approximate and vary by season
Hotel Arena Blanca
San Andres
$172/night Prices are approximate and vary by season
Aquamare Hotel
San Andres
$158/night Prices are approximate and vary by season
Isla San Andrés
San Andres
$53/night Prices are approximate and vary by season
Hotels 111
San Andres
$117/night Prices are approximate and vary by season
EcoHotel palma É Coco
San Andres
$145/night Prices are approximate and vary by season
Prixma Hotel
San Andres
$96/night Prices are approximate and vary by season
Hotel Casablanca
San Andres
$183/night Prices are approximate and vary by season
Why These Hotels Made Our List
Here's why each one made the cut.
Grand Sirenis San Andrés
The all-inclusive option at $292/night. It covers meals, watersports, and beach access, so costs add up fast on short stays. The resort sits away from San Andres town, which keeps it quiet but means you need a taxi to explore. For a 5-night trip, the math starts working in your favor.
Address:Grand Sirenis San Andrés, Frente al Muelle Toninos Marina, Cra. 1 #1, San Andrés, San Andrés y Providencia, Colombia
Compare prices for Grand Sirenis San Andrés
Prices shown for 1 room, 2 adults. Click to see current availability.
Dreamer Beach Club
The best value on this list at $52/night. It's a hostel with private rooms, popular with younger travelers. Music runs late on weekends, so pick a room away from the bar. The snorkeling right off the dock is genuinely good. No other property this price gets you direct beach access like this.
Address:Dreamer Beach Club, Cra. 6 #1-100, San Andrés, San Andrés y Providencia, Colombia
Compare prices for Dreamer Beach Club
Prices shown for 1 room, 2 adults. Click to see current availability.
Hotel Bahía Sardina
Bahia Sardina bay is one of the calmer swimming spots on the island, away from the main tourist strip. At $147 you're paying for that location. The water stays flat for swimming and kayaking. If you've done the busy north shore beach and want something quieter, this is where you go.
Address:Hotel Bahía Sardina, Av. Colombia #5A-29, San Andrés, San Andres Islas, San Andrés y Providencia, Colombia
Compare prices for Hotel Bahía Sardina
Prices shown for 1 room, 2 adults. Click to see current availability.
Hotel Arena Blanca
Arena Blanca beach is worth the extra spend. The hotel sits right on it, and at $172 you're getting legitimate 4-star rooms with direct sand access. Nearly 2,000 reviewers at 4.5 means this isn't luck, it's consistent. No all-inclusive, but the local restaurants on the strip are cheap and better anyway.
Address:Hotel Arena Blanca, Cra. 1 #2-1, San Andrés, San Andrés y Providencia, Colombia
Compare prices for Hotel Arena Blanca
Prices shown for 1 room, 2 adults. Click to see current availability.
Aquamare Hotel
Good snorkeling directly off the property, which saves you the moto-taxi cost to the reef. At $158 it's slightly cheaper than Arena Blanca with the same star rating. Service slows in high season (December to February). The 4.5 is solid but from fewer reviewers, so temper expectations slightly going in.
Address:Aquamare Hotel, Cra. 2 #Calle 2 1B-128, San Andrés, San Andrés y Providencia, Colombia
Compare prices for Aquamare Hotel
Prices shown for 1 room, 2 adults. Click to see current availability.
Isla San Andrés
Forty-six reviews and a 4.9 is nearly impossible to fake. At $53/night this is exceptional value for what guests describe as warm, personal service. It's not beachfront. You'll need a moto-taxi to the water, around $2,000 COP each way. Factor that in and it's still a steal.
Address:Isla San Andrés, a 37,, Cra. 4 #2, San Andrés, San Andrés y Providencia, Colombia
Compare prices for Isla San Andrés
Prices shown for 1 room, 2 adults. Click to see current availability.
Hotels 111
No frills, no disappointments. $117/night for a clean, central hotel that does exactly what it promises. You're 5 minutes from restaurants and the main beach on the commercial strip. It won't be the highlight of your trip, but it won't be the lowlight either. Good base for exploring.
Address:Hotels 111, Bay point, local 8, San Andrés, San Andrés y Providencia, Colombia
Compare prices for Hotels 111
Prices shown for 1 room, 2 adults. Click to see current availability.
EcoHotel palma É Coco
No listed price, which makes budgeting awkward. But a 4.7 from 79 reviews means guests consistently leave happy. The eco concept puts you in quieter surroundings away from the main tourist drag. Call ahead to confirm current rates. Good pick if you want local character over resort polish.
Address:EcoHotel palma É Coco, SARIE BAY, 8001, San Andrés, islas, San Andrés y Providencia, Colombia
Compare prices for EcoHotel palma É Coco
Prices shown for 1 room, 2 adults. Click to see current availability.
Prixma Hotel
$96/night with a consistent 4.6 is the island's sweet spot if you're not prioritizing beachfront. Central location means Johnny Cay day trips and the Acuario reef snorkeling are both easy from here. Small property, personal service. Not the most photogenic spot on the island, but it delivers on comfort.
Address:Prixma Hotel, Cra. 6 #1-100, San Andrés, San Andrés y Providencia, Colombia
Compare prices for Prixma Hotel
Prices shown for 1 room, 2 adults. Click to see current availability.
Hotel Casablanca
Three thousand reviews and still holding a 4.4. That's real credibility. At $183 it's one of the island's most established 4-stars. The pool gets crowded during peak season, especially over Christmas and Semana Santa. Book early for December or you'll pay 30% more and end up with a worse room.
Address:Hotel Casablanca, Av. Colombia #59, San Andrés, Islas, San Andrés y Providencia, Colombia
Compare prices for Hotel Casablanca
Prices shown for 1 room, 2 adults. Click to see current availability.
Didn't find your match above? Here's every hotel in San Andres.
Every scored hotel in the city. Filter by price, rating, or type to find yours.
| # | Hotel | Our Score | Guest Rating | Reviews | Type | Price/Night | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grand Sirenis San Andrés | 4.7 | 1 883 | 5★ | $290/night | Book → | |
| 2 | Dreamer Beach Club | 4.6 | 2 187 | 3★ | $50/night | Book → | |
| 3 | Hotel Bahía Sardina | 4.6 | 1 579 | 3★ | $150/night | Book → | |
| 4 | Hotel Arena Blanca | 4.5 | 1 969 | 4★ | $170/night | Book → | |
| 5 | Aquamare Hotel | 4.5 | 941 | 4★ | $160/night | Book → | |
| 6 | Isla San Andrés | 4.9 | 46 | Apartment / Guesthouse | $50/night | Book → | |
| 7 | Hotels 111 | 4.6 | 148 | Apartment / Guesthouse | $120/night | Book → | |
| 8 | EcoHotel palma É Coco | 4.7 | 79 | Apartment / Guesthouse | $150/night | Book → | |
| 9 | Prixma Hotel | 4.6 | 171 | Apartment / Guesthouse | $100/night | Book → | |
| 10 | Hotel Casablanca | 4.4 | 3 281 | 4★ | $180/night | Book → | |
| 11 | Casa Boutique Los Cedros | 4.9 | 24 | Apartment / Guesthouse | $120/night | Book → | |
| 12 | Beach Paradise Apartments | 4.6 | 62 | Apartment / Guesthouse | $60/night | Book → | |
| 13 | Samawi | 4.4 | 1 001 | 4★ | $130/night | Book → | |
| 14 | Hotel Sol Caribe San Andrés · Todo Incluido | 4.4 | 4 059 | 3★ | $210/night | Book → | |
| 15 | Azure Lofts & Pool | 4.4 | 286 | 3★ | $110/night | Book → | |
| 16 | Hotel Aqualina Inn | 4.4 | 466 | Apartment / Guesthouse | $80/night | Book → | |
| 17 | ALOJAMIENTO El Lago - Deluxe Quadruple Room | 5.0 | 16 | Apartment / Guesthouse | $40/night | Book → | |
| 18 | Exclusivo Penthouse | 4.4 | 26 | Apartment / Guesthouse | $580/night | Book → | |
| 19 | Bahía Fragata 204 | Apartment / Guesthouse | $190/night | Book → | |||
| 20 | Decameron Isleño | 4.3 | 7 494 | 4★ | $120/night | Book → |
Where to Stay in San Andres
The neighborhood you pick matters more than the hotel.
Spratt Bight vs. Centro: which side of town to pick
Spratt Bight is where the beach is. Centro is where the cheap rooms are. These two facts explain 90% of hotel booking mistakes on this island. If you're here for sun, sea, and the boats to Johnny Cay, pay the extra $30-50/night to be on or near Avenida Colombia by the water.
Centro works if you're transiting, doing business, or genuinely watching every peso. Hotel Casablanca San Andrés is the exception: it sits in Centro but punches way above its location with rooftop views and solid facilities. Otherwise, Centro at night is noisy, smells like exhaust, and the beach is not a quick walk.
The all-inclusive question: worth it or not?
Decameron runs two properties on San Andres, Marazul and Aquarium, and they dominate the all-inclusive market here. For families with kids or anyone who doesn't want to think about meals, Marazul on Spratt Bight makes real sense. Food quality is decent, the pool situation is solid, and you're steps from the beach.
But the island has genuinely good local food you'll miss if you're locked into a resort. Miss Celia's kitchen near La Loma, fresh rondon stew in San Luis, crab at the road stalls on the Circunvalar. If you're a first-timer, do 3-4 nights all-inclusive and at least 2 nights independent. You'll thank yourself.
Diving and snorkeling: where to stay to make it easy
El Cove on the west side of the island is the closest neighborhood to the best wall dives. Portobelo Hotel there cuts your boat time to the dive sites to under 10 minutes. Dive operators like Banda Dive Shop also operate from the Spratt Bight area, so staying at Hotel Tiuna or Decameron Aquarium still works fine.
Snorkelers should prioritize Rocky Cay access. Sunrise Beach Hotel sits right there, and the house reef is walkable at low tide. El Acuario, the shallow reef near Haynes Cay, is a 20-minute boat ride from Spratt Bight and included in most tour packages for around $25,000-35,000 COP.
Getting around: mototaxis, golf carts, and the night bus problem
The island loop road connects everything, but public buses stop at 8pm. After that, it's mototaxis or nothing. Mototaxi from Spratt Bight to Hoyo Soplador at the southern tip runs about $15,000-20,000 COP. Golf cart rentals from shops near Avenida Newball cost $30-50/day and are genuinely the best way to explore at your own pace.
Taxis from the airport are fixed rate. Centro hotels are $7,000-10,000 COP, Spratt Bight around $12,000, and El Cove or Rocky Cay up to $25,000 COP. Don't let anyone charge you more. The rates are posted at the arrivals exit.
Rainy season reality: what actually changes
September through November is the wet season. It rains hard but usually in bursts, not all day. Temperatures stay at 26-29°C. Hotels drop 20-35% from peak rates, and the island is genuinely quiet. The downside: rougher seas mean boat tours to Johnny Cay and El Acuario can get cancelled mid-week.
If you go in October, book a hotel that's entertaining without beach access. Decameron Marazul and Sol Caribe Campo in San Luis both have enough on-site to ride out a rain day. Don't book a bare-bones room in Centro during rainy season expecting to spend all day outside. It won't work.
Local neighborhoods beyond the tourist strip
La Loma is the cultural heart of the island. It's uphill from Centro, quiet, and full of the original raizal community that has been here since before Colombian sovereignty. Posada El Nativo sits up here and gives you a very different San Andres than the beach hotels do. The Baptist church at the top of La Loma hill is genuinely worth visiting.
San Luis on the east coast is locals' beach. Less groomed than Spratt Bight, more coconut trees, and real seafood spots along the road. Sol Caribe Campo is based here and it's the best-rated hotel we vetted. The tradeoff is you need a mototaxi or rental to get anywhere else, about 15 minutes to Spratt Bight.
San Andres's best hotel regions
Spratt Bight is where most visitors should base themselves: it's the main beach strip, walkable, and close to everything. If you want quiet and local flavor, La Loma and San Luis are worth the short drive.
Spratt Bight 3 vetted hotels The main beach strip. Best access to the water, boat tours, and restaurants.
The main beach strip. Best access to the water, boat tours, and restaurants.
Spratt Bight is the postcard version of San Andres. The beach runs along Avenida Colombia with calm turquoise water, boat departures to Johnny Cay right from the pier, and restaurants and bars within a 3-minute walk of every hotel here. It's busy, it's touristy, and it's exactly where most people should be.
Hotel Tiuna, Decameron Marazul, and Decameron Aquarium all sit along this strip. Tiuna is the most accessible price point at $105-160/night. Aquarium is full luxury at $260-380/night with one of the best sea views on the island. You're paying for proximity to everything, and it's worth it.
The noise drops off after 10pm most nights. Weekends in peak season (December through January) get loud around the beach bars near the pier, so ask for a room facing away from Avenida Colombia if light sleep matters to you.
Browse all Spratt Bight hotels → Centro 2 vetted hotels Budget-friendly and central, but the beach is farther than the map suggests.
Budget-friendly and central, but the beach is farther than the map suggests.
Centro is functional. It's close to the airport, near the main commercial strip on Avenida 20 de Julio, and where you'll find the cheapest hotel rates on the island. Hotel Lord Pierre at $55-85/night is the honest budget pick here. Hotel Casablanca San Andrés at $150-200/night is the surprising upgrade with rooftop views that punch above its Centro address.
The beach is a 10-15 minute walk or a quick $5,000 COP mototaxi. That doesn't sound like much until you're carrying snorkel gear in 32°C heat. Centro is best for short stays, business travel, or if you genuinely plan to rent a golf cart and drive everywhere anyway.
Nights near the commercial zone on Avenida Newball stay noisy until around midnight. If you're booking in Centro, request an upper floor, rear-facing room. Both Lord Pierre and Casablanca have quieter rooms available if you ask at check-in.
Browse all Centro hotels → San Luis & Rocky Cay 2 vetted hotels The quieter east coast. Best-rated hotels on the island are here.
The quieter east coast. Best-rated hotels on the island are here.
San Luis is where Colombians who actually know the island go. The beach is long, less crowded than Spratt Bight, and lined with coconut palms instead of tourist bars. Sol Caribe Campo at $180-240/night holds our highest overall rating at 8.7. Sunrise Beach Hotel at Rocky Cay pushes into true luxury at $310-450/night with a 9.1 rating, the best we vetted anywhere on the island.
Rocky Cay is a tiny rocky island with a causeway access just off the main road in San Luis. The reef snorkeling directly from Sunrise Beach Hotel is accessible at low tide with zero boat required. It's genuinely special. This is what people think they're getting from Spratt Bight but rarely do.
The only real tradeoff here is logistics. You need a rental or mototaxi to reach Centro, the Johnny Cay boat pier, or most dive operators. Budget 15-20 minutes to Spratt Bight and $12,000-18,000 COP each way by mototaxi. For two people sharing, it barely registers.
Browse all San Luis & Rocky Cay hotels → La Loma & Bahía Sardinas 2 vetted hotels Real island culture meets quiet beach coves.
Real island culture meets quiet beach coves.
La Loma sits on the island's central hill with views across both coasts on a clear day. It's the raizal cultural center, home to the island's Baptist community and a pace of life that feels genuinely different from the beach strip. Posada El Nativo at $70-95/night is the only properly vetted hotel up here, and it gives you access to local life that most visitors completely miss.
Bahía Sardinas is a quieter cove on the southeast side, sheltered from the main swell and popular with local families on weekends. Hotel El Isleño at $120-175/night sits here and consistently draws our Most Popular badge. The water is calmer than Spratt Bight and the crowd is less frenetic.
Getting between La Loma and Bahía Sardinas takes about 10 minutes by mototaxi. Neither area is walkable to Spratt Bight, but both are 15-20 minutes by the island circuit road. If you book here, either rent a golf cart or budget $20,000-30,000 COP per day in mototaxi rides.
Browse all La Loma & Bahía Sardinas hotels → El Cove 1 vetted hotel The island's west side hideout. Best for divers and couples wanting seclusion.
The island's west side hideout. Best for divers and couples wanting seclusion.
El Cove is on the opposite side of the island from Spratt Bight, and it feels like it. The main road through El Cove runs along a mangrove-fringed coast with almost no tourist infrastructure. Portobelo Hotel at $165-220/night is the standout here, earning our Romantic Stay badge for good reason. It's genuinely private.
The dive sites along the west wall, La Pared, are accessed directly from El Cove in under 10 minutes by boat. Serious divers rate this side of the island above anything near Spratt Bight. Visibility regularly hits 25-30 meters in dry season.
El Cove is 20-25 minutes from Centro by the circuit road. It's quiet at night, which is either perfect or boring depending on what you want. Morgan's Cave, one of the island's most visited historical sites, is a 5-minute mototaxi ride from Portobelo.
Browse all El Cove hotels →Best Areas by Vibe
Tell us how you travel.
Romantic Getaway
El Cove and Rocky Cay are built for couples. Portobelo Hotel on the quiet west coast and Sunrise Beach Hotel at Rocky Cay both offer genuine seclusion, and neither has the resort-complex feel that kills the mood.
Culture & History
La Loma is the only neighborhood that shows you the actual island. The raizal community, the hilltop Baptist church, and Posada El Nativo make it the one area where San Andres feels like more than a beach resort.
Family Fun
Spratt Bight and Bahía Sardinas are the family zones. Decameron Marazul handles logistics so you don't have to, and Hotel El Isleño's calm cove water is safe for kids who can't yet handle ocean surf.
Budget Travel
Centro is the only area where you can eat, sleep, and move around for under $100/day total. Hotel Lord Pierre is the honest starting point, and the mototaxi network keeps you connected to the rest of the island for pennies.
Beach & Diving
Spratt Bight has the most accessible beach and Johnny Cay boat departures, but El Cove has the best diving. Pick based on your priority: surface beauty goes to Spratt Bight, underwater clarity goes to the west wall.
Foodie Scene
San Luis is where the real island food lives. Roadside rondon, crab backs, and fresh seafood from family kitchens along the Circunvalar beat anything on the tourist strip near Avenida Colombia by a wide margin.
We reviewed 8,000+ options across the main regions of San Andres. We cut anything with misleading beachfront photos that turned out to be a parking lot view, overpriced Centro hotels charging beach-resort rates for zero beach access, and all-inclusives that rope you into a resort bubble with no connection to the actual island. If the pool looked better than the sea view in the photos, we got suspicious fast.
Location Quality
Is the neighborhood walkable? Are restaurants, shops, and attractions within 10 minutes on foot? How does it feel after dark? We evaluate safety, public transport access, and whether the area has genuine local character or just tourist traps. A hotel in the wrong neighborhood ruins a trip. That's why location carries the most weight.
Value for Money
We compare what you pay against what you get. A €150 hotel with a great location, clean rooms, and helpful staff can outscore a €500 hotel with fancy amenities in a bad area. We factor in seasonal pricing, cancellation policies, and hidden costs like tourist tax and breakfast surcharges. The goal is finding the best ratio, not the lowest price.
Guest Experience
We analyze thousands of verified guest reviews across multiple platforms, looking for patterns rather than individual complaints. Consistent praise for cleanliness, staff, and room quality counts. We also assess the intangibles: does the hotel have character? Would you recommend it to a friend? A soul-less chain hotel with perfect facilities still loses to a well-run boutique with personality.
Every hotel on this page earned its spot through this process.
When to Visit San Andres
Hotel prices, crowds, and weather vary by season.
Peak Season (Dec-Apr)
This is the dry season and the best weather San Andres gets. December and January are the busiest weeks, driven by Colombian school holidays and international arrivals. Sunrise Beach Hotel and Decameron Aquarium sell out weeks in advance. Book at least 6-8 weeks ahead for anything at $200+/night.
Shoulder Season (May-Jun)
May and June are genuinely the smart play. Temperatures actually peak around 30-31°C, the sea is calm, and hotel rates drop 20-30% from January highs. Sol Caribe Campo in San Luis and Hotel El Isleño in Bahía Sardinas have their best availability. Semana Santa (Easter week) in April bleeds into early May with higher prices, so push your trip to mid-May if you can.
Rainy Season (Sep-Nov)
Rain falls hard but rarely all day. The island clears out and rates drop to their lowest point of the year, often $55-85/night even at mid-range properties. Boat tours to El Acuario and Johnny Cay cancel frequently from September onward due to choppier seas. Go for the budget and the quiet, not the beach activities.
Festive Season (Jul-Aug)
Colombian school summer holidays run July through August and push domestic tourism hard. The Festival de la Luna Verde happens in July and fills the island with local music, dance, and food events near Centro and Spratt Bight. Prices rise about 15-25% above shoulder rates. Book Decameron Marazul and Hotel Tiuna at least 3-4 weeks out if you're coming this time of year.
Booking Tips for San Andres
Smart booking strategies for San Andres.
Book beach-side hotels 6-8 weeks early for December and January
San Andres gets slammed by Colombian school holidays in late December and the first two weeks of January. Spratt Bight hotels like Decameron Aquarium and Hotel Tiuna fill completely. If you're targeting this window, book by late October at the latest. Waiting until November for a New Year's trip is genuinely risky.
Get the Tarjeta de Turismo before you land, not at the airport
The Tourism Card costs around $35,000 COP and is mandatory for all non-residents entering San Andres. You can buy it online before travel or at the airport kiosk, but the kiosk line at peak arrivals is brutal. Some airlines sell it at check-in. Either way, don't skip it: they check at the gate in Bogotá and Medellín before your connecting flight boards.
Ask your hotel for a specific room when booking, not just a category
On a small island where every hotel has under 100 rooms, a quick email requesting a sea-facing or upper-floor room actually works. At Hotel El Isleño in Bahía Sardinas, rooms 301-305 face the cove directly. At Portobelo Hotel in El Cove, corner rooms have the cross-breeze that cheaper rooms lack. It costs nothing to ask and regularly makes a $50/night difference in how good your stay feels.
Rent a golf cart for at least one full day, regardless of where you're staying
The island circuit is 30 km and completely doable in a rented golf cart from shops near Avenida Newball. Rentals run $30-50/day. You'll reach Hoyo Soplador in the south, Morgan's Cave near El Cove, and the La Loma lookout in a single morning without spending $80,000 COP in mototaxis. Every hotel on the island has a rental recommendation if you ask at the front desk.
Don't eat every meal on Avenida Colombia
The restaurant strip along Spratt Bight is convenient but priced for tourists who don't know better. A rondon stew or freshly grilled fish at the roadside spots in San Luis costs 30-40% less and tastes better. Take a mototaxi 15 minutes east and eat where locals eat. Miss Celia's kitchen near La Loma and the crab vendors along the Circunvalar near San Luis are the real deal.
Dive operators book up fast in high season, not just hotels
If diving is on your list, book your dive slots at the same time you book your hotel, not when you arrive. Banda Dive Shop near Spratt Bight and Blue Life Diving near El Cove both cap group sizes at 8-10 divers. In December and January, they fill morning slots 3-5 days in advance. A two-tank dive runs $60-90 USD, and the wall dives off El Cove at 25-30 meter visibility are genuinely among the best in the Caribbean.
Hotels in San Andres, FAQ
Straight answers from our team.
What's the best area to stay in San Andres?
Spratt Bight is the sweet spot for most visitors. You're within 5 minutes walk of the main beach, boat tours to Johnny Cay, and a solid stretch of restaurants along Avenida Colombia. Centro is cheaper but noisier and further from the water than you'd think from the map.
How much does a hotel in San Andres cost per night?
Budget rooms in Centro start around $55-85/night at places like Hotel Lord Pierre. Mid-range options near Spratt Bight or Bahía Sardinas run $105-175/night. Luxury properties like Decameron Aquarium or Sunrise Beach Hotel at Rocky Cay push $260-450/night, and they're worth it if you want proper sea views and resort amenities.
Is San Andres expensive compared to mainland Colombia?
Yes, significantly. Everything is imported to the island, so expect to pay 30-40% more than Cartagena for similar quality. A decent sit-down meal on Avenida Colombia runs $12-20 per person, and even local spots near La Loma charge more than you'd pay in Bogotá. Budget at least $80/day beyond accommodation.
When is the best time to visit San Andres?
December through April is peak season with dry weather, temperatures around 27-30°C, and calm seas perfect for diving. January and February fill up fast, especially around Carnival. If you want value, go in May or June before the September-November rain season kicks in hard.
Do I need a visa to visit San Andres as a foreigner?
San Andres is Colombian territory, so standard Colombian visa rules apply. Most nationalities don't need a visa for stays under 90 days. But you do need a Tarjeta de Turismo (Tourism Card) purchased at the airport for around $35,000 COP. Don't skip it: they check at the gate.
How do I get around San Andres island?
The island road is roughly 30 km in a loop. Mototaxis from Centro to Spratt Bight cost about $3,000-5,000 COP and take 5 minutes. Golf carts (carritos) are the fun option at around $30-50/day from rental spots near Avenida Newball. Public buses run the main circuit but stop running after 8pm.
Is Spratt Bight beach good for swimming?
It's calm, clear, and perfect for swimming. The water near Hotel Tiuna and Decameron Aquarium is shallow and warm, around 28°C year-round. Rocky Cay, just offshore, is even better for snorkeling and only a 5-minute boat ride from the main pier on Avenida Colombia.
Which San Andres hotels are best for families?
Decameron Marazul on Spratt Bight is built for families: kids' clubs, shallow pools, and all meals included. Hotel El Isleño at Bahía Sardinas is another solid pick with calmer water and more space than the main beach strip. Both are within 10 minutes of the boat tours to Johnny Cay.
Are there good budget hotels in San Andres?
Yes, but manage expectations. Hotel Lord Pierre in Centro is the best genuine budget pick at $55-85/night, and it's clean and functional. Posada El Nativo up in La Loma costs a bit more at $70-95/night but gives you a real raizal neighborhood feel that Centro completely lacks. Neither has beach frontage.
What areas should I avoid when booking a hotel?
Avoid the block immediately behind the commercial zone on Avenida 20 de Julio. It's loud until 2am with bar traffic, and several guesthouses there use beach photos from Spratt Bight that are a 15-minute walk away. We've seen this mistake hundreds of times. Pay $20-30 more and stay near the water.
Is San Andres good for diving and snorkeling?
One of the best in the Caribbean. The island sits inside the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve, and dive sites like El Cove and La Pared (the Wall) are world-class. Most dive operators are based near Spratt Bight, and a two-tank dive runs $60-90 USD. Book at least a day ahead in peak season.
How far is the airport from the main hotels?
Gustavo Rojas Pinilla Airport sits right inside town. Hotels in Centro like Hotel Lord Pierre or Hotel Casablanca San Andrés are literally 5-8 minutes by taxi for under $8,000 COP. Spratt Bight hotels are 10-12 minutes, and San Luis or Rocky Cay properties like Sol Caribe Campo take 20-25 minutes.
Useful links for San Andres
Government & official sources only. No booking sites, no ads.
Ready to book San Andres?
We vetted the best. You just have to pick.
Browse all San Andres hotels