San Andres y Providencia
 

Does anyone have info on these Colombian islands? I'm considering a short visit next February.

Thanks, Michael

We went to both in January.

Providencia was wonderful. What I imagine the Caribbean to have been like 30+ years ago. Very lush, very green, hilly, small hotels and local restaurants. Nice beaches, cool beach bars. I'd love to have spent more than a couple days there.

On the down side, we had a very hard time making reservations there. Many of the hotels have had their reservations taken over by the Decameron chain, and they wouldn't/couldn't return my e-mails. Finally booked through a 'friend of a friend'. It worked, but I think we paid way too much.

There are enough small guest houses that I think I'd just go next time.

San Andres is much busier. The town is a real city. Several good sized all inclusive resorts. Beautiful beaches. Good restaurants. We stayed at a small hotel on the pedestrian walkway called Portobelo Junior. The room was fine, not at all fancy, but a nice balcony, and it felt very safe.

We enjoyed our stay there, but I prefer Providencia.

Just returned on March 6th from both. As Jean said, a big pain to get hotel reservations on both. Even getting the domestic flight from San Andres to Old Providence(the true islanders are English and call it Old Providence)was difficult. I would never spend more time than I have to on SA, but LOVED, LOVED, LOVED Old Providence. I have TONS of incredible pics.
I'll post them soon.

Faithie

Faithie, I can't wait to see your pictures!!!!

I think it worked!
Just some of the pics......

What wonderful pictures!!!! Thanks so much for posting them. What did you think of your hotel?

Our first and last night on San Andres we stayed at The Cocoplum Beach Hotel.

Great little spot DIRECTLY on the beach in front of the shipwreck on Cocoplum Bay. $150 total for 4 persons incuding breakfast.

The first 3 nights on Providence we stayed at Hotel Sirius and Dive Center, great spot.

The last 2 nights on Providence we were at Posada Coco Bay, really, really sweet place.

Thanks, your pictures are terrific.

I think, because of limited time, I may have to visit San Andres, and not Old Providence, but I'm still looking into flight schedules.

Thanks for the info -- I was not optimistic that I'd get any responses.

Michael

If you can manage to swing it I'd really try to go to Providence. It's really, really special. There is absolutely no comparison with the physical beauty between the 2.