Things to do in San Andrés: the places you can’t miss
Johnny Cay, El Acuario, West View, the Hoyo Soplador, La Loma or the Old Point mangroves: these are the places we recommend seeing in San Andrés and Providencia, with everything you need to know before you go.
San Andrés
Johnny Cay (Parque Regional Johnny Cay)
White-sand cay with palm trees about 15 minutes by boat from Spratt Bight, a regional park managed by Coralina, with stalls selling local food and reggae music.
El Acuario (Rose Cay) y Haynes Cay
Pair of cays joined by a shallow sandbank where you wade waist-deep among fish and rays; Haynes Cay has food stalls.
Rocky Cay y playa de Cocoplum
Rocky islet about 200 metres off the shore at San Luis, which you can walk out to at low tide; a stranded ship pokes out of the water beside it.
Cayo Bolívar
Pair of cays (East Cay and West Cay) in the open sea south-east of San Andrés, which can only be visited on authorised full-day speedboat trips.
Playa de Spratt Bight
The island’s main town beach, about 450 metres of white sand beside the pedestrian promenade, with deckchair hire, restaurants and boats leaving for the cays.
Playas de San Luis
Stretch of beaches on the south-east coast beside a Raizal neighbourhood of wooden houses, with clearer water and fewer people than the town-centre beach.
Playa de Sound Bay
Beach of about 500 metres in the San Luis area, with palm trees, restaurants and bars on the sand, and bigger waves than other east-coast beaches.
West View
Natural pool on the west coast with platforms for jumping into the sea and snorkelling among reef fish in deep, crystal-clear water.
La Piscinita
Smaller natural pool near West View, with steps down to the sea from coral platforms; it’s known for the fish that swim right up to bathers.
Hoyo Soplador
Crack in the coral rock at the southern tip of the island where, when the swell is strong, the sea shoots out like a geyser through natural tunnels.
La Loma y Primera Iglesia Bautista
Wooden Baptist church at the top of La Loma, a traditional Raizal neighbourhood, with panoramic views over the island and the sea.
Cueva de Morgan
Theme park with a natural cave linked to the legend of the pirate Henry Morgan and a small museum on the pirate history of the Caribbean.
Big Pond (La Laguna)
Freshwater lagoon in the middle of the island, surrounded by vegetation, where you can spot caimans, turtles, iguanas and birds from a path around its edge.
Casa Museo Isleña
Replica of a 19th-century wooden island house with period furniture and objects, where guides tell the story of Raizal history and finish with a dance performance.
Parque Regional de Manglar Old Point
Coralina regional park with the largest mangrove forest in the archipelago, some 247 hectares in Hooker and Haynes bays, explored along a trail or by kayak.
Providencia
Parque Nacional Natural Old Providence McBean Lagoon
National park in north-east Providencia protecting mangroves, McBean Lagoon, reefs and cays; it allows diving, snorkelling, birdwatching and boat trips.
Crab Cay (Cayo Cangrejo)
Islet of about two hectares inside the national park, with a viewpoint at the top and snorkelling over the reef; closed for work on its jetty until 17 December 2026.
Puente de los Enamorados y Santa Catalina
Colourful footbridge of about 180 metres linking Providencia with the island of Santa Catalina across the Aury channel, restored after Hurricane Iota.
Playa Manzanillo
Palm-fringed beach of about 300 metres in the south of Providencia, with bars and restaurants serving island food; there are currents, so swim close to the shore.
El Pico (The Peak)
Providencia’s highest point (about 360 metres), reached on a one-to-two-hour trail from Bottom House, with 360-degree views over the island and the reef.
No places match this filter.
List compiled by Siete Azules using OpenStreetMap data and our own checks in October 2026. These are not paid adverts. Check opening hours and prices before you go.
How to plan your visits
The cays are reached by boat from Spratt Bight beach, in the town centre, and the west coast (West View, the Cueva de Morgan, the Hoyo Soplador) can be explored in a day by driving round the island on the ring road.
Carry cash in pesos: several entrance fees are paid on the spot and in cash, such as the Johnny Cay fee or the pier tax on boat trips.
Guide entrance prices (2026)
What it costs to get into the most visited places, according to operators and official bodies consulted in October 2026:
- Johnny Cay: Coralina fee of 15,000 pesos per person, in cash.
- Pier tax on boat trips: 4,000 to 5,000 pesos.
- West View: 10,000 to 15,000 pesos.
- Cueva de Morgan (Morgan’s Cave): 25,000 to 30,000 pesos.
- Old Point Mangrove Regional Park: 12,000 pesos (Coralina rate).
- Hoyo Soplador: entry is free, but you’re expected to buy something at the stalls.
Important notices
Johnny Cay closes for three days every quarter by court order, to give the cay a rest. Cayo Cangrejo (Crab Cay), in Providencia, is closed from 18 September to 17 December 2026 for work on its jetty; the rest of McBean Lagoon National Park remains open.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to visit Johnny Cay?
The Coralina fee is 15,000 pesos per person in 2026 and is paid in cash. The boat trip and the pier tax are extra.
What can I see in San Andrés in one day?
A drive round the island on the coast road: West View, the Hoyo Soplador, the Cueva de Morgan and La Loma. The cays deserve a day of their own.
Can you picture yourself beneath these waters?
If you’d like to discover San Andrés by diving, in a small group and with everything organised, leave us your details.
See the trip- No commitment, no payment
- We write to you personally with dates, programme and price
- Your details are only used to reply to you