The sea of seven colors – a Caribbean archipelago where Colombia takes on an English-speaking Caribbean flavor.
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The sea of seven colors – a Caribbean archipelago where Colombia takes on an English-speaking Caribbean flavor.
More than 700 km from the Colombian coast, but only about a hundred from Nicaragua and Costa Rica, the archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina is a small Caribbean paradise belonging to Colombia. Its waters, famous for the phenomenon known as the “mar de los siete colores” (sea of seven colors), shift from pale turquoise to deep blue depending on the depth of the seabed.
San Andrés is the largest and most touristy island of the archipelago, with white sand beaches, waters ideal for snorkeling and diving, and the coral reef surrounding the island, recognized as a UNESCO Seaflower Biosphere Reserve for its exceptional marine biodiversity.
About an hour’s flight or a few hours by ferry from San Andrés lies Providencia, a smaller, more mountainous and less touristically developed island that retains a relaxed and authentic atmosphere. The El Peak viewpoint offers a spectacular view over the coral reef, the third largest in the world.
The archipelago is home to the raizal people, descended from English settlers, enslaved Africans and Caribbean populations, who traditionally speak an English-based creole and maintain musical and culinary traditions distinct from the rest of mainland Colombia.
If you’re considering a trip to Colombia, San Andrés and Providencia are the perfect stop for a dive into the most authentic Caribbean!
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