San Andrés

San Andrés is Colombia's Caribbean secret — a coral island closer to Nicaragua than to the Colombian mainland, with water that achieves the impossible color known locally as the 'Sea of Seven Colors.' The coral reef surrounding the island is part of the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve, and the diving and snorkeling here rival anything in the Caribbean at a fraction of the cost of comparable destinations.

The island has a fascinating cultural identity — the Raizal people, descendants of English Puritans and African slaves, speak a Creole English dialect and maintain a culture distinct from both mainland Colombia and the Spanish Caribbean. Their food, music and traditions reflect a heritage that is genuinely unique in the region, and the island's Creole culture sits alongside the Colombian culture that has grown with tourism and migration from the mainland.

Johnny Cay, a tiny uninhabited coral island just offshore, is surrounded by the clearest and most spectacularly colored water in the Colombian Caribbean — a day trip by boat delivers the classic Caribbean fantasy of white sand, turquoise water and nothing else for miles. Providencia, a larger island 90 kilometers north, is even more pristine and less visited — a destination of extraordinary natural beauty for those willing to make the additional journey.