Welcome, you are in COLOMBIA TRAVEL
AfrikaansAlbanianArabicArmenianAzerbaijaniBasqueBelarusianBengaliBosnianBulgarianCatalanChinese (Simplified)CzechDanishDutchEstonianFilipinoFinnishGalicianGeorgianGermanGreekGujaratiHaitian CreoleHausaHawaiianHebrewHindiHmongHungarianIcelandicIgboIndonesianIrishItalianJavaneseKannadaKazakhKhmerKoreanKurdish (Kurmanji)KyrgyzLaoLatinLatvianLithuanianLuxembourgishMacedonianMalagasyMalayMalayalamMalteseMaoriMarathiMongolianMyanmar (Burmese)NepaliNorwegianPashtoPersianPolishPortuguesePunjabiRomanianRussianSamoanScottish GaelicSerbianSesothoShonaSindhiSinhalaSlovakSlovenianSomaliSudaneseSwedishTajikTamilTeluguThaiTurkishUkrainianUrduUzbekVietnameseWelshXhosaYiddishYorubaZuluDiscover Providencia, an island in the San Andrés, Providencia, and Santa Catalina archipelago, and let the tranquility of the Caribbean Sea, surrounded by marine fauna and flora, captivate you.
The Island of Providencia, located in the Colombian Caribbean Sea, spans 17 km² and is the second largest in the department. Its infinite colors on the surface, vibrant underwater landscapes, and mangroves tinged with green become the home of tiny colorful fish.
The Island of Providencia and its surroundings dazzle with waters of varied blue tones.
It attracts lovers of ecotourism and aquatic activities like diving and snorkeling, thanks to its coral reefs and biodiversity visible beneath crystal-clear waters. Additionally, it hosts the Old Providence Natural Park, declared a UNESCO Sea Flower Biosphere Reserve since 2000.
First, arrive at San Andrés to begin your adventure to the island, either by air (about 15 minutes) or by catamaran from San Andrés to Providencia, a journey of around 3 hours.
A diversity of ecosystems, mangrove forests, coral formations, and a small stretch of tropical dry forest await you in Providencia. It’s time to start your trip!
Also of interest: Deserted beaches in Providencia.
Upon arriving at the Island of Providencia, start your journey at the country’s most extensive coral reef and the world’s third-longest coral barrier in the Old Providence McBean Lagoon National Natural Park. You can also visit Cayo Cangrejo or Crab Cay, a small island where you can snorkel to observe colorful fish.
Cayo Cangrejo off the coast of the Island of Providencia, in the San Andrés archipelago.
You can also enjoy a stunning view of the seven-colored sea of San Andrés from the top of Cayo Cangrejo at about 30 meters high. To reach the park, take a boat from Providencia and enjoy the journey to admire the Cayo de los Tres Hermanos and Morgan’s Head.
Don’t miss visiting El Pico Viewpoint, ideal for trekking, as it’s the island’s highest mountain, offering an unforgettable view of Providencia. Also, seize the chance to explore Santa Catalina by crossing the Lovers’ Bridge, a structure from the 1800s.
Lovers’ Bridge in the Island of Providencia.
One of the best travel experiences is meeting the islanders. They are friendly, smiling people who love music and cuisine, always ready to share the secrets of island life with tourists.
Islanders mainly live off tourism and fishing. The sea provides them with food, landscapes, activities, and entertainment. Due to their history of English, Dutch, and Spanish colonization, they maintain traditions like tea-drinking, speaking Creole (a Caribbean variation of English with African roots), and a love for music.
They still preserve their traditional dances, including waltz, quadrille, schottische, mazurka, and polka, though they vibe even more with rhythms like reggae, soca, calypso, and inland Colombian rhythms like vallenato, salsa, and merengue, among others.
Their culture is also reflected in their architecture, which remains from colonial times. Colorful Caribbean wooden houses feature handmade carvings of fish and crabs, paying homage to the sea. There are no tall or large concrete structures in Providencia. A perfect paradise for rest!
The first place to visit, to arrange transport and stock up, is the center, known as Santa Isabel. There are several supermarkets and the tourism office. Along the same route to the southwest, you reach Old Town, the oldest settlement.
From there, the path leads to Fresh Water Bay (Aguadulce), where there are cabins for lodging and a small restaurant area. Along the same path, you access Bottom House (Casa Baja), a hamlet leading to Manchanel Bay (Manzanillo), the island’s best beaches, where you can also try local cuisine.
Discover: 3 Colombian beaches to disconnect from the world.
Wear comfortable, lightweight clothing to enjoy the warm climate (28°C on average) of the Colombian Caribbean Sea, and pack a cap or hat and sunscreen.
Bring sandals, flip-flops, and special shoes for walking on hot sand and entering the water to avoid burns or cuts from rocky surfaces and corals.
Remember to book private transport to pick you up at the airport and take you to your lodging.
The Island of Providencia will become your ultimate retreat. Come enjoy the Caribbean breeze in this destination, worth returning to time and again.
Through our regions with their charming destinations and experiences, you will discover that the diversity that defines Colombia includes its tourism offer.
Here you can enjoy adventure tourism, cultural, community, gastronomic, meetings and much more.
A family-run hotel with over 30 years in tourism. Once a native lodge, it’s now one of Providencia’s most complete hotels. Located in Fresh Water Bay, near dive spots, restaurants, and viewpoints, it boasts views of the Sea of Seven Colors.
A luxury Caribbean retreat on Providencia Island, where nature and the sea create calm and tranquility. Offering comfort, serenity, and a connection to island culture, it's perfect for relaxation, wellness, and unique experiences.
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