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San Andres: A Slow Blowing Wind!

San Andres is located among an archipelago of islands that sit approximately 150 miles east of Central America. The island is a great place to get away from every day life and enjoy the Caribbean sunshine. The tourist industry, while growing, hasn't quite caught on to San Andres. This gives visitors a perfect mix of sun, shopping, and secluded hidden treasures that you might just have all to yourself. A vacation in San Andres can be as active or as lazy as you want it to be. A day's itinerary can include swimming, snorkeling, horseback riding, scuba diving, parasailing, wind surfing, or that favorite of Caribbean activities, beach lounging!

San Andres is the central town on this 8-mile long island. Nestled among the wooden houses that line the streets of the North End section of town are a series of quaint little shops and boutiques that offer duty-free shopping to the serious bargain hunter. You might want to visit the San Luis district for a great evening meal as you watch the sunset dip into the sea.

The beaches of San Andres are luscious slivers of white sand that border the turquoise blue waters of the Caribbean. The most popular beach on the island is in San Andres at Sprat Bight, a ½ mile long beach that is a favorite due to the native girls that braid visitors' hair, the number of fishing and small crafts available for charter to the neighboring cays, and for the shallow waters that make for excellent swimming. Sound Bay, in San Luis, is noted for the distinctive sound the waves make as they crash against the coral reef. Cocoplum Bay is also a swimmer's favorite due to the gentle slope of the beach and shallow water. Divers walk into the waters off The Cove, a great spot for beach dives due to its proximity to the coral reef.

The waters off of San Andres are a scuba diver's paradise. The calm undercurrents, moderate temperatures, and almost limitless visibility combine to provide an excellent diving experience. Both beach and offshore dives are available. The wreck of the Blue Diamond, which sunk off the coast in 1995, is a particular favorite, and The Nicaraguense, which rests at a depth of about 40 meters, is also worth exploring.

If you're feeling lucky,take some time to visit Morgan's Cave. The cave is named for the infamous pirate, Henry Morgan, who once called the island home. Local legend has it that his treasure, estimated to be worth millions, is still hidden somewhere in the cave.

San Andres is an escapist's escape. The beautiful beaches will lull you to sleep as you listen to the sounds of the waves gently flapping on the shore. Rent a scooter in San Andres and take a tour of the island. Snorkel among the offshore coral beds. Have a local give you a history lesson about when the island was a pirate's hangout. Enjoy a freshly caught dinner as you watch a Caribbean sunset in San Luis. Vacationers are always thankful for the way time seems to move a bit slower on San Andres. So, throw away your wristwatch and come to paradise!