Accomodation in San Andres

Cousin says on May 29, 2005, 19:38:

San Andreas might not be worth it. I do not know Cartagena but San Andreas was not that well kept of an Island and unless you are into the beach you might not want to spend more than a two-day weekend there.

I heard Cartagena might be the place to see but I cannot say....

Los Cuatro

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kernow62 says on May 29, 2005, 22:13:

San Andres is great for diving, do a GOOGLE search for dive outfits in SAI and see what thet recommend.

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Sibso says on May 30, 2005, 12:20:

Other islands? Are there any other islands off the coast of Cartagena which you reccommend?

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Hunter says on May 30, 2005, 12:30:

Isla Del Rosario Which is a group of 25 Islands.

I know people go diving there, but I don't know how good it is, I have seen it mentioned here a few times, so do a quick search.

Hunter

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tommytoyz says on May 30, 2005, 19:12:

San Andres has good Diving Beautiful corals and wall diving. I was there about a month ago. Cheap accomodations? Frankly I forgot the names, just email Luz Helena Beltran owner of San Andes Divers and she'll give you info and set you up :
www.sanandresdivers.com

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Elbigie says on May 30, 2005, 19:23:

Other Islands SIBSO,

I went to Cartagena last December and stayed in the Hotel 3 banderas in the old City very nice, clean and affordable (around CP$130,000/Night). ISLAS DEL ROSARIO are excellent for diving. I spent a couple of nights in the Isla del Pirata and had a great time there.

I haven’t been to SAN ANDRES I. in the last 13 years, but Providencia which is pretty close to SAI has had good reports. SAn Andres is also quite good for diving.

Que envidia!

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flaleo says on May 31, 2005, 02:11:

Great diving (and try Providencia) San Andres has better than average diving - nothing to rival Cayman nor Turks (don't personally know Belize nor Cozumel) but better than Keys or DR.

If you like small, personal experience, then the best option is the guy with his op on the south/west side of island. I really think they're the best on the island. He's the only one anywhere near there (there is nothing else in the SW side) - it's either called Nirvana or it's next to Nirvana. He has a hotel there also. It's not the nicest hotel, but it will be relatively cheap. You'll be staying far away from everything - so I can't recommend staying there - better to stay in town and have them pick you up and drop you off each day.

I don't know about diving around S. Marta nor Cartegena - but I'll guess the best diving is in Providencia (smaller island about 20 minutes north by small plane of San Andres). Providencia is much less developed (thus no night life other than what you can make on your own) - but the diving is that much more pristine than even SA.

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Sibso says on Jun 1, 2005, 09:32:

Thanks Guys Cheers, lots of useful information there guys. Does anyone know how easy it is to get from San Andres over to Cuba?

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Elbigie says on Jun 4, 2005, 01:02:

San Andres-CUBA So close and yet so far.

I'm not aware of flights between the 2 islands. Perhaps you could fly to Costa Rica or Panama from SAI with West Caribeean and then connect to Cuba.
The other option is to fly back to Colombian's mainland and then fly from there to Cuba.

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juanalejo says on Jun 4, 2005, 10:41:

Diving I know a lot of people go to dive to Santa Marta also, near the Tayrona park, but San Andrés and Providencia seem to be much, much better. A lot of people go to the Pacific also for diving, seems to be different but the banks of fish seem to be fantastic. You also can dive with sharks, especially hammer head.

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Mr. Hollywood says on Jun 4, 2005, 10:53:

A suggestion I dove with these guys when I was in San Andres. They also have a nice little hotel on the quiet side of the island. Very cool bunch of people and the diving was great. Much better than what you'll find in Islas del Rosario. I've also dove Parque Tayrona and it was nice but not as spectacular as some of the walls off San Andres.

Sunset Hotel/Sharky Dive Shop.
Address:
Carretera Circunvalar Km. 13
P.O.Box 1810
San Andres Isla, Colombia
Phone & Fax: (578) 513 0433 / (578) 513 0420

Email:
sharky at san-andres.com

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flaleo says on Jun 5, 2005, 08:18:

Tha's it (Nirvana) That's the place I reference in my post, on SW corner of SA - Sunset Hotel and Sharkey Dive. Great experience. They'll pick you up on any part of island. They have a small boat (8 max? - at times it was only me and friend and guide), you get great ratio of guide to guest. The go to the wall on SE corner of SA.

...definitely my first choice in SA.

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Jack Smith says on Jun 5, 2005, 10:13:

San Andres is better than Cartagena in my opinion... Having been to both places I would spend a week or 5 days in Cartagena and I would spend a month in San Andres especially if you are going to dive. There are lots of hotels on San Andres. www.geocities.com/bahiasardina/ Bahia Sardina is economical..about $25 USD a night with two meals no dive shop though...

Go to Big Juices San Andres Island at MSN communities ....lots of information there.....Islas del Rosario are quite far from Cartagena... I suggest San Andres for your diving needs..

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Sibso says on Jun 7, 2005, 12:44:

Bahia Sardina 25 dollars a night with 2 meals sounds pretty good! Also, i've just found out a few of my friends will be in Costa Rica when i'm out in Colombia. Does anyone know how easy/cheap it is to get there from Cartagena?

Thankyou all so much for all this info. I much prefer having recommendations off people before staying anywhere.

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juanalejo says on Jun 7, 2005, 14:14:

San Jose I do not think you can find direct flights between Cartagena and San Jose, I think the best would be a connection via Panama. Try www.copaair.com but it probably would not be cheap.

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