Has anyone been to San Andres or Providencia? I have not seen a post on the subject!

Cheers Terry says on Jan 13, 2008, 22:49:

Some great info here:

http://boards.bootsnall.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/591098755/m/32100691216

Cheers,
Terry

Frank Rizzo says on Jan 13, 2008, 23:02:

http://groups.msn.com/BigJuicesSanAndresIsland/messageboard.msnw

Robert Jorge says on Jan 13, 2008, 23:11:

b bruce, when you are reading this, scroll up. You will see a Google search function bar. Type in the topic. There are a BUNCH of posts on San Andres. There are some very expensive hotels. But, there are many dirt cheap places to be found if you are willing to look beyond the advertised big resort type hotels.

Peter (Moderator) says on Jan 13, 2008, 23:37:

http://poorbuthappy.com/colombia/travel/ProvidenciaAndSanAndres/

Poor but snappy

scotty says on Jan 14, 2008, 01:33:

im sure lots of people on this site have been to San Andreas, do some more searching.

Get Rhythm, when you got the blues. Johnny Cash

jorgegdiaz says on Jan 14, 2008, 05:15:

There have been two times only that I`ve see my gringa wife jaw dropping in Locombia. One in San Gil the other one in San Andres. Although short, it`s the best beach I`ve seen in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans so far.

http://www.geocities.com/bahiasardina/
http://www.hotelcasablanca.net/
http://www.sunrisehotel.com/english.html

Man with hole in pocket feel cocky all day.

aztec says on Jan 14, 2008, 05:41:

My wife and I have been to both. We took a small plane from San Andres over to Providencia.

The two island are different. Do yourself a favor and spend some time on Providencia. It is the last of those islands not taken over by commercialism. You can find beaches where you are the only person on the beach. There is little or no night life. It is a place where you "commune" with nature and share the peace and solitude with wife or girlfriend.

Make sure you don't go to either island when there is a holiday. All of the locals in San Andres will be on the beach.

Many islands (Jamaica) in the Caribbean are more unsafe that these islands. I do know we did not feel unsafe on Providencia.

jorgegdiaz says on Jan 14, 2008, 05:52:

I just found those by a guy here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/colombianogringo/sets/72157600406722530/

Man with hole in pocket feel cocky all day.

wcarmack says on Jan 14, 2008, 07:38:

My wife and I spent 17 days there last month. We flew two of our children there from Canada as well. Had a great time. The Hotel Aquario was great. It is all inclusive. Although we paid full price because we were meeting our kids and needed solid advance reservations, we met people from Canada, the U.S and Chile who had purchased the same packages for a fraction of what we paid by doing the "last minute" purchase number.

By the 17th day though I must admit, it was time to go. Bargain for everything!

wood

diabloblas says on Jan 14, 2008, 08:01:

sure hope you & the kids had a good time wcarmack...& i mean this sincerely

..however i hope you don't go back & tell your friends in canada about colombian culture, politics etc based on a sandal's experience....it's the same in any caribe resort

...i like full treatment myself every once in a while...but most of the people i meet at those resorts all seem to equate intelligence with $$$..

..i'm sure you not one of them....

diabloblas says on Jan 14, 2008, 08:08:

he said he was bored....as would i without any good drugs.

...long live the memory of timothy "i do not know" o'leary...

beisbollover says on Jan 14, 2008, 08:34:

I was there in 2005 with the wife and kids (10 & 8) and we stayed at the hotel arena blanca which is all inclusive. the island is not high end by any means. no major hotel chains or resorts. our hotel was a 2 or 3 stars at most. but if you need a four season there are other places like jamaica. The thing about san andres is that the water is perfect. shallow and clear. the people were very nice. i think that the island compares with granada or santo domingo, and not with aruba or st. barts.

bottom line is we had alot of fun and it was safe.

ColombianoGringo says on Jan 14, 2008, 11:20:

Those flickr pics are from our vacation at Sol Caribe Campo. It isn't a super luxury hotel, but the grounds and views are amazing as you can see from the pics. We also really liked being away from the downtown area.

Frank Rizzo says on Jan 15, 2008, 00:22:

once KAT got me straight on how to spell the place....now i'm bidding on 20 acres there including a 3 story building near the apto. Thank God i can spell it right now....jajjaajjjajaa.....

If you really want the best of all worlds, (for me) having 20 acres on SAI is the bomb so you can take all those chicas there to the huge finca with 4x4's , boats, the works......

deal'n dimes.....

yo

Frank Rizzo says on Jan 15, 2008, 05:36:

jajajajaaj...well GIB, SAI is small..but not that small.....and there are plenty of fincas like this as you move away from the airport in the north. Especially, near the big lake (but they got the bug problem near the lake)...the land next to this finca is 20 hectares (approx. 50 acres), and beautiful..but not for sale...THis is really not that unusual.

You're right, you must use one of several legal methods which we're learning about now to hold the land. Though, direct marriage is not necessary. A separate visa is also necessary to live there full time, all this is possible once you're an owner. It's definately not as easy as the mainland but not that difficult.

There are some great buys there right now...as the risk is that that if there ever is a problem with transfer to another country, hopefully they will accept landowners and transfer ownership for a tax base.

It's all old and the finca is a tear down and rebuild, the 3 story is a full remodel....so nothing simple that's for sure.

aztec says on Jan 15, 2008, 07:21:

San Andres or Providencia

We made some preliminary inquires in the early 90's into the possibility of purchasing on Providencia. We were told that we could not because of restrictions.

Is it your understanding Frank that a non citizen can now buy property on either of the islands? If so, please share the information.

Frank Rizzo says on Jan 15, 2008, 07:33:

Hi Aztec......long time no hear...hope all's well......yes...there are at least 2 legal methods to hold the land "forever".....as well as, pass it down or keep in a trust so it automatically passes. This is done in conjunction with your SAI/prov. visa and about $5 MMcop if you konw what i mean......

I went looking on big juice's website for help at first....the land is owned by my neighbor in cali and they have had it since dirt....they just want to get rid of it...so it's cheap....and alot of work... so after not much luck finding an atty on big juices website (below)...i went back to the family....they had their atty in san andres get it figured out.....i haven't bought it yet...we're still nego. price.....cause as i've said....it's a ton of work...

There is no road (got the legal access, though its a walking or horse trail right now) to the 20 acres...10 min walk to the road/ocean.....but it's a ground up deal, incl. building a road into it with hardpan for construction trucks....also the building materials in san andres are really not that good (i don't want wood...).....if you want good concrete...you have to bring in your sand..(ship in sand)....i know it sounds crazy...but there are may building details (the concrete sand being the biggest)...something about too much coral in the sand or something....about the sand right there...on the postive side, sending a container from miami is much, much, much easier than sending one to the mainland...so that would help...

.that i'd like to work out construction material pricing before buying... so that's my hold up...

http://groups.msn.com/BigJuicesSanAndresIsland/_whatsnew.msnw

ColombianoGringo says on Jan 17, 2008, 08:18:

"I guess you are married to someone from there since that is the only way you can buy land on SAI."

Legally, this is true, but as with most regulations in Colombia, you can buy your way around it. I know a few people who bought their permit to live and buy property on the island.

Maojaimes says on Feb 7, 2008, 11:17:

Frank Says "yes...there are at least 2 legal methods to hold the land "forever".....as well as, pass it down or keep in a trust so it automatically passes. This is done in conjunction with your SAI/prov. visa and about $5 MMcop if you konw what i mean......"

I now that right now the local SAI goverment is not giving visa permits so, Is 5MM the price to "get it" the fastest way?

Is the local visa the only requirement for non-colombian citizens to buy property? What about buying a house to be used only for vacation purposes.

Any info about it would be appreciatte.

The most complete guide about Colombia real estate

rocinante says on Feb 7, 2008, 12:00:

Ain't read the whole thread but Johnny Cay is the nicest beach on the Colombian Islands. Too bad you can't stay there. On shore Tayrona is nice.

Compared to beaches in the Caribbean and even New Jersey, Colombia is weak. Sorry but it is my opinion.

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Peso 1400 by November" Feb 5, 2008

gringoloid says on Feb 7, 2008, 14:28:

i stayed at the Decameron; I would not recommend, you can find better deals elsewhere.

Johnny Cay was some beautiful spot.

Lisa Zee says on Feb 7, 2008, 16:41:

I have a cabin for rent, it is very rustic but very nice, about 10 mts ride from town. It is next to a diving school. and by "La Cueva De Morgan". I will post pictures and prices later.

analyzethis1 says on Feb 8, 2008, 17:24:

Lisa Zee, I wish I had known that you had a cabin there during my visit. I would've preferred to stay out there than in Marazul...not that I didn't enjoy my stay in the hotel. I just would've preferred to be away from the centre of everything esp. being in a small island as SA.

There are two kinds of gratitude: The sudden kind we feel for what we receive, and the larger kind we feel for what we give. E.A. Robinson

Lisa Zee says on Feb 11, 2008, 18:42:

analyzethis: Yes it is very quiet, perfect for a family and divers. Maybe next time