The 7 Boat Tours in San Andrés That Set the Tone

1.Boat Tour to Johnny Cay & Aquarium in San Andres Island

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 82 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $39Our pick

Spend about five hours by boat from Portofino Pier, with roughly two hours at Rocky Cay and three hours at the Aquarium, also called Rose Cay. Guide Cecilia Forbes may assist with timing and changes, but this is mainly transport and free time rather than a guided sightseeing tour. Bring water shoes, sunscreen, and snorkeling gear if you have it.

“Todos los que viajen al Archipiélago de San Andrés, Providencia y Santa Catalina, deben saber que los planes están sujetos a las condiciones climáticas que se presenten. Dicho esto, quiero compartirles la experiencia que vivimos con mi pareja. Desde un inicio, la compañía de viajes se contactó con nosotros 3 días antes de la fecha programada, para informar del guía turístico que nos estaría acompañando. Un día antes, la guía turística (Cecilia Forbes), nos escribió dándonos las indicaciones de hora y lugar para vernos. Llegamos a la hora indicada, y allá estaba esperándonos. Nos explicó que había una opción de cambio, ya que por lluvias y vientos fuertes no podríamos…”

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2.BOAT TRANSFER + JOHNNY CAY

★★★★★★★★★★3.4 · 18 reviews · 4 hours · from $38

Take a Spanish-guided speedboat from San Andrés’ police pier to Johnny Cay in about 15 minutes. You get free time on white sand and clear Caribbean water, with lunch and the 15,000 COP coral tax extra. Expect a short but sometimes rough ride and a four-hour outing.

“1st of all. our guide left us stranded on the island...he told us a certain time and he wasn't there. I reached out to him via cell. no answer. I want my refund”

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3.Transfer by Boat + Natural Aquarium

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 8 reviews · from $23Best value

Take a short glass-bottom boat ride from Muelle de la Policía or Muelle Portofino to San Andrés Natural Aquarium. You get about half a day to swim, snorkel, and see starfish and tropical fish in clear seven-color water. The Spanish-speaking tour team coordinates pickup by WhatsApp, but you must arrange pier transport and pay the dock tax separately.

“Apart from the place which would be beautiful but is overcrowded and poorly managed (boats and boats unloading people) the transfer was really badly organized. We booked a departure pier and then they wrote to us to go to another-we had to pay another 5,000 cops each that was not anticipated. At the desk we found no one, on the phone no indication-after 20 minutes of searching we found an attendant who told us to wait to leave and he would call us...after 1 hour from the reservation we finally left. They unloaded us without telling us they needed coral shoes...so bought those too. At return time, which they had…”

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4.Luxury private tour boat 6 in 1

★★★★★★★★★★3.0 · 5 reviews · 1 hour

Take a private boat from the Police Dock around San Andrés, with a bilingual English-Spanish guide, Bluetooth sound system and stops at Johnny Cay, Aquarius, Haynes Cay, Old Point Mangroves and the Sea of Seven Colors. Lunch, dock fees and Johnny Cay entry are extra. The boat is sold as luxury, though its size and condition may feel more practical than lavish.

“La verdad es que fue un poco decepcionante ya que no fuimos a los puntos exactos que se describían en la actividad. Ni rocky cay ni Haynes cay estuvieron incluidos en la ruta. El barco no era luxury, bastante viejo. Por ello considero que el precio pagado no justifica el tipo de tour ofrecido.”

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5.Island Pontoon Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.0 · 5 reviews · 1 day · from $45

Spend a full day on a pontoon boat around San Andrés, stopping at El Palito, Cayo Acuario, Rocky Cay, and the mangroves. Swim, snorkel, watch marine life, and listen to Spanish-language music onboard. The $45 price includes round-trip transport and the island entrance tax, but not food, drinks, or snorkeling gear.

“O ponto de encontro não tem nada a ver c a ida pro lugar. ele te colocam num Mule, dps tem que passar em outro lugar e depois chega no porto. só nisso atrasou 45 min. Tentaram cobrar uma taxa portuária sendo que no passeio dizia que estava tudo incluído. Ficou apenas 20 min em El Palito - era pra ser duas horas -, o guia falava rápido demais e o pior, deixei um óculos na embarcação e quando fomos embarcar eles diziam que não tinha nada. Me roubaram um oculos. Lamentável. Fujam”

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6.White Party on boat with open bar, dinner and dancers!

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews Top rated

Dress in white for a three-hour evening cruise around San Andrés Bay aboard the Rumbero Yacht. A Spanish-speaking guide, DJ, dancers, entertainer, dance show, welcome cocktail, national-liquor cocktail bar, soft drinks, water, and seafood and meat buffet dinner are included. Beer is not included.

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7.Private Boat Trip with Aquarium and Beach Stops

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 3 reviews · 6 hours

Spend six hours on a private boat around San Andrés with a skipper, cooler, music, and stops at the mangroves, Rose Cay, Haynes Cay, El Palito, and White Watta. Swim near stingrays and colorful fish, visit an aquarium, buy lunch, and pay extra for drinks, food, and docking tax.

“Captain Alberto came one hour late to the meeting point! The rest of the trip was good. The boat is not fast, but comfortable.”

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